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[Ed. Form, No. 4.]

[[stamp]] The National Archives of the United States [[/stamp]]

Sub-Assistant Commissioner's (or Agent's) Monthly Report on Education of Freedmen, and Refugees in Sub=District of Mobile, State of Alabama in charge of Brvt Maj James Gillette for the Month of February 1868, [in accordance with order contained in Circular No. 5, Bureau R.,F., & A.L.]

1.  Name of your Sub-District?  Sub - District of Mobile
2.  Whole number of Refugee or Freedmen's Schools in the District?  7
Day?  5
Night?  2
Sabbath? 4
3.  Location of Schools?  
Emmerson College on Government Street, Mobile, Ala. Controlled by Am. Miss. Association.
Lawrence Street, Freedmen's School, Mobile, Ala. Controlled by Am. Miss. Association.
Stone Street, Freedmen's School Mobile, Ala. Controlled by Am. Miss. Association.
Freedmen's School Starke's Landing, Mobile Bay, Baldwin Co. Alabama, Controlled by Bureau.
Freedmen's School. Whistler, Mobile, Ala. Controlled by Bureau.
4.  Whole number of Teachers?  12
White?  10
Colored?  2
5.  Names and post-office address of Day=School Teachers?  Miss Mary Santly, Sarah G. Stanley, Eliza Etheridge, Susie Cooley, Amelia Rockafeller, Sarah Mahoney, Mary Cooley, R. A. Allen, Mr H. Hall and W. O. Squire, - all addressed at Mobile, Ala. Lock Box 1190. Am. Miss. Association's Superintendent - G. S. Putnam - Mobile, Alabama. Mr. George Smith (teacher of School in Baldwin Co) - Mobile, Ala.  Mr. Solomon Oswald (teacher of Whistler school)
6.  Whole number of School-Houses for Freedmen in your District?  7.
Their condition, capacity, value, and by whom owned?  Emerson College owned by Am. Miss. Association - Value $50,000 - requires $1000 repairs - Capacity - 800 Scholars. Lawrence Street School - owner unknown - Value about $2500 - Capacity 150. Scholars. Rented by Bureau. Stone St. School, owned by Benj H Jones Value $1000. Capacity. - 100 Scholars Rented by Bureau. Whistler school owned by Wm. Lewis, Value unknown - Capacity - 75 scholars. Baldwin Co. School building owned by George Smith - Value unknown - Capacity 75 scholars. Rented by Bureau.
7.  Number of your visits to Schools?
Day? Daily
Night? Weekly
Sabbath?
8.  Number of educational meetings held by you during the month?
Where?
9.  Number and names of places, now destitute, in which Day-Schools might be organized?  There are no schools for freed people that are known to this office outside of Mobile and Baldwin Counties. I think there might be schools organized in  Washington, Clarke, and Monroe Counties; but unless they were by Southern or Native teachers, such organization would be difficult and unpleasant to those concerned. There is much bitterness and prejudice towards strangers in those counties. The freedmen would attend the schools in great numbers if started, but Northern teachers would hard to encounter the greatest opposition.
10.  Number of pupils (estimated) who would attend such Schools?
11.  Amount which would probably be raised by the Freedmen, for school purposes, in each destitute neighborhood?  The colored people are poor and can contribute nothing outside of the cities, when about twenty per cent are found able to pay $1.00 per month.
12.  What efforts are you making to secure the support of schools by pupils, parents, boards of education, or the State government?  The greatest effort made has been the purchase of Mobile College and its dedication to the cause of Educating the masses without distinction of color. This has made colored school enterprise in this community command its respect. It has quadrupled the number of scholars. I propose more to induce the School Board to establish primary schools in Wards containing Colored residents, and to pay teachers, rent &c. This will enable the College, in time, to drift into a high school.  
[[strikethrough]] 13.  Whole number of additional School-houses, for Freedmen, now wanted in your Sub-District? [[/strikethrough]] 
14.  Could you organize your Sub-District into School Districts, each with a School Committee pledged to carry on schools therein?  This can be done and successfully in Mobile and Baldwin Counties, but cannot yet be accomplished in the interior counties. 
15.  To what extent would help from without be needed in such cases?  There is no outside help required in Mobile & Baldwin Counties other than at present allowed in the way of rent of buildings. 
16.  What is the public sentiment as to the education of the Freedmen and Poor Whites?  The public sentiment in Mobile has lately given expressions of approval of efforts towards educating the poor ignorant classes. I find few who are opposed to educating the negro now; although I am informed that a year ago, much opposition was manifested. The approval is a passive one, it is not one that interests itself in the cause by any activity. But public sentiment no longer opposes except in the interior Counties.
17.  Are Night-Schools for Adults needed in your District?  Yes
In what way could they be carried on?  At least two more night schools are required. They can be established by any teachers. There are too few teachers here for the work on hand.
18.  What more can this Bureau do for educating the children of Refugees (or Poor Whites)?  This class are admitted to all schools in this city. There are no complaints from them. I think in due time all schools should be transferred to County or State authorities. 
19.  How long will Northern charitable aid be needed for Freedmen and Refugee Schools of your District?  Until the State Government assumes the expense and control of the matters, and after that time unless the County prospers financially.

I hereby certify, on honor, that I have given personal attention to the matters herein named, and that the answers given are, according to my best knowledge and belief, correct.

James Gillette
Capt. 15" Inf. Bvt. Maj. U.S.A.
Sub-Asst. Com., Bureau R., F., & A.L.
Sub - District of Mobile 

Transcription Notes:
done - pls review ---------- Reopened for Editing 2023-12-28 12:15:25