As late as 1938 there were 200,000 one-room schools scattered throughout the United States. By 1978 there were little more than 1,000 in operation. Primary-source research on rural education has now been conducted by 23 researchers in Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming, sponsored by the Mountain Plains Library Association and funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities. Using information from oral histories, treasured mementoes, speeches, newspapers and other published sources, school records, songs, and photographs, this volume presents historical vignettes of many aspects of rural education from the late 1800's to 1980. Chapters focus on: country school architecture; elements of country school success (sample diploma, examination questions, games, class pictures); teachers (their role, rules, restrictions, salaries, training, certificates); the major role played by rural schools in imparting American culture to immigrants; the multi-purpose role of country schools as community centers used for voting, dancing, card-playing, socializing, debating, church, weddings, funerals, and civic meetings; and present day contributions, implications, and trends for the country school. The addresses of Country School Legacy Archive Repositories where additional materials may be sent are listed. (NEC)