This collection contains the historically significant records retained from the operations of La Plata County School District No. 5 at the Pinon Grove School.  The school, the sole one in La Plata County School District Number 5, was known as the Hood School in its early days, due to the Hood family's ownership of land on which it operated.  Predominant records are annual reports and teachers' registers of their classes.  These materials are useful for a study of small rural schools and for research into individuals who lived, studied, and/or worked in the Pinon Grove area on the Upper Florida River in La Plata County in the 1920s through 1941.

At one time, there were thirty-six independent schools in La Plata County, Colorado.  Vernon Culhane was president of the School District No. 5 school board, and was secretary of that board at the time that the independent schools of La Plata County were consolidated into Colorado School District 9R.

For additional historical background, the user is referred to Bruce Spining's Clapboards, School Boards & Blackboards: A history of the Florida area rural county schools, 1875-1959, written with the assistance of Robert Tyner (Boulder, CO: Johnson Printing & Publishing Co., 1993), 159 pages.  The call number of the book in the Robert Delaney Southwest Research library at the Center of Southwest Studies is LB1567 S65 1993.

Administrative information

Acquisition of this collection/ provenance :  Family and descendants of the late Vernon Culhane donated these materials to Bruce Spining for his Florida Schools History Project.  He in turn donated them to the Center of Southwest Studies in February of 1994 (accession number 940202). Vernon was ; these records were in his files at the time when Mr. Culhane was secretary of the School District No. 5 school board when the independent schools of La Plata County were consolidated into Colorado School District 9R.  About half of these materials were damaged by apparent storage in barn-like conditions, but they require no special handling considerations other than the care expected of special collections users.

About the organization of this collection:  The series and boxes are numbered consecutively.  Because we do not expect to add to this collection, the boxes are numbered in one single numbering scheme starting with 1.

Processing information:  This inventory was prepared by Todd Ellison, revised September 18, 1998; html conversion was done by Jesse Davila, September 21, 1998.  Student archival assistant Haley Sladek produced the hyperlinks from the index to the folder lists, October 2005.

Note:These materials are organized, in general, from highest hierarchical level to lowest, or from most general to most specific. Items within each series and within each box and folder generally are arranged chronologically. See the container list (i.e., the following section of this inventory) for descriptions of each folder's contents.

Sub-record groups of series

Sub-group 1: Administrative records, 1912-1950, 1 box. These include a map of La Plata County school district boundaries, residents' petitions to form a new school district, a Hood/ Pinon Grove School lease, minutes of School District No. 5 meetings, a La Plata County school calendar, School District No. 5 monthly and annual reports to the La Plata County Superintendent, School District No. 5 annual school census lists, Pinon Grove School annual reports, appointment contracts records, and a volume of 1915 school laws for Colorado.

Sub-group 2: Financial records, 1922-1953, 1 box. These include a background article on school finance in Colorado, School District No. 5 annual financial reports and statements, School District No. 5 tax levy and budget reports, La Plata County Assessor's abstracts of assessment (including school tax levy rates), School District No. 5 annual budget reports, some state and federal income tax records for the school, a minimum salaries schedule for La Plata County teachers, tuition bills and receipts from a neighboring School District No. 9, insurance policies, La Plata County Treasurer's annual statements and credit vouchers for School District No. 5, and Pinon Grove School/School District No. 5 miscellaneous receipts for goods and services purchased.

Sub-group 3:  Teachers' records, 1877-1941, 1 box. These include teachers' annual grade advancement reports for students' promotion to the next level, teachers' annual inventories of school equipment including books, a large number of teachers' classrooms registers, a teacher's records of student health testing, and two textbooks signed by teacher Orville H. Hood.

Container List

Box 1:  Administrative records, 1912-1950

Folder 1   La Plata County school districts boundaries map, undated photocopy.

Folder 2   District No. 26 residents' petitions to La Plata County Superintendent of Schools, requesting formation of a new district, 1912 and 1922. 9 p. (photocopies)

Folder 3   Hood/ Pinon Grove School lease, 1919 Oct. 28, deed by Mary Hood for additional land at the school's site. This was the school's original copy.

Folder 4   School District No. 5 district record book, 1920-1929. 1 volume. Includes District minutes, 1921 May 2-1928 May 7; Board of Directors minutes, 1920 Aug. 9-1928 June 12; and special fund balance sheets, 1920 Oct. 9-1929 June 22.

Folder 5   School District No. 5 district record book, 1929-1931. 1 volume. Contents similar to those of the volume in folder 4.

Folder 6   La Plata County school calendar for 1937-38. 1 page.

Folder 7   School District No. 5 monthly reports to La Plata County Superintendent, 1931 May 15-1937 Feb. 12, incomplete. These are teachers' monthly reports to the County Superintendent for the years 1931; 1933; 1934; 1935; 1936; and 1937.

Folder 8   School District No. 5 annual report to La Plata County Superintendent for the year ending June 30, 1922. 1 pamphlet.

Folder 9   School District No. 5 annual report to La Plata County Superintendent for the year ending June 30, 1923. 1 pamphlet.

