Research

• Full Finding Aid
• Overview
• Arrangement
• Scope and Contents
• Other Finding Aids
• Access Restrictions
• Custodial History
• Access Terms
• Detailed Description
• subseries 1
• subseries 2
• subseries 3
• subseries 4
• subseries 5
• subseries 6
• subseries 7

Print PDF  

New York State Education Department Examinations and Inspections Division Reports of Examinations for Teaching Certificates

Some content may contain outdated and offensive terminology.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

Overview of the Records

Arrangement

Organized into seven subseries: 1. Reports of Examinations for College Graduate Certificates; 2. Reports of Examinations for Teachers Special Certificates; 3. Reports of Examinations for Training School Certificates; 4. Reports of Examinations for Training Class Certificates; 5. Reports of Regents Examinations for Teachers Certificates; 6. Reports of Examinations for Teachers State Certificates; and 7. Reports of Examinations for Rural School Renewable Certificates.

Chronological by year, then alphabetical by examination site within subseries.

Scope and Content Note

This series consists of seven subseries of reports of examinations held to determine the qualifications of applicants for several kinds of teaching certificates. Different kinds of certificates were issued based on various combinations of general education, specialized pedogogical training, prior teaching experience, and examination results. The records are organized into seven subseries.

Subseries 1: Reports of Examinations for College Graduate Certificates, 1912-1918, 1 volume. The college graduate certificates were issued beginning in 1884 to any graduate of a college approved by the Board of Regents, and entitled the holder to teach in any school in the State. Beginning in 1902, graduates were required to have also completed an approved program of teacher education. A college graduate limited certificate was issued for two years to any college graduate who then was required to demonstrate, through state examinations, proficiency in teaching techniques. Successful completion of the exams resulted in renewal of the license for one year. Then, after three years teaching experience, a college graduate life certificate was issued. College graduate professional certificates were issued, without examinations, to college graduates whose work included educational training.

This volume apparently contains the examination results of candidates seeking to qualify for the college graduate limited and life certificates. Each examination report gives the date and place of the exam, and the name of the examiner. A list of candidates gives the following information for each: name; address; and scores in examination subjects such as psychology, history of education, and teaching methods of English, mathematics, and other subjects.

Subseries 2: Reports of Examinations for Teachers Special Certificates, 1912-1924, 5 volumes. Special certificates were issued after two years of professional training and successful completion of examinations. These certificates, first issued in 1896, entitled the holder to teach a single subject only, such as art, commerce, home economics, music, drawing, physical education, or kindergarten. These volumes contain examination results of candidates for these certificates. Each examination report gives the date and place of the exam, the name and address of the examiner, and a statement signed by the school district superintendent and examination deputies that all examination rules were followed. The following information is given for each candidate: name; address; and scores in examination subjects such as history of education, school management, kindergarten methods, agriculture, drawing, typewriting, and shorthand.

Subseries 3: Reports of Examinations for Training School Certificates, 1910-1923, 7 volumes. Training schools were two year teacher training institutions located in cities and intended to supply the local city school system with elementary school teachers, although certificates were valid in any school in the state. High school graduation was required for admission to a training school. Each report gives the date and place of the examination, name and address of the examiner, and a statement by the school principal and examination deputies that the examination rules were followed. For each statement the following information is given: name; address; date of birth; name of any other institution where training school examinations have been taken; scores in examination subjects such as arithmetic, geography, nature study, history of education, psychology, or kindergarten methods; and certification of entitlement to training school certificate (some restricted to kindergarten). At the beginning of the first volume (1911) are some unbound lists of graduates from 1910 entitled to certificates, and a few pieces of correspondence between students, training schools, and the Education Department concerning issuance of certificates.

Subseries 4: Reports of Examinations for Training Class Certificates, 1912-1927, 11 volumes. Training classes were one year teacher training programs in union free schools or academies, primarily intended to supply rural school districts with elementary school teachers having a minimal amount of professional training. Entrance into a training class required graduation from an elementary school and some high school education. Certificates were valid in any school district not maintaining an academic department. Each report gives the following information: date; name and address of district superintendent of schools; name, number, and county of superintendency district; and statement of district superintendent, school principal, and examination deputies that examination rules were followed. For each student the following information was given: name; address; location of any previous examination; scores in examination subjects such as writing, arithmetic, school law, psychology, or methods in reading/writing/spelling; number of weeks attended each term; reason if attended fewer than required number of weeks; and "department notes" ("cond. arith," "cond. rem.," "cond. not rem.") Some entries are annotated to indicate if a student is entitled to a certificate or should return to the training class.

