GR-0449 consists of indexes to correspondence inward of superintendents C.C. McKenzie (1878-1884), S.D. Pope (1884-1899) and Alexander Robinson (1899-1919). The actual correspondence - or at least those documents which have survived - is to be found in GR-1445.
Contemporary indexes to correspondence inward from 1872 (when the position of superintendent was established) to 1877 were lost or destroyed sometime before 1936, when the superintendents' records were transferred to the Provincial Archives. The index to correspondence inward, 1878 - March 1881 is to be found in GR-0450, vols. 192 and 193 [B08624].
The indexes which comprise this unit begin in April 1881 and continue on through December 1915. The indexes consist of two types - bound index volumes and boxed index cards. Three methods of organization were used over time as the records were created. They are as follows:
- Index volumes 1-12 (1881-1900)
Correspondence received prior to 1901 was indexed by name of correspondent, not by subject. For example, correspondence concerning the schools of VANCOUVER, 1886, does not appear under the heading "Vancouver" in the index (GR-0449, Vol. 3); rather, it is indexed under the name of Dr. D.L. BECKINGSALE, Secretary of the Vancouver Board of School Trustees.
Secretaries of local school boards were responsible for official communications between school districts and the Education Office in Victoria. Thus, researchers will need to know the name of the school board secretary in order to search the index volumes for documents pertaining to a particular school. The best way of identifying these officials is to consult the Annual Reports of the Public Schools. In the appendices of the published Reports researchers will find an alphabetical list of public schools, showing the names of local trustees and indicating which of the trustees had been designated secretary.
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Index volumes 13 & 14 (1901-1905); Index card boxes 15-19 (1906-1913)
As a rule, indexes to correspondence inward after 1901 are arranged alphabetically, by name of school or school district. Thus, correspondence and reports concerning schools in Vancouver will be indexed under the letter "V". Correspondence unrelated to a particular school is indexed under the name of the correspondent.
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Index card boxes 20-23 (1914-1915)
Incoming correspondence was divided into four broad categories: General, Municipalities, Cities, and Rurals. Within each category, correspondence was indexed alphabetically.
"General" correspondence includes routine administrative letters, applications for appointments, general enquiries, etc. However, the "General" category also includes special index headings for correspondence re: Cadet Corps, Free Text-book Branch, School Inspectors, Technical Education, University of British Columbia, and the like.
Under "Cities" will be found correspondence relating to Graded City Schools; under "Municipalities" correspondence pertaining to Rural Municipality Schools. "Rurals" embraces correspondence dealing with the small Rural and Assisted Schools in the province. Researchers who are uncertain of the status of a particular school - i.e. whether it was classified as a graded city school, a municipal school, etc. - should consult the published Annual Reports of the Public Schools before searching these indexes.
British Columbia. Superintendent of Education