Boston Public Schools
Historical note
In 1789, the General Court of the Colony granted authority to “trust to appoint School Committees for the control of the Schools.” In accordance with the provisions of this act, the first School Committee for Boston was chosen October 20, 1789, “to exercise all the Powers relating to the Schools and School Masters, which the Selectmen or such Committees are authorized by the Laws of this Commonwealth on the Votes of this Town to exercise.” Under the reorganized plan of 1789, the public schools of Boston were administered by a committee consisting of twenty-one members, nine selectmen and one member from each of the twelve wards. For administrative purposes, the Board of twenty-one members was divided into various sub-committees. Sub-committees included a visiting committee, a committee to fill vacancies in the teaching staff and an examining committee.
Found in 206 Collections and/or Records:
Mary Hemenway School photographs
Class portraits from 1940 and 1947.
Mather School photographs and diploma
Includes panoramic photographs of the graduating classes of 1922-1923, 1925, 1927-1928, 1930, 1932, 1934-1935, 1938-1939, 1941 and 1945-1952; and a diploma from 1932.
"Milliners making bows and sketching the ultra fashionable hat."
"Milliners making bows and sketching the ultra fashionable hat.", circa 1914
Lantern slides from a presentation on the school circa 1914. Includes views of students, classrooms and student projects.
"Milliners making wire hat frames."
"Milliners making wire hat frames.", circa 1914
Lantern slides from a presentation on the school circa 1914. Includes views of students, classrooms and student projects.
"More future dressmakers working quietly and earnestly."
"More future dressmakers working quietly and earnestly.", circa 1914
Lantern slides from a presentation on the school circa 1914. Includes views of students, classrooms and student projects.
Morgan et al. v. Hennigan et al. and related cases files
News clippings
Includes scrapbooks of news clippings, 1941-1943 and 1946-1958 and news clippings compiled by the Office of Communications, April 1985-February 1988 and 1993-2000 on topics relating to the Boston Public Schools.
Old Franklin School photograph
Copy print of a photograph from October 10, 1899 of the Old Franklin School in use as a veterans' post located on the west side of Washington Street, south of Dover Street. The school was built in 1845.
Oliver Wendell Holmes School photograph
Class phptograph of the Oliver Wendell Holmes School, School Street, Dorchester, 1910.
"Once in awhile because of the nearness to the markets, there was a splendid opportunity for the cooks to learn all about the different cuts of meat."
"Once in awhile because of the nearness to the markets, there was a splendid opportunity for the cooks to learn all about the different cuts of meat.", circa 1914
Lantern slides from a presentation on the school circa 1914. Includes views of students, classrooms and student projects.
"One Room Workshop," Hyde Park High School scrapbook page
Organizing an urban school system for diversity : a study of the Boston School Department, 1970
Publications produced by the Boston School Department. Includes Code of Discipline, contracts, handbooks, newsletters, reports, plans, etc.
"Our own dresses, new Spring fashions!"
Patrick T. Campbell School photographs
Panoramic photographs of the graduating classes of 1943, 1947-1950 and 1952-1954.
Payroll records
Miscellaneous records documenting payroll for various departments. Includes Fire Department, 1829-1868 with gaps; Schools, 1833-1870 with gaps; Police, 1869-1870; Water Works, 1869-1870; Chestnut Hill Reservoir, 1868-1869; Lamps, 1869-1870; Paving, 1869-1870; Health, 1868-1869, Auditing, 1875-1885; Welfare, 1920-1923; and Institutions, 1922-1923.
Phillips Brooks School photograph
Framed portrait of the Class of 1920.
Phillis Wheatley School records
Includes the yearbook from 1994 and miscellaneous plaques and medals from 1991-2000.
Photographs of School Headmasters
Collection of photographs of school headmasters who served circa 1830-1878. Includes John D. Philbrick, Joshua Bates, Samuel W. Mason, Elbridge Smith, W.L.P. Boardman, William E. Endicott and others.
Prescott School photograph
Proceedings of the School Committee
Includes published proceedings of School Committee meetings, 1870, 1873-May 1987; verbatim transcripts of School Committee meetings, July 1936-June 1996; and School Committee board papers, September 1915-2011.
Register of Boston Public School teachers and index
Alphabetical List of Instructors of the Boston Public Schools, 1876-1901 and Registry of Instructors, 1901-1906?.
Report of the Board of Superintendents on survey report made under the auspices of the Finance Commission of the City of Boston section I school plant - safety, 1945
Publications produced by the Boston School Department. Includes Code of Discipline, contracts, handbooks, newsletters, reports, plans, etc.
Robert Gould Shaw School photographs
Includes photograph of unidentified class of the Robert Gould Shaw School, circa 1900; panoramic photographs of the classes of 1960 and 1963; and copyprints of published photographs of school building and assembly hall, undated
Rochambeau School photographs
Class portraits from 1940 and 1947.
Roger Wolcott School diploma and photograph
Diploma from the Roger Wolcott School, 1912 and class of 1915 photograph.
Additional filters:
- Type
- Collection 107
- Archival Object 55
- Digital Record 44
- Subject
- Lantern slides 64
- Home economics 48
- Photographs 48
- Dressmaking 32
- Public schools 27
- Yearbooks 27
- Schools 17
- Students 15
- Millinery 13
- Budget 9
- School management and organization 8
- School integration 6
- Scrapbooks 5
- Teachers 5
- Busing for school integration 4
- School principals 4
- Commencement ceremonies 3
- Discrimination in education 3
- Litigation 3
- Minutes (Records) 3 + ∧ less