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• Full Finding Aid
• Overview
• Arrangement
• Administrative History
• Scope and Contents
• Related Material
• Alternate Formats
• Access Restrictions
• Custodial History
• Access Terms
• Items Online

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New York State Education Department Division of Adult Education and Library Extension Board of Regents Annual Literacy Test Files

Some content may contain outdated and offensive terminology. See: New York State Archives Statement on Language in Descriptive Resources

Overview of the Records

Arrangement

Chronological by year.

Administrative History

An amendment to the State Constitution, approved on November 8, 1921, required all voters registering after January 1, 1922 to be able to read and write English. Certification of literacy by the Board of Regents was established by legislation in 1923. Literacy certificates were issued by the Regents after applicants passed a test on their comprehension of written English.

Scope and Content Note

This series consists of copies of printed documents relating to the administration of the Regents literacy test program.

These files contain the following documents for each year: copies of the Regents Literacy Test and answer keys, sometimes indicating the name of the test preparer; sample certificates of literacy; instruction bulletin outlining procedures in the conduct of the literacy test and issuance of certificates of literacy; short statistical reports on the number of certificates of literacy issued and on what basis they were issued (test results or day/evening school credentials); and occasional other forms used to administer the literacy test program, such as the form letter used to appoint examiners for the literacy test and posters which were placed at the polls. Within the statistical reports is information on the number of people by sex issued literacy certificates. Also included are the percentages by sex of those who failed and hence were deemed illiterate.

Alternate Formats Available

Microfilm is available for use at the New York State Archives or through interlibrary loan.

Items Online

A sample literacy test from 1944 has been digitized and is available in State Archives Digital Collections.

New York State Archives Digital Collections

Board of Regents annual literacy test files, 1922-1947

Related Material

A0063 Press Clippings and Background Files Concerning the Regents Literacy Test, contains related materials.

Custodial History

These records were transferred to the State Library in 1949. In 1978 they were transferred to the State Archives as old series #55, accession number -50.

Microfilm master was transferred to RC storage by TL 94-2.

Records for 1922 were discovered after microfilming was completed and are not available on film.

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions regarding access to or use of this material.

Access Terms