Subseries 5: Reports of Regents Examinations for Teachers Certificates, 1907-1913, 8 volumes. These are reports of the "uniform" examinations for teachers given each August beginning in 1887. These examinations could be used to apply towards several types of teaching certificates not requiring professional teacher training, such as the rural school renewable certificates (see subseries 7 below) and elementary and academic certificates. They were also occasionally taken by students enrolled in training classes (see subseries 4 above). Elementary certificates were issued one time for two years upon completion of examinations and were valid only in a single elementary school. They could be extended if the holder passed additional examinations in the pursuit of a higher level of certificate. Academic certificates required possession of a Regents academic diploma certified by passage of Regents examinations. They were valid only at a single school for three years, and could be extended by passage of examinations towards a State life certificate. Each report gives the following information: date and place of examination; certificate of school commissioner (pre-1912) or district superintendent (1912+) and examination deputies that examination rules were followed. For each candidate the following information is given: name; age; address; location of any previous examination; and scores in examination subjects such as spelling, arithmetic, elementary botany, ancient history, civics, psychology, school law, or methods of teaching.

Subseries 6: Reports of Examinations for Teachers State Certificates, 1904-1926, 7 volumes. State certificates, also referred to as state life certificates, were issued to candidates who successfully completed examinations in over 20 subjects. There was a two year teaching experience prerequisite, but no educational requirement. The certificate was valid for the life of the holder and entitled him or her to teach in any elementary or high school in the state. It was the highest level of teaching certificate issued solely on the basis of examination results. These certificates were discontinued after 1926. Passage of a shorter list of examinations entitled one to a limited state certificate, also valid in any school in the state. It was issued for a five year term and was not renewable, although it could be converted to a state life certificate by passage of examinations in additional subjects.

Each of these reports gives the date and place of examination, and a statement by the examiner and examination deputies that all examination rules were followed. The following information is given for each candidate: name; address; and scores in examination subjects such as spelling, algebra, Latin, plane geometry, history, history of education, psychology, or school management. Entries for some candidates are annotated "Life," " Early Rev.," "E.R." These may indicate early review of examination papers and actual issuance of a state certificate.

Subseries 7: Reports of Examinations for Rural School Renewable Certificates, 1913-1924, 11 volumes. Rural school renewable certificates were first issued in 1910. They required two years of prior teaching experience and successful completion of examinations. Certificates were valid in any school district not maintaining an academic department and were issued and renewed for 10 year periods. Each report gives the date and place of the examination, and the name of the examination conductor and local district superintendent. The following information is given for each candidate: name; address; and scores in the following examination subjects: English for teachers, nature study, school law, history of education, school management, and methods of teaching.

A4201-97: This accretion to Subseries 1 consists of one volume of reports of examinations for college graduate certificates for the years 1919-1933.

Other Finding Aids

Available at Repository

A4201-78: Container list is available at the repository.

Custodial History

A4201-78: These records were transferred to the State Library at an unknown date. They were subsequently transferred to the State Archives in 1978 as part of old collection #638, accession number -461.

Access Restrictions

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

Access Terms

Detailed Description

Subseries 1: Reports of Examinations for College Graduate Certificates

Scope and Content Note:

The college graduate certificates were issued beginning in 1884 to any graduate of a college approved by the Board of Regents, and entitled the holder to teach in any school in the State. Beginning in 1902, graduates were required to have also completed an approved program of teacher education. A college graduate limited certificate was issued for two years to any college graduate who then was required to demonstrate, through state examinations, proficiency in teaching techniques. Successful completion of the exams resulted in renewal of the license for one year. Then, after three years teaching experience, a college graduate life certificate was issued. College graduate professional certificates were issued, without examinations, to college graduates whose work included educational training. This volume apparently contains the examination results of candidates seeking to qualify for the college graduate limited and life certificates. Each examination report gives the date and place of the exam, and the name of the examiner. A list of candidates gives the following information for each: name; address; and scores in examination subjects such as psychology, history of education, and teaching methods of English, mathematics, and other subjects. The volume in the 1997 accretion to this subseries consists of reports of examinations for college graduate certificates for the years 1919-1933.

  

Subseries 2: Reports of Examinations for Teachers Special Certificates

Scope and Content Note:

Special certificates were issued after two years of professional training and successful completion of examinations. These certificates, first issued in 1896, entitled the holder to teach a single subject only, such as art, commerce, home economics, music, drawing, physical education, or kindergarten. These volumes contain examination results of candidates for these certificates. Each examination report gives the date and place of the exam, the name and address of the examiner, and a statement signed by the school district superintendent and examination deputies that all examination rules were followed. The following information is given for each candidate: name; address; and scores in examination subjects such as history of education, school management, kindergarten methods, agriculture, drawing, typewriting, and shorthand.

