PUBLIC "-//Fairfax Circuit Court Historic Records Center//TEXT (US::ViRCU-H::vaffcr00003::A Guide to the Fairfax County School Records and Ledgers, 1870-1905)//EN" "vaffcr00003.xml" A Guide to the Fairfax County School Records and Ledgers, 1870-1905 Emily Budd Fairfax Circuit Court Historic Records Center © 2017 By Fairfax Circuit Court Historic Records Center Machine-readable finding aid derived from being created directly into EAD, created by Ashton Fonville, 22 July 2021 Description is in English A Guide to the Fairfax County School Records and Ledgers, 1870-1905 A Collection in the Fairfax Circuit Court Historic Records Center

Fairfax Circuit Court Historic Records Center 2017 Fairfax Circuit Court Historic Records Center Fairfax Circuit Court Historic Records Center Descriptive Summary Fairfax Circuit Court Historic Records Center Fairfax County School Records and Ledgers, 1870-1905 Unit 39, Shelf 3 6.55 linear feet. English Fairfax Circuit Court Historic Records Center Administrative Information Access Restrictions

The Collection is open for research.

Use Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Preferred Citation

Fairfax County School Records and Ledgers, Fairfax Circuit Court Historic Records Center

Acquisition Information

Permanent Record of the Fairfax Circuit Court Historic Records Center.

Biographical Information

This collection contains two sets of books from different sources- the first appears to be records related to the work of the Fairfax County School Board. Until the early 1900s, the Fairfax County School Board held their meetings at the Courthouse, as they had no official offices for themselves. These record books might have been brought to meetings and left- this could also explain why a few books contain minutes from meetings. Other books in this part of the collection may have been donated, but if so, the donors were anonymous.

The second group of books in this collection relates to a court case involving John Chichester and the Commonwealth of Virginia (CFF# 1893-040: Commonwealth of Virginia vs. Sarah E. Chichester, et al). Chichester, who had served as county treasurer and School Board Clerk, was accused of not adequately carrying out his duties. The county sued for $100,000, which was the total cost of the error they claimed he made in the books and the $95,000 bond which he and six securities signed when he took the office of treasurer. Chichester passed away on June 27, 1889, so at the time of the trial, his wife and the six securities who signed the bond with him were responsible to defend him and pay the penalty if they lost the case. The court ruled in favor of the state, and in consequence, the defense had to pay the $100,000 that was then owed to the County. This money was paid over the course of several years.

Scope and Content

Series 1: Demographic records, 1873-1903. Eleven Ledgers. This series contains four School Censuses for 1890, and one for 1900; as well as three Teacher's Registers, two books containing the examinations of teachers, and one Virginia Public School Register. These documents contain teachers' and students' names, ages, education, and race. The censuses include the guardians of the students, the school they attended, what studies they pursued, and if the students could read and write. This series contains a wealth of information about the daily operations of the schools, such as attendance, textbooks used, and studies taught.

Series 2: Financial records, 1870-1905. Six Ledgers. Includes salaries paid to teachers; expenses for each school district and schoolhouse (expenses included fire wood, paper, books, repairs to schoolhouses, and similar items); and funds received and spent by the county. Some documents contain minutes from school board meetings and expenses of the school treasurer while on official business. In this series, there are also receipts paid to teachers for their work.

Series 3: Evidence from the John Chichester court case (CFF# 1893-040: Commonwealth of Virginia vs. Sarah E. Chichester et al), 1886-1890. Seven Ledgers. These books were used as evidence in the court case against John Chichester. They include reports of expenses for the schools (repairs, books, fire wood, teacher salaries, etc) and funds received and spent by the county. One book contains a record of official clerk business, as well as some meeting minutes.

Series 4: Miscellaneous. 1880-1904, non-inclusive. Seven Folders. This series contains records that did not include financial or demographic information, or were removed from books in the other series. These include letters written to and from the school board and teachers, scratch paper, and receipts for items for the schools. One book in this series contains school laws for 1892, and another is entitled Nickerson's Manual of School Charts.

Index Terms Attendance of students, funding, demographics of students and teachers, costs of school districts, payment to teachers, items bought for schools, clerk's travel for work Fairfax County Ledger books, receipts, letters, guidebooks for teaching Paper, ink, graphite, marbled book covers, leather Contents List Demographic Records Box 1: Book 1: Teachers Register for Virginia Public Schools, Lee District: White School Number 9 Box 1: Book 2: Teachers Register for Virginia Public Schools, Lee District: Lorton Valley White School Number 6 Box 1: Book 3: Teachers Register for Virginia Public Schools, Centreville District: School 6, White School Box 1: Book 4: Virginia Public School Record - Dranesville District, Colored School Number 73 Box 1: Book 5: Providence School District, 1890 Census Box 1: Book 6: Mt. Vernon School District, 1890 Census Box 1: Book 7: Falls Church, 1890 Census Box 1: Book 8: Lee School District, 1890 Census Box 1: Book 9: Falls Church, 1900 Census Financial Records Box 4: Book 1: Untitled #4 Box 2: Book 2: Untitled #2 Box 2: Book 3: Memoranda Book 5, 1890-1891 Box 4: Book 4: Record of Teachers Examined and Contracted With Box 4: Book 5: Record of Monthly Reports Box 2: Book 6: Untitled #1 Box 2: Book 7: 1904-1905 Receipt Book Box 2: Book 8: Memoranda Book 2, 1887-1888 Box 4: Book 9: Records of Early Superintendents [Untitled #3] Box 5: Folder 7: State School Funds Apportionment 1885-1887 Box 5: Folder 8: Receipts for Teachers of Public Schools Dec. 1890 Chichester Case Evidence Box 3: Book 1: Book A.W.A 1 Box 4: Book 2: Untitled #5 Box 3: Book 3: Treasurer's Office Providence School District (A.W.A. 8) Box 3: Book 4: State and County School Fund Book 1879-1888 Box 4: Book 5: Providence School District Box 3: Book 6: Treasurer's Office. Mount Vernon District (A.W.A. 6) Miscellaneous Box 2: Book 1: Nickerson's Manual of School Charts Box 2: Book 2: Virginia School Laws, 1892 Box 5: Folder 1: Miscellaneous from A.W.A 1 Box 5: Folder 2: Miscellaneous Box 5: Folder 3: Miscellaneous from Receipts for Teachers of Public Schools, Dec 1890 Box 5: Folder 4: Miscellaneous from 1904-1905 Receipt Book Box 5: Folder 5: Miscellaneous from Memoranda Book 2 Box 5: Folder 6: Miscellaneous from Untitled Book #1