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Superintendents of Education

Superintendents of Education

A significant aspect of its mission was to oversee educational initiatives for freedmen, managed by Superintendents of Education in each state. The records maintained by these superintendents are invaluable for understanding the educational efforts during Reconstruction. Below is a list of these records by state.

The records of the Superintendents of Education for the Freedmen’s Bureau may be found in multiple record groups, depending on how they were filed and preserved. Here’s what you need to know about where these records are located and whether they overlap with other record sets

Superintendents of Education Records

State Film No. Roll
Alabama M810 Roll 1-8: Record of Superintendents of Education
Arkansas M980 Roll 1-5: Record of Superintendents of Education
District of Columbia M1056 Roll 1-24: Record of Superintendents of Education
Georgia M799 Roll 1-28: Record of Superintendents of Education
Louisiana M1026 Roll 1-12: Record of Superintendents of Education
North Carolina M844 Roll 1-16: Record of Superintendents of Education
Tennessee M1000 Roll 1-9: Record of Superintendents of Education
Texas M822 Roll 1-18: Record of Superintendents of Education
Virginia M1053 Roll 1-20: Record of Superintendents of Education
Education Division M803 Roll 1-35: Record of Superintendents of Education

Record Group 105 (RG 105):

This is the primary record group for the Freedmen’s Bureau.

  • Superintendent of Education records are usually categorized under this group and organized by state.

State-Specific Microfilm Publications

  • Each state or district has a specific microfilm collection that contains the Superintendent of Education’s records, such as letters sent and received, reports, teacher contracts, and school registers.
  • Examples include:
    • Florida: M1869
    • South Carolina: M869
    • Mississippi: M826

Specialized Series:

  • Some Superintendent of Education records may appear within broader series for Assistant Commissioners (e.g., labor or education reports were often sent to the Assistant Commissioners).
  • Look for records under titles like “Reports on Schools” or “Educational Monthly Reports.”

Key Responsibilities of the Superintendents of Education

The Superintendents of Education were officials appointed by the Freedmen’s Bureau to oversee the establishment and operation of schools for freedmen (formerly enslaved individuals) and impoverished populations in the Southern states during the Reconstruction era (1865–1872). Their role was central to the Bureau’s mission of promoting education as a pathway to self-sufficiency and empowerment for freedmen.

  • Establishment of Schools
  • Recruitment and Support of Teachers
  • Oversight and Reporting
  • Promotion of Literacy and Learning
  • Advocacy and Mediation
  • Funding and Resources

Headquarters Records

These previously microfilmed series encompass the primary records of the Bureau's headquarters in Washington, D.C. They include telegrams, letters, and orders sent, along with annual reports, summaries, and schedules received by the Commissioner's office. These documents reflect the overall administration of the Bureau but provide only limited details about specific individuals at the local level.

Selected Series of Records Issued by the Commissioner of the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, 1865–1872 (M742, 7 rolls)

Registers and Letters Received by the Commissioner of the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, 1865–1872 (M752, 74 rolls)

Records of the Education Division of the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, 1865–1871 (M803, 35 rolls)

Did white children

attend Freedmen's school?

Yes, poor white children did attend some Freedmen’s Bureau schools during Reconstruction. While the Freedmen’s Bureau  was primarily established to assist formerly enslaved African Americans, it also extended aid to poor whites who had been displaced or impoverished by the Civil War.

  • Official reports noted instances of "mixed schools" or separate classes for white children who needed educational resources.
  • In some regions, especially Appalachia and parts of the Upper South, Freedmen’s Bureau schools enrolled both Black and white students.
  • Many white families in the South faced severe poverty after the war, making access to education difficult. Freedmen's Bureau schools often provided free or low-cost education, which attracted poor white children.
  • The South lacked public schools, especially in rural areas. Freedmen's Bureau schools became one of the few accessible educational options, regardless of race.

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