Research


Scope and Content Note

These files contain incoming and outgoing correspondence, memoranda, and occasional curricula, course descriptions or printed publicity flyers from schools.

These records resulted from the division's supervisory and advisory responsibilities for all pre-college level vocational classes, extension classes for working minors and adults, and training of teachers in vocational subjects.

The correspondence is that of the division director and various division specialists in areas such as: agricultural education; art and industrial arts education; commercial education; drawing and industrial training; home economics; industrial education; part-time education; and vocational education for girls. Correspondence is with vocational education teachers and supervisors, school principals, college and university faculty, students, and the Federal Board for Vocational Education.

Subjects of the correspondence include: inspections of vocational schools; establishment of specific courses at vocational or continuation schools; establishment of vocational courses in high schools; state and federal financial aid for school vocational programs and teacher training; training and qualifications of vocational education teachers; employment opportunities for teachers; status of teachers' licenses; text selection and grading by teachers; credit received by students for work in vocational classes; conferences on vocational education; proposed legislation on topics such as compulsory education and apprenticeship training; and immigrant education.

At the beginning of the series are additional materials: vocational course outlines and curricula; and correspondence of the supervisor of home economics education, 1919-1921. These files were created by division director Lewis A. Wilson (later commissioner of education).