Folder 10   School District No. 5 annual report to La Plata County Superintendent for the year ending June 30, 1924. 1 pamphlet.

Folder 11   School District No. 5 annual report to La Plata County Superintendent for the year ending June 30, 1925. 1 pamphlet.

Folder 12   School District No. 5 school census lists for the years 1921; 1922; 1923; 1924; 1925; 1926; and 1927. 7 volumes.

Folder 13   School District No. 5 school census lists for the years 1928; 1929; 1930; 1931; 1933; 1934; and 1935. 5 volumes and 1 item.

Folder 14   School District No. 5 school census lists for the years 1948; 1949; 1950. 3 volumes.

Folder 15   Pinon Grove School standard rating "Standardization" form. Undated. 1 page.

Folder 16   Pinon Grove School teacher's or principal's annual reports for the year ending June 30, 1921; 1922; 1923; 1924; 1926; 1927; 1928; and 1929. 8 volumes.

Folder 17   Pinon Grove School teacher's or principal's annual reports for the year ending June 30, 1930; 1931; 1932; 1933; 1934; 1935; 1936; and 1937. 8 volumes.

Folder 18   Pinon Grove School teacher's or principal's annual reports for the year ending June 30, 1938; 1939; 1940; 1941; 1949. 5 volumes.

Folder 19   Jim Pierson appointment as School District No. 5 secretary, certificate, 1937 July 31. 1 page.

Folder 20   Teacher contracts, 1937-1947. 5 pages. Contracts for: Ms. Alice Hunt for 1938-39, 1942-43, and 1946; Frances Jacobsen for 1937-38; and Korleen Mason for 1946-47.

Folder 21   Teacher application correspondence, 1937-1938. Includes letters (and some references) from: Beatrice Carmack (with photo), 1937; Frances Jacobsen, 1937; Nanna Gum, 1938; and Marjorie Morrison, 1938. Includes teacher reference letter re: F. Jacobsen from Irene O'Brien, Dean of Women at Fort Lewis College, and teacher acceptance letter from Frances Jacobsen.

Folder 22   Pinon Grove School Board national school lunch program records, 1947 December-1948. Includes application to Colorado Department of Education and record of District joining the Colorado School Lunch Program.

Folder 23   The School Laws Annotated of the State of Colorado as Amended to Date June 30, 1915, by Mary C. C. Bradford, Smith-Brooks Co. State Printers, Denver, Co., 1915. 1 volume (246 pages).
 

Box 2:  Financial records, 1922-1953
Folder 1   School Finance in Colorado, article, by Dr. O. L. Troxel, State Teacher's College, Greeley, CO. Undated [ca. 1933].

Folder 2   School District No. 5 Secretary's annual reports for the year ending June 30, 1931-1939. 9 volumes. These list officers and (predominantly) contain financial data.

Folder 3   School District No. 5 Secretary's annual reports for the year ending June 30, [1940?]-1950. 8 volumes.

Folder 4   School District No. 5 annual financial statements for the year ending June 30, 1922; 1923; 1926; 1927; 1928; 1929; 1930; and 1931. ; 1948; 1949; and 1950.

Folder 5   School District No. 5 annual financial statements for the year ending June 30, 1932; 1933; 1934; 1938; 1939; 1940; 1941; 1942; and 1943.

Folder 6   School District No. 5 financial reports publication affidavits for the year ending June 30, 1922; 1923; 1925; 1928; 1931; 1938; 1939; 1940; 1941; 1942; and 1943. Affidavits of publication of the District's budgets in the local press.

Folder 7   School District No. 5 tax levy and budget reports for the years 1927, 1928 and 1929. 3 pages.

Folder 8   La Plata County Assessor's abstracts of assessment for the years: 1924; 1925; 1926; 1928; 1929; 1930; and 1931. These include figures on school district tax levies.

Folder 9   La Plata County Assessor's abstracts of assessment for the years: 1934; 1939; 1940; 1941; 1942; 1942; 1943; 1944; and 1945.

Folder 10   School District No. 5 annual budget reports for the year ending June 30, 1939; 1940; 1941; 1942; 1943; 1944; 1947; 1948; 1949; 1950; and 1951.

Folder 11   State and federal income tax records, 1939-1951, incomplete.

Folder 12   La Plata County Superintendent of Schools district minimum salaries schedule, 1926 Oct. 22.

Folder 13   School District No. 5 tuition bills and receipts from School District No. 9, 1947-1951. 4 pages. For students attending Durango High School.

Folder 14   School District No. 5 insurance policies, 1938-1946. Insurance records for the school building and contents.

Folder 15   La Plata County Treasurer's annual statements for School District No. 5 for the year ending June 30, 1921; 1922; 1923; 1924; 1925; 1927; 1927; 1928; 1929; and 1930.

Folder 16   La Plata County Treasurer's annual statements for School District No. 5 for the year ending June 30, 1938; 1940; 1941; 1942; 1944; and 1948.

Folder 17   La Plata County Treasurer's monthly credit vouchers and receipts for School District No. 5 for 1933; 1934; and 1938.

