Mary J. C. Anderson sends a report on her school in Chestertown in Kent County, Md. She asks that $3.78 be deducted from her salary for the cost of books and inquires about employment for the following year. Her address is 360 Fulton Avenue, Brooklyn, N.Y. The entry immediately below Anderson's details a letter received from Ida S. Marshall explaining that "attendance was smaller as many of the children were obliged to leave to pick berries."

Teacher Mary J. C. Anderson writes to Supt. Van Derlip about the status of her school, expressing her desire to remain at Pisgah (in Charles Co.) and keep the school open.

Anderson writes about the "unsettled condition" of her school at Pisgah and asks for lumber to complete the schoolhouse. "If I am to remain here I will need to get things in order."

Lists Mary J. C. Anderson at Port Deposit.

Mary J. C. Anderson is listed as teaching at Port Deposit for three months.

10 students on the roll. Anderson remarks that "[m]y school is on the increase."

55 students on the roll. Anderson remarks that her school "commenced under discouraging circumstances but there is much to encourage the work goes steadily on."

Includes Phenia C. Crisfield at Darlington, Mary E. Lyons at Bel Air, and Mary Watson at Port Deposit.

Mary J. C. Anderson is listed as a teacher at Port Deposit for 3 months in the quarter.

Port Deposit building committee chairman Thomas Taylor that since the Bureau will not help build the schoolhouse upon leased ground, the trustees are prepared to buy it when it comes up for sale in the near future. He includes a list of expenses incurred thus far in building the school.

Port Deposit building committee chairman Thomas Taylor informs Supt. Kimball that since the arrival of the teacher (Mary J. C. Anderson) the people have become divided. A new board has formed that is opposed to his board of trustees and to the establishment of the school. He asks Kimball to visit in order to sort out the issues.

Port Deposit building committee chairman Thomas Taylor writes to Supt. Kimball that they have exhausted the money they had collected from among the people there and cannot continue construction. He asks Kimball to try to get a deed for them so that they can qualify for Bureau aid. He says the teacher Mrs. Anderson (Mary J. C. Anderson) has arrived but “the bord has deceived her.”

Supt. Kimball writes to Thomas Taylor, the chairman of the building committee at Port Deposit. He asks Taylor what progress has been made on the schoolhouse, and tells him that he intends to visit soon.

Disbursing Officer Edward H. Monteith writes to Port Deposit trustee Thomas Taylor, asking if they are ready to employ workmen to construct a schoolhouse. He asks for the number of students expected to attend the school, and for the name of the chairman of the building committee. Monteith reminds Taylor that the school must not be for the use of a particular sect but for all the colored people in his vicinity.

Disbursing Officer Edward H. Monteith writes to Port Deposit trustee Thomas Taylor that he had written to him on May 15 and had received no response. Monteith asks Taylor if his people are united and ready to make arrangements with workmen to construct the school building as soon as materials are received from the Freedmen's Bureau. He also asks how many students are expected to attend the school, and tells Taylor to answer immediately.

Register entry for a letter of May 21, 1868, from building committee chairman Thomas Taylor at Elkton, Cecil County. Taylor explains that he did not answer Disbursing Officer Monteith's previous letter promptly because he ended up hiring a carpenter on his own to work on the school building. One carpenter, he says, will do all the work on a building 26 x 50 feet, and two stories high, for $375. The number of students will be 116. Taylor informs Monteith that he will let him know when they are ready to receive lumber.

Local resident Reuben Haines writes to Supt. Kimball asking him to write to the people at Elkton and let them know on what terms they could procure a teacher. He tells Kimble that the people there need a school very much and he thinks a good one could be sustained.

Supt. Van Derlip informs Port Deposit teacher Mary Watson that her monthly report for May, 1870, has not been received. He asks her to send to him it at once.

Supt. Van Derlip informs Port Deposit teacher Mary Watson that he has recommended her application (to keep her school open after the end of April) to Col. Robert R. Corson of the Pennsylvania Freedmen's Relief Association, and he as received word back from Corson that her school may stay open through the month of June, 1870.

Supt. Van Derlip informs Port Deposit teacher Mary Watson that he is in possession of her paycheck for April, 1870, but cannot send it to her unless he receives her past due monthly report. He reminds Watson that reports are to be sent promptly on the first of each month. He informs her than she will have to close her school on the last day of April, her supporting society having decided to close all of their schools on that date. Van Derlip asks her to send him an address to which he can send her salary for May.

