Teachers' Association, State.—The history of this association dates back to Sept. 29, 1863, when 34 teachers at the call from the Leavenworth teachers met at Leavenworth. The meeting lasted for three days, and although organization was the main purpose in assembling a program of exercises was conducted. A constitution was adopted and officers elected. Isaac T. Goodnow, at that time state superintendent of public instruction, was made president; Orlando Sawyer, superintendent of Atchison county, recording secretary; R. W. Putnam, corresponding secretary; and J. E. Platt, treasurer. The next meeting was held in the Methodist church in Topeka from July 19 to July 21, 1864. The custom of recommending a candidate for state superintendent began at this meeting, when Mr. Goodnow was recommended for reëlection. Resolutions were adopted advising teachers' institutes to be conducted semi-annually where they could be sustained. Supt. H. D. McCarty was elected president, and was also chosen as editor of the Kansas Educational Journal, which was entering its second year. On July 26-28, 1865, the association met in Price's hall at Atchison with 59 teachers in attendance, and Orlando Sawyer was elected president for the ensuing year. In 1866 the meeting was held on July 3-5 in Lawrence. Peter McVicar was elected president and David J. Brewer was made chairman of the executive committee. District libraries and calisthenics were discussed for the first time. Mr. McVicar was recommended as state superintendent and H. D. McCarty and Isaac Goodnow were elected delegates to the National Educational Association.

The next and fifth meeting was at Topeka July 2-4, 1867, when a resolution was passed asking that women be allowed to vote at all school meetings. The enrollment was 129. Prof. B. F. Mudge of the state agricultural college was made president. In 1868, June 30 to July 2, the association met at Emporia. Judge David J. Brewer was elected president. The next assembly of teachers was on June 29-30, 1869, at Manhattan. I. J. Bannister was elected president. The Journal was transferred for two years to its editors, Kellogg & Norton.

The meeting of 1870 was held on July 27-29 at Wyandotte. Resolutions were passed asking the legislature to give $3,000 for the support of normal institutes, and that each board of county commissioners be required to grant for the same purpose an amount not to exceed $150. J. E. Platt of Manhattan was elected president. The next meeting was held at Lawrence on Dec. 27-29, 1871. Gen. John Fraser was elected president. The following meeting was at Humboldt with 53 in attendance. In the absence of Mr. Fraser D. J. Evans presided. J. W. Horner of Chetopa was elected president. On Aug. 27-29, 1873, the association met at Ottawa. W. C. Rote of Lawrence was elected president.

The meeting of 1874 was held at Lawrence on Aug. 18-20, when it was resolved that the plan of work of the association be changed, and that there be three sections, common school, high school and colleges, each of which should be regularly organized by the election of officers. E. F. Robinson of Concordia was elected president. In 1875 the meeting was held at Topeka on Aug. 24-27. Chancellor James Marvin presided in the absence of Mr. Robinson. H. C. Speer of Junction City was elected president. The meeting in 1876, June 20-21, was at Valley Falls. Mr. Speer was unable to preside and Maj. E. C. Newton was made chairman. It was the last meeting in its history at which a state superintendent was recommended. Resolutions for incorporation were adopted. An effort was made to revive the dead Educational Journal. The meeting adjourned to meet in Topeka Dec. 26-29, when the committee on incorporation made its final report and the first board of directors was elected. L. B. Kellogg was made president. The next meeting was at Emporia on June 26-28, 1877. Allen B. Lemmon was elected president.

The meeting of 1878 was at Atchison. A temperance resolution was passed and an arbor day recommended. James Marvin was elected president by the board of directors. In 1879 the association met at Lawrence on June 16-18. An address was made by Gen. John Eaton, then commissioner of the bureau of education. L. A. Thomas was elected president. The assembly of 1880 was held in the hall of the house of representatives on June 22-24. By resolution a geological survey of the state was requested, and the support of the association was promised to the prohibition amendment to the constitution. William A. Wheeler was elected president. The first meeting of 1881 was on June 21-23 at Manhattan. Resolutions were adopted calling for a strict enforcement of the prohibitory law recently enacted, and Dr. William Bishop of Salina was elected president. The second meeting of that year was at Topeka on Dec. 27-29. A committee was appointed to amend the constitution, but no constitution could be found. George T. Fairchild was elected president. In 1882 the association met in Topeka. The constitution revised was approved, and Frank A. Fitzpatrick of Leavenworth was chosen president. The association held its next meeting on Dec. 26-28, 1883. Resolutions were passed asking for the grading of institutes. Pres. A. R. Taylor of the state normal was elected president. The meeting of 1884 was at Topeka on Dec. 29-31. Prof. J. H. Canfield read a bill providing for county high schools, which was approved by the association. Mr. Canfield was elected president.

In 1885 the association met at Topeka on Dec. 28-30. It was decided to hold department meetings in the forenoon and general meetings in the afternoon and evening. A committee of seven to investigate the evils of the independent school district system was appointed. Prof. P. J. Williams was elected president. The meeting in 1886 was at Topeka on Dec. 28-30. The committee on changes in the school system recommended the substitution of the township for the district system, county taxation, a board of education, and other reforms. The report was adopted. T. W. Conway was elected president. In 1887 the meeting was at Topeka on Dec. 27-29. Memorial services for H. D. McCarty were held. H. D. Larimer was elected president. The meeting of 1888 was also at Topeka. The constitution was again revised and amended. The resolutions passed asked for an equitable system of school taxation, county uniformity of text-books, total abstinence from tobacco by teachers and pupils, the raising of the minimum school age from 5 to 6 years, and a geological survey of the state. The attendance was 650. Prof. J. W. Wilkinson was elected president.

An unwritten law of the association has fixed the place of meeting at Topeka and no change has been made since 1881. In 1889 the meeting was on Dec. 25-27. Resolutions