Folder 18   La Plata County Treasurer's monthly credit vouchers and receipts for School District No. 5 for 1942; 1946; 1948; 1949; 1950; and 1951 (bulk 1948-1950).

Folder 19   La Plata County Treasurer's paid vouchers for School District No. 5 for 1942; 1944; and 1945.

Folder 20   La Plata County Treasurer's paid vouchers for School District No. 5 for 1946; 1947; and 1948.

Folder 21   La Plata County Treasurer's paid vouchers for School District No. 5 for 1949; 1950; and 1951.

Folder 22   La Plata County Treasurer voucher books for School District No. 5 payments for years: 1928-1931; 1941-1946; and 1946-1950. 3 volumes.

Folder 23   Pinon Grove School/School District No. 5 miscellaneous receipts for goods and services purchased, [ca. 1940-1953]. Includes the District's certificate of membership in the La Plata Electric Assn., 1941 April; and a subscription notice card from the Colorado School Bulletin, 1947 June 15.

Box 3: Teachers' records, 1877-1941
Folder 1   Teachers' grade advancement annual reports for school years ending: 1926; 1927; [1929]; 1931; [1932]; 1933; 1934; 1935; 1936; [1937]; and 1938.

Folder 2   Teachers' school equipment annual reports for school years ending: 1926; 1927; 1928; 1930. 4 items. Includes lists of textbooks on approved list for La Plata County, and the number of fiction and non-fiction library books.

Folder 3   Teacher's registers for the school years 1920-21 and 1921-22. 2 volumes.

Folder 4   Teacher's registers for the school years 1922-23 and 1925-26. 2 volumes.

Folder 5   Teacher's registers for the school years 1926-27 and 1927-28. 2 volumes.

Folder 6   Teacher's registers for the school years 1928-29 and 1929-30. 2 volumes.

Folder 7   Teacher's registers for the school years 1930-31 and [1931-1932(?)]. 2 volumes.

Folder 8   Teacher's registers for the school years 1932-33 and 1933-34. 2 volumes.

Folder 9   Teacher's registers for the school years 1934-35 and 1935-36. 2 volumes.

Folder 10   Teacher's register for the school year 1936-37. 1 volume.

Folder 11   Teacher's registers for the school years 1938-39 and 1939-40. 2 volumes.

Folder 12   Teacher's register for the school year 1940-41. 1 volume.

Folder 13   Colorado Public Schools teacher's book: Test Records of Sight, Hearing, and Breathing and of Mental, Moral, and Physical Defectiveness, (completed by teacher 1917 Dec.). 1 v. Includes the teacher's noted test records.

Folder 14   Textbooks signed by Orville H. Hood, teacher, 1900: A Primary History of the United States, by T. F. Donnelly, American Book Company, New York, 1899; and Ray's New Practical Arithmetic, by Joseph Ray, M.D., American Book Company, New York, 1877. 2 volumes. These copies were owned by Mr. Hood. Water damaged and warped.

Abstracts of assessment
Administrative records
Affidavits of publication

Balance sheets
Bradford, Mary C. C.
Budget reports

Calendars
Carmack, Beatrice
Census lists
Class registers
Colorado Department of Education
Colorado School Lunch Program
Contracts

District minimum salaries schedule
District record book
Donnelly, T. F.
Durango High School

Financial records
Financial statements
Fort Lewis College Dean of Women

Grade advancement annual reports
Gum, Nanna

Hood, Mary
Hood, Orville H.
Hood/Pinon Grove School lease, 1919
Hunt, Alice

Income tax records, 1939-1951
Insurance policies, 1938-1946

Jacobsen, Frances

La Plata County Assessor's abstracts of assessment
La Plata County school calendar for 1937-38
La Plata County school districts boundaries map
La Plata County Treasurer's annual statements
La Plata County Treasurer's credit vouchers
La Plata Electric Assn., 1941 April
Leases
Library books statistics

Maps
Mason, Korleen
Minutes
Morrison, Marjorie

O'Brien, Irene

Petitions
Pierson, Jim
Pinon Grove School lease, 1919
Pinon Grove School standard rating
Pinon Grove School/School District No. 5 misc. receipts

Ray, Joseph
Ray's New Practical Arithmetic
Receipts

Salaries
School calendar for 1937-38
School census lists
School District No. 5 records
School District No. 5 secretary
School District No. 9
School district tax levies
School districts boundaries map
School equipment annual reports
School finance in Colorado
School Laws Annotated of the State of Colorado
School lunch program
Special fund balance sheets
Standard rating form

Tax levy and budget reports
Teacher application correspondence, 1937-1938
Teacher contracts, 1937-1947
Teacher salaries
Teachers' records
Teachers' registers
Test Records of Sight, Hearing, and Breathing...
Textbooks lists
Troxel, O. L.
Tuition bills and receipts

These collections are located at the Center of Southwest Studies on the campus of Fort Lewis College.  Researchers wanting more information about using this material at the Center may email the archivist at archives@fortlewis.edu or click here to use our E-mail Reference Request Form (or phone the archivist at 970/247-7126).  The Center does not have a budget for outgoing long-distance phone calls to answer reference requests, so please email if you wish to receive a response from the Center.