Time Machine Tuesday: Old School Images – Colorado Virtual Library

If you’re looking for early photos of Colorado’s schools, you may not think to look in government documents. But in fact the State of Colorado in the late 1800s/early 1900s often included images in its biennial reports of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, the School for the Deaf and the Blind, and other child-serving agencies. And since many of the reports are dated before 1923, it is easy to find images that are in the public domain. Here is a sampling of some of the great education-related images that can be found in old Colorado documents:

yellowed drawing of front of three-storey high school — Denver’s Manual High School, from the 1891-92 Biennial Report of the Superintendent of Public Instruction

black and white photo of three-storey brick building with gabled roof — The Hale Scientific Building at the University of Colorado, Boulder, from the 1891-92 Biennial Report of the Superintendent of Public Instruction

floorplan of building — Floorplan of Denver’s Emerson School, in the Capitol Hill neighborhood. From the 1883-84 report of the Superintendent of Public Instruction

black and white photo of students lined up in front of building — The Girls’ Industrial School, near Morrison, from the 1907-08 Biennial Report of the State Board of Charities and Correction

black and white photo of three-storey brick building — Administration Building, Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind, from the school’s 1905-06 Biennial Report.

workmen resting in front of stone building front — The “yard crew” at the Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind, from the school’s 1899-1900 report.

black and white photo of elaborate brick and stone building with a tall front tower — Ashland School in North Denver; from the 1899-1900 Biennial Report of the Superintendent of Public Instruction

black and white photo of small brick building with bell tower — A rural school in Larimer County, from the 1899-1900 Biennial Report of the Superintendent of Public Instruction

black and white photo of students and teachers outside small log building — A rural school in Clear Creek County, also from the 1899-1900 Biennial Report of the Superintendent of Public Instruction.

students and teachers outside small wooden building — A rural school in Phillips County, from the 1895-96 Biennial Report of the Superintendent of Public Instruction.

large group of children posed outside brick building — The Georgetown School, from the 1895-96 Biennial Report of the Superintendent of Public Instruction.

black and white photo of children amongst trees — Students on the playground at Norrie School, Pitkin County, from the 1901-02 Biennial Report of the Superintendent of Public Instruction.

State documents are good places to find other photos and architectural drawings, as well; for instance, many reports contain photos or drawings of the State Capitol, such as the image below from the 1892-94 report of the State Board of Health. Search other reports for institutions, penitentiaries, and other state buildings.

yellowed engraving of Colorado State Capitol Building — The Colorado State Capitol

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Amy Zimmer

Former Technical Services Librarian at State Publications Library