Circular No. 5, Headquarters Freedmen's Bureau, Feb. 20, 1867

Title

Circular No. 5, Headquarters Freedmen's Bureau, Feb. 20, 1867

Date

02-20-1867

Creator

Maj. Gen. Oliver O. Howard

Description

Directs subcommissioners and agents of the various districts to visit schools and encourage teachers to submit the prescribed monthly reports. The will also observe the operations of the schools, report defects, and suggest improvements. They will gather information regarding the need for further schools, and obstacles to their establishment. They will also ascertain what might be done to increase the knowledge of adult freedpeople. Bureau officials are not to interfere with the benevolent associations sponsoring schools and teachers in their area, but should cooperation with them.

Source

Smithsonian, National Museum of African American History and Culture

Courtesy of the U. S. National Archives and Records Administration, FamilySearch International, and the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture.

Transcript

War Department Bureau of Refugees,
Freedmen and Abandoned Lands.
Washington February 20”, 1867.

Circular
No. 5

For the more complete organization of schools for Refugees and Freedmen, it is ordered that the Sub. Asst. Commissioners and Agents of this Bureau, in each sub district, will, in connection with their other duties, visit the schools now in operation in their several fields, inducing teachers to report promptly on the blanks furnished by the General Superintendent of schools for this Bureau.
They will also observe the various plans on which these schools are conducted, suggesting improvements, or noting defects.
They will gather information as to places now destitute of schools, the number of youth and children therein between the ages of six and twenty one years, the encouragements and the obstacles existing to new schools being opened if means are furnished.
They will also ascertain what more can be done for the improvement in knowledge of the adult freedmen, - all of which will be reported to the Assistant Commissioner for the State Superintendent of Schools.
Care should be taken by the officers and agents of the Bureau, in the performance of the above duties, not to interfere with the province of the local Superintendents or Teachers of the several Educational Associations. But it is essential that both work together in mutual consultation and sympathy.
Great care will be taken to forward to this office all information gained by this Circular.

O. O. Howard
Major General, Commissioner

IIIF Manifests

https://ids.si.edu/ids/manifest/NMAAHC-007675276_00071