About This Collection
Annual reports relating to Soldiers' Orphan Schools and their locations with regard to students, teachers, finance, education, and inspection of facilities and operations. The reports are generally consistent, providing annual statistical tables usually exhibiting orders issued, student admissions, discharges, deaths, transfers, parentage, punishments, school population (student and teachers), list of "sixteeners," and educational status. Often pictures of school buildings and students accompany the reports. Also included are inspection reports summarizing the quality of facilities, clothing, and teaching. In addition, there are principal reports discussing the general condition of the school's morality, religion, education, and facilities. For the year 1886, only the inspection report is available. Images are arranged chronologically by year, and thereunder by category or school. This collection is part of the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs which is responsible for administering the Pennsylvania National Guard, and administers various programs of assistance to veterans.