Century-old school census papers found in warehouse

"I am thrilled to see them," said Philip S. Miller Library Archivist Johanna Harden. "We thought they were destroyed years ago."

The records are contained in five boxes that John Green, warehouse superintendent, discovered and asked the district how to get them out of the warehouse.

"I have been moving them around for years," Green said. "We need to get them out of the warehouse."

About eight years ago, the records were rescued from the trash, Harden said.

"We lost track of them and thought they were lost forever," she said.

Records from 1879, 1896-97 and 1902-64 are in the boxes. The census records show how many students were enrolled in county schools, their ages, their genders and grade levels. Information about how many were deaf, blind, etc., also is included.

Because of the gaps in years, Harden said she believes a box still is missing.

"We can use these to fill in missing information," said Shaun Boyd, assistant archivist for the library. "We are working on a school district history and these are a valuable find."

Harden said the records evidently have been partially microfilmed because there are sheets to show that in the boxes. She said she was moved visibly as she read some information from the old census forms.

Harden wore white gloves while she examined the papers because the gloves keep skin oil from getting on old paper work, she said.

"There were more than 30 school districts in the county at one time," said Boyd. "They all had superintendents and did all their own hiring. These papers will define the districts."

The district is restricted by law from destroying the records, and the district must contact the state archivist and request permission to turn the papers over to the library district, Harden said.

"We already have turned the papers over to the library district," said Bruce Caughey, director of communications for the school district. "We will now just complete the necessary forms for the state."

To complete the school districts' histories, the library district is asking anyone who has old school pictures to donate them and to write a short history of memories from school days along with the photographs, Harden said.

She can be contacted at the Philip S. Miller Library, (303) 688-5157.