Anderson informs Supt. Kimball that she has arrived at Port Deposit, her assigned school, and finds the people their surprised at her arrival and divided into factions arguing over control of the school building. One faction is said to be managing construction and keeping secrets from the others. She has not opened the school and does not know when she will be able to. She needs supplies, including maps. Anderson asks Kimball to come to Port Deposit and speak to the people, as she has no hope of success without his advice and assistance.

Port Deposit teacher Mary J. C. Anderson informs Supt. Kimball that she was recently in Philadelphia where she spoke with Col. Robert R. Corson of the Pennsylvania Freedmen's Relief Association, who advised her to write to Kimball about her salary. She has closed her school and awaits salary due and transportation, which she requests immediately so she can travel home. She states that the school trustees, in their general report, will inform Kimball what they can do in the next year. They wish her to return to teach for the next school year. Kimball will see from her reports that her school did well after the first few months, and she is willing to return if directed to do so.

Orders Lt. Charles McDougal, superintendent of freedmen's schools for Maryland, to go to Port Deposit and vicinity to inspect schools. Upon completion he is to return to headquarters and report the results of his inspection.

The Maryland and Delaware assistant commissioner orders Edward H. Monteith, disbursing officer, to furnish the necessary materials to build schoolhouses at Princess Ann (Somerset Co.), Furnace Branch (Anne Arundel Co.), and Port Deposit (Cecil Co.), providing these sites have been deeded according to Bureau regulations.

Freedmen's Bureau assistant commissioner Gregory orders Samuel J. Wright, special agent and disbursing officer, to furnish the necessary materials to build a schoolhouse at Port Deposit, Cecil County. The dimensions of the school house are to be 26 x 50 feet.

Col. Robert R. Corson of the Pennsylvania Freedmen's Relief Association informs Supt. Kimball that teacher Mary J. C. Anderson has visited him en route to Port Deposit. She acquired a set of outline maps and is now in need of blackboards. Anderson have him a list of books she wants and asked him for one month advance salary.

Mary E. Jackson of the Pennsylvania Freedmen's Relief Association responds to a letter from Supt. Kimball stating that Anderson does not send reports as she ought to. Jackson tells him that Anderson's letters are not being delivered to Kimball or herself, and that letters meant for Anderson are also not being delivered to her. "From what I have seen of her I think her the best colored teacher we have in our employ with the exception of Miss Gordon." Jackson states that the colored people at Port Deposit cannot obtain supplies for the school there.

Teacher Mary J. C. Anderson writes to Supt. Kimball from Port Deposit, Cecil County. She regrets that none of her monthly reports have reached the Bureau. Anderson stresses that they were sent and that she would not have neglected such an important task. She is forwarding new reports based on duplicates in her possession. The school is doing well but is in need of many items. "I am hopeful for the future," she writes.

Supt. Van Derlip asks teacher Phenia C. Crisfield if she has opened school at New Market, Frederick County. He adds that she will have to close her school on the last day of May, because her supporting society has decided to close all of its schools on that date.

Supt. Kimball tells teacher Mary Watson that she can go to Port Deposit, Cecil County, and start teaching on October 1, at a salary of $20 per month provided by the Pennsylvania Freedmen's Relief Association. The school community must pay for her boarding. The Bureau will not pay for her travel expenses to Port Deposit but will pay for her travel home. you.

Supt. Kimball informs Rev. E. P. Smith of the American Missionary Association that Mary Watson wishes to go to Port Deposit, Cecil County, to teach, and he would like Smith to send her there. Kimball asks Smith if the A.M.A. can send more teachers, as they are much needed.

Supt. Kimball provides teacher Mary J. C. Anderson with instructions for how to form a school association, including the selection of officers, trustees, building committee, and treasurers. He asks Anderson to work to form such an association at Port Deposit.

Supt. Kimball tells teacher Mary J. C. Anderson that he cannot come to her at Port Deposit for some days. She must try, he writes to get the school started as best she can, and to write to Col. Corson of the Pennsylvania Freedmen's Relief Assocation if she has issues. He assures her that he had no hand in sending her to Port Deposit, but she should not think of turning back.

40 students on the roll.

40 students on the roll. Lost one day due to a severe storm.

60 students on the roll.

60 students on the roll. One day lost to an illness.

60 students on the roll.

30 students on the roll.

40 students on the roll. Anderson remarks "I feel that I am neglected I have needed advice so much but could not g[et.]"

55 students on the roll. Anderson remarks "I am nearly discouraged. I cannot hear from the Supt nor the Asso"

57 students on the roll. Anderson remarks "I am obliged to work alone and unaided by the advice of the Supt"

Six debits and six credits have been entered.