THE DAUGHTERS OF THE REPUBLIC OF TEXAS LIBRARY
Col 890
German-English School Records
1858-1893
Collection information
Physical description: 4 document boxes
Acquisition: Gift of Loraine Clingman Perry
Processed by: Warren Stricker, 1994
Table of contents
Organization note
One of the earliest efforts to establish a comprehensive system of public education in San Antonio, the German-English School was established in 1858 by German-speaking immigrants to Texas, who solicited subscriptions to finance the institution. The school aimed to educate the children of the recent immigrants, emphasizing proficiency in the language of their adopted country while retaining elements of the language and culture of their homeland. Instruction in both German and English was part of the curriculum, as were geography, writing, history, arithmetic, Spanish, and music. While German-American families provided the core of support for the school, students and financial contributions came from throughout the community.
Shortly after its founding, permanent buildings were constructed for the school, and it remained in that location until the property was sold in 1897. The buildings were used as a public school beginning in 1903, and San Antonio Junior College used the site from 1926 through 1951. After serving as office space for the city of San Antonio and for HemisFair, the buildings were restored for use as hotel conference facilities.
Scope and content note
Minutes, correspondence, financial records, student registers, lesson plans, reports, legal documents and clippings are part of the German-English School records, documenting administrative and classroom activities. Records cover much of the life of the institution, beginning with an outline of its proposed organization from 1858 and continuing through 1885. Minutes of the school board of trustees cover the first twenty years of the school’s existence. Administrative records also include rules and regulations, instructions to teachers, statements of educational philosophy, lists of financial contributors, and lists of students and their tuition payments. Reports from teachers and lesson plans are also included in the records. A bound volume of records related to the organization of the German American Volksfest Association from the early 1890s is also part of the records. Items are arranged chronologically.
Translations of portions of the records, completed by San Antonio German language students, have been added to the papers for reference purposes.
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1/1 |
"Arta Schul Committe des Schul Vereins zu San Antonio, Tx." Includes an outline of the general principles of the school, specific instructions regarding subject matter, lesson plans, and letters. 1858-1861. German and English. |
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1/2 |
Translation of a portion of the above. Advanced German class, Douglas MacArthur High School, San Antonio, Texas. |
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Box 2 |
Class schedules, reports, rules, letters, financial records, instructions to teachers. Includes some of the initial documents associated with the formation of the school; its rules and philosophies; practical instructions; reports; and financial information, including contributions from various supporters, balance sheets, and lists of students and their tuition payments. 1858-1865. German and English. Bound volume. |
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2/12 |
Photocopy of a portion of the above. |
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2/13 |
Transcript and translation of a portion of above. Advanced German class, Douglas MacArthur High School, San Antonio, Texas. |
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1/3 |
"Arten des Schillerfest Committees." |
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Minutes and records of contributors. 1859. German and English. |
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1/4 |
Summary translation of a portion of the above. Advanced German class, Douglas MacArthur High School, San Antonio, Texas. |
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1/5 |
Clipping. "Bericht des Vorstandes der engli[sch] deutschen Schule." 1859. [Fragile item; please use photocopy, folder 1/6] |
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1/6 |
Photocopy of above. |
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1/7 |
"An Act to Incorporate the German English School in the City of San Antonio." 1860 February 2. Manuscript copy. |
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1/8 |
Application by the German-English School Trustees to the San Antonio City Council for land for a school site. Draft. ca. 1860. |
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3/14 |
Minutes. 1858-1869. Bound volume. German. |
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3/15 |
Transcript of a portion of the above. Advanced German class, Douglas MacArthur High School, San Antonio, Texas. |
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3/16 |
Translation of a portion of the above (item 3/14). Advanced German class, Douglas MacArthur High School, San Antonio, Texas. |
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3/17 |
Minutes. Minutes of directors meetings and general meetings. Also contains a list of members of the school society and contributors to special funds. 1869-1877. Bound volume. German and English. |
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3/18 |
Translation of a portion of the above. Advanced German class, Douglas MacArthur High School, San Antonio, Texas. |
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3/19 |
Financial records, including student tuition accounts, and balance sheets. 1866-1869. Bound volume. German. |
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4/20 |
Lesson plans, student tuition records, income and expenses, financial reports. 1870-1876. Bound volume. German and English. |
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4/21 |
"Monthly Reports." Reports from the faculty on the course of instruction. 1881-1885. Bound volume. English. |
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4/22 |
"Protocoll Buch der Central Comites zur [ ] des Deutschen Tages in San Antonio." Minutes and the articles of association of the German American Volksfest Association of San Antonio. 1890-1893. Bound volume. German. |
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4/23 |
Photocopy of a portion of the above. |
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1/9 |
Lesson plans. n.d. |
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1/10 |
Lesson plans. n.d. |
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1/11 |
Blotter |
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