If you’re looking for early photos of Colorado’s schools, you may not think to look in government documents. But in fact the State of Colorado in the late 1800s/early 1900s often included images in its biennial reports of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, the School for the Deaf and the Blind, and other child-serving agencies. And since many of the reports are dated before 1923, it is easy to find images that are in the public domain. Here is a sampling of some of the great education-related images that can be found in old Colorado documents:
Denver’s Manual High School, from the 1891-92 Biennial Report of the Superintendent of Public Instruction |
The Hale Scientific Building at the University of Colorado, Boulder, from the 1891-92 Biennial Report of the Superintendent of Public Instruction |
Floorplan of Denver’s Emerson School, in the Capitol Hill neighborhood. From the 1883-84 report of the Superintendent of Public Instruction |
The Girls’ Industrial School, near Morrison, from the 1907-08 Biennial Report of the State Board of Charities and Correction |
Administration Building, Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind, from the school’s 1905-06 Biennial Report. |
The “yard crew” at the Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind, from the school’s 1899-1900 report. |
Montrose County High School soon after completion, from the 1909-10 Biennial Report of the Superintendent of Public Instruction |
Ashland School in North Denver; from the 1899-1900 Biennial Report of the Superintendent of Public Instruction |
A rural school in Larimer County, from the 1899-1900 Biennial Report of the Superintendent of Public Instruction |
A rural school in Clear Creek County, also from the 1899-1900 Biennial Report of the Superintendent of Public Instruction. |
A rural school in Phillips County, from the 1895-96 Biennial Report of the Superintendent of Public Instruction. |
The Georgetown School, from the 1895-96 Biennial Report of the Superintendent of Public Instruction. |
Students on the playground at Norrie School, Pitkin County, from the 1901-02 Biennial Report of the Superintendent of Public Instruction. |
State documents are good places to find other photos and architectural drawings, as well; for instance, many reports contain photos or drawings of the State Capitol, such as the image below from the 1892-94 report of the State Board of Health. Search other reports for institutions, penitentiaries, and other state buildings.
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