Subseries 3: Reports of Examinations for Training School Certificates

Scope and Content Note:

Training schools were two year teacher training institutions located in cities and intended to supply the local city school system with elementary school teachers, although certificates were valid in any school in the state. High school graduation was required for admission to a training school. Each report gives the date and place of the examination, name and address of the examiner, and a statement by the school principal and examination deputies that the examination rules were followed. For each statement the following information is given: name; address; date of birth; name of any other institution where training school examinations have been taken; scores in examination subjects such as arithmetic, geography, nature study, history of education, psychology, or kindergarten methods; and certification of entitlement to training school certificate (some restricted to kindergarten). At the beginning of the first volume (1911) are some unbound lists of graduates from 1910 entitled to certificates, and a few pieces of correspondence between students, training schools, and the Education Department concerning issuance of certificates.

  

Subseries 4: Reports of Examinations for Training Class Certificates

Scope and Content Note:

Training classes were one year teacher training programs in union free schools or academies, primarily intended to supply rural school districts with elementary school teachers having a minimal amount of professional training. Entrance into a training class required graduation from an elementary school and some high school education. Certificates were valid in any school district not maintaining an academic department. Each report gives the following information: date; name and address of district superintendent of schools; name, number, and county of superintendency district; and statement of district superintendent, school principal, and examination deputies that examination rules were followed. For each student the following information was given: name; address; location of any previous examination; scores in examination subjects such as writing, arithmetic, school law, psychology, or methods in reading/writing/spelling; number of weeks attended each term; reason if attended fewer than required number of weeks; and "department notes" ("cond. arith," "cond. rem.," "cond. not rem.") Some entries are annotated to indicate if a student is entitled to a certificate or should return to the training class.

Subseries 5: Reports of Regents Examinations for Teachers Certificates

Scope and Content Note:

These are reports of the "uniform" examinations for teachers given each August beginning in 1887. These examinations could be used to apply towards several types of teaching certificates not requiring professional teacher training, such as the rural school renewable certificates (see subseries 7 below) and elementary and academic certificates. They were also occasionally taken by students enrolled in training classes (see subseries 4 above). Elementary certificates were issued one time for two years upon completion of examinations and were valid only in a single elementary school. They could be extended if the holder passed additional examinations in the pursuit of a higher level of certificate. Academic certificates required possession of a Regents academic diploma certified by passage of Regents examinations. They were valid only at a single school for three years, and could be extended by passage of examinations towards a State life certificate. Each report gives the following information: date and place of examination; certificate of school commissioner (pre-1912) or district superintendent (1912+) and examination deputies that examination rules were followed. For each candidate the following information is given: name; age; address; location of any previous examination; and scores in examination subjects such as spelling, arithmetic, elementary botany, ancient history, civics, psychology, school law, or methods of teaching.

Subseries 6: Reports of Examinations for Teachers State Certificates

Scope and Content Note:

State certificates, also referred to as state life certificates, were issued to candidates who successfully completed examinations in over 20 subjects. There was a two year teaching experience prerequisite, but no educational requirement. The certificate was valid for the life of the holder and entitled him or her to teach in any elementary or high school in the state. It was the highest level of teaching certificate issued solely on the basis of examination results. These certificates were discontinued after 1926. Passage of a shorter list of examinations entitled one to a limited state certificate, also valid in any school in the state. It was issued for a five year term and was not renewable, although it could be converted to a state life certificate by passage of examinations in additional subjects. Each of these reports gives the date and place of examination, and a statement by the examiner and examination deputies that all examination rules were followed. The following information is given for each candidate: name; address; and scores in examination subjects such as spelling, algebra, Latin, plane geometry, history, history of education, psychology, or school management. Entries for some candidates are annotated "Life," " Early Rev.," "E.R." These may indicate early review of examination papers and actual issuance of a state certificate.

Subseries 7: Reports of Examinations for Rural School Renewable Certificates

Scope and Content Note:

Rural school renewable certificates were first issued in 1910. They required two years of prior teaching experience and successful completion of examinations. Certificates were valid in any school district not maintaining an academic department and were issued and renewed for 10 year periods. Each report gives the date and place of the examination, and the name of the examination conductor and local district superintendent. The following information is given for each candidate: name; address; and scores in the following examination subjects: English for teachers, nature study, school law, history of education, school management, and methods of teaching.