Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Use Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Preferred Citation

Henry County (Va.) Free School Registers, 1847-1853. Local government records collection, Henry County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia 23219.

Acquisition Information

These items came to the Library of Virginia in a transfer of court papers from Henry County.

Historical Information

Henry County was named for Patrick Henry, revolutionary leader and the first governor of the commonwealth of Virginia. It was formed from Pittsylvania County in 1776.

Beginning in 1776, various Acts of Assembly attempted to establish free and public schools in the commonwealth although the issues of taxation to support public education and state control over the process were always contentious. The Literary Fund was authorized by the General Assembly in 1810 to direct state funds acquired through escheats, confiscations, penalties, forfeitures and all rights in personal property found derelict towards public education. The District Free School act of 1829 attempted to establish public schools in all counties via the voluntary contribution of local money with additional funds provided by the state Literary Fund but this act was ultimately deemed a failure. The early 1840s saw a revival of interest in public education and two state educational conventions were held in Richmond in 1841 and 1845. The result of the conventions was the passage of three acts including the 1846 Act to Amend the Present Primary System, the 1846 Act for the Establishment of a District System, and the 1846 act concerning taxation for the support of a public school system. The Henry County free schools were established as a result of these 1846 acts.

Scope and Content

Henry County (Va.) Free School Registers, 1847-1853, are six volumes relating to pupil attendance and subjects studied for the public schools. Recorded are the names of pupils, names of their parents, age, date entered school, date left school, daily attendance, subjects studied, and remarks related to dates of school visits by the school commissioner. Some of the volumes state who the teacher and the school commissioner are. Some of the volumes give occasional statistical statements per school term about numbers of students and numbers of days attended.

Arrangement

Arranged by school district and chronologically thereafter.

Related Material

Additional Henry County School Records can be found on microfilm at the Library of Virginia. Consult "A Guide to Virginia County and City Records on Microfilm."

Index Terms

Corporate Names:

• Henry County (Va.). Circuit Court.

Subjects:

• Education -- Curricula -- Virginia -- Henry County.
• Public schools -- Virginia -- Henry County.
• School attendance -- Virginia -- Henry County.
• School children -- Virginia -- Henry County.
• School enrollment -- Virginia -- Henry County.

Geographical Names:

• Henry County (Va.) -- History -- 19th century.

Genre and Form Terms:

• Local government records -- Virginia -- Henry County.
• Registers (lists) -- Virginia -- Henryc County.
• School records -- Virginia -- Henry County.

Adjunct Descriptive Data