Skip to main content

Boston Public Schools

 Organization

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 202 Collections and/or Records:

Grover Cleveland School photograph

 Item — Box SB - 004
Identifier: 0420.024
Scope and Contents

Photograph of the Grover Cleveland School Class of 1932.

Dates: 1932

Henry L. Pierce School photograph

 Item — Box SB - 006
Identifier: 0420.051
Scope and Contents

Photograph of the Class of 1899.

Dates: 1899

"Here is the gymnasium. Skirts are rather long, but did not restrict too much.", circa 1914

 Item
Identifier: 0420041_033
Scope and Contents From the Series:

Lantern slides from a presentation on the school circa 1914. Includes views of students, classrooms and student projects.

Dates: circa 1914

High School of Commerce records

 Series
Identifier: 0420.026
Scope and Contents

Includes yearbooks for 1938-1940; photograph of unidentified sports team, circa 1913-1914; framed photographs of the Classes of 1919 and 1920; framed photograph of the baseball team from circa 1916-1919; diploma from 1920; and framed school cadets certificate.

Dates: circa 1913-1940

Horace Mann School for the Deaf records

 Collection
Identifier: 0420.047
Scope and Contents note

The Horace Mann School for the Deaf records range in date from 1847-1995, with the bulk of the dates ranging from 1870-1994. The records have been arranged into six series: Series I – Administrative; Series II – Sarah Fuller; Series III – Memorabilia; Series IV – Boston Educational Association for Deaf Children; Series V – Reference Files; Series VI – Photographs.

Dates: 1867-1995

Hyde Park High School records

 Collection
Identifier: 0420.072
Scope and Content note The collection includes records from Hyde Park High School ranging from 1886-2008 with gaps. The records include paper, volumes, yearbooks and photographs. The records reflect aspects of the school including school history, student life, teacher information and parent information. The smaller portion of the records are divided into folders that include recorts such as a coin honoring Hyde Park High School from 1967, the alumni association, correspondence, drama, information for parents,...
Dates: 1886-2002

Jamaica Plain High School records

 Series
Identifier: 0420.044
Scope and Contents

(Old) West Roxbury High School was renamed Jamaica Plain High School in 1923. Includes yearbooks for 1942, 1946, 1951, 1956 and 1984; framed class photo from 1931; student newsletters 1895-1967 with gaps; Agricultural Department photographs, circa 1925-1940; yearbook photographs, circa 1950s; sports uniforms; plaques, 1957, 1962; and gradduation programs, 1917-1962. See also (Old) West Roxbury High School.

Dates: 1895-1984

James J. Chittick School photographs

 Series — Box SB - 012: Series V, Folder: 11
Identifier: 0420.076
Scope and Contents

Class photographs of James J. Chittick School attended by donor and her brother. Robert Cumming attended Kg-6th grade, 1949-1956. Virginia Cumming attended Kg-2nd grade, 1954-1956.

Dates: 1949-1956

Jeremiah E. Burke High School records

 Series
Identifier: 0420.021
Scope and Contents

Includes yearbooks for 1948, 1950, and 1968; student magazines "The Quill" from 1934-1954 with gaps; and framed National Honor Society charter, 1946.

Dates: 1946, 1948, 1950, 1960

John A. Andrew School records

 Series
Identifier: 0420.011
Scope and Contents

Includes program of the Exhibition of the Andrew School from 1885, graduation programs from 1887-1912 with gaps, and a framed diploma from 1903.

Dates: 1885-1912

John D. O'Bryant High School yearbooks

 Series — Box 9
Identifier: 0420.050
Scope and Contents

Yearbooks from 1993, 1995, 1999, and 2001-2004.

Dates: 1993-2004 with gaps

Joseph H. Barnes School photograph

 Item — Flat box 1
Identifier: 0420.069
Scope and Contents

Photograph of the class of 1927.

Dates: 1927

"Junior Dressmaking class."

 Digital Image
Identifier: 0420041_003

"Junior Dressmaking class."

 Digital Image
Identifier: 0420041_004

"Junior Dressmaking class.", circa 1914

 Item
Identifier: 0420041_003
Scope and Contents From the Series:

Lantern slides from a presentation on the school circa 1914. Includes views of students, classrooms and student projects.

Dates: circa 1914

K. Marie Clarke papers

 Collection
Identifier: 9800.004
Scope and Contents

Records documenting K. Marie Clarke's activities within various organizations which were involved in the monitoring of the Boston Public School system at different levels. K. Marie Clarke was involved with the Secondary School Commission, the Boston Home and School Association and the Citywide Coordinating Council. Records includes correspondence, reports, proposals, court documents, memorandum, meeting agendas and minutes, studies, handbooks, pamphlets, newsletters, news clippings, etc.

Dates: 1964-1996 (bulk, 1973-1978)

Kougeas Family collection

 Collection
Identifier: 0400.009
Scope and Contents

Collection of materials relating to the Boston Public Schools donated by the Kougeas Family. Includes yearbooks, photographs, textbook, class ring, etc. School represented include English High School, Girls' High School, Prince School and others.

Dates: circa 1925-1977

Lewis School photographs and textbook

 Collection — Box School Photographs 1
Identifier: 0420.080

Longfellow School photograph

 Item — Box SB - 001
Identifier: 0420.045
Scope and Contents

Photograph of Longfellow class, circa 1908.

Dates: circa 1908

Lowell School photograph

 Item — Box SB - 020, Folder: 9
Identifier: 0420.073
Scope and Contents

Framed photograph of the Class of 1925.

Dates: 1925

Madison Park High School yearbook

 Series
Identifier: 0420.046
Scope and Contents

Yearbook for 1979.

Dates: 1979

[Male students in a classroom]

 Digital Image
Identifier: 0420072_FB001_006_003

[Male students in a classroom]

 Digital Image
Identifier: 0420072_FB001_006_004

[Male students sitting on steps]

 Digital Image
Identifier: 0420072_FB001_006_002

Margaret Fuller School photographs

 Series — Box 1
Identifier: 0420.037
Scope and Contents

Includes class photographs from 1972-1975, 1978-1984, 1986-1988, 1991 and 2000.

Dates: 1972-2000

Mary Hemenway School photographs

 Series — SB - 034
Identifier: 0420.043
Scope and Contents

Class portraits from 1940 and 1947.

Dates: 1940, 1947

Mather School photographs and diploma

 Series
Identifier: 0420.049
Scope and Contents

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.

Dates: 1922-1952 with gaps

Additional filters:

Type
Collection 106
Archival Object 52
Digital Record 44
 
Subject
Lantern slides 64
Home economics 48
Photographs 46
Dressmaking 32
Yearbooks 27