The Ohio legislature incorporated Cleveland, Ohio, as a city in 1836. Cleveland's city council appointed a board of managers to organize a tax-supported school system. By 1837, two schools had been constructed in each school district to accommodate 800 students in a single-sex environment. By 1842, Cleveland boasted 15 public schools for1,200 students. Despite overcrowding, inadequate facilities, and budgetary constraints, educational progress occurred, including uniform textbooks, teacher training, and a common curriculum despite class background. In 1846, Cleveland opened Central High School, the first public high school west of the Allegheny Mountains. By 1859 the Cleveland school board was an elected body. At the end of the Civil War, Cleveland's public schools educated over 9,000 students each year, and a system of primary, middle, and secondary schools was established. During the 15-year post-war period when Andrew Rickoff served as superintendent, enrollment soared to over 26,000 pupils, single-sex education was abandoned. Overcrowding remained a persistent problem, however.
The Board of Managers of the Cleveland Public Schools Records, 1846-1856, consist of minutes of meetings, 1848-1850; results of examinations of teachers at Rockwell Street School, August 15 and November 23, 1851; lists of books ordered and books received; and some computations.
This collection will be useful to researchers studying the history of Cleveland, Ohio, and its public education system in the mid-nineteenth century. Those interested in public school administration, teacher education, and textbook usage in the nineteenth century will find this collection useful.
The collection is arranged chronologically and is maintained in one volume.
The researcher should also consult MS 10 Cleveland, Ohio, School District Records.
None.
[Container ___, Folder ___ ] MS 393 Board of Managers of the Cleveland Public Schools Records, Western Reserve Historical Society, Cleveland, Ohio
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.