District of Columbia Education, Unregistered Letters Received, A-Z, 1866, Part 1

Unregistered letters received, August 1865–September 1868 and August 1870, are arranged by year, thereunder alphabetically by the initial letter of the correspondent's surname or office, and thereunder chronologically. Most of these letters are for 1865–67. The NARA staff prepared a name index for the unregistered letters received. Most letters received were concerned with the organization and operation of Bureau schools, including freedmen's schools in Maryland, West Virginia, Virginia, and Delaware. Most of the letters were written by teachers, representatives of benevolent societies, and Bureau agents. Teachers sought compensation for expenses and transportation, payment of salaries, and school supplies and complained about inadequate support. Aid societies sought positions for unassigned teachers and information relating to teachers in the field. Bureau agents wrote reports concerning periodic inspections of schools, problems encountered with local citizens, schools attendance, teacher competency, and the physical condition of schools. Other correspondents include freedmen seeking Bureau support in the construction of new schools and persons seeking employment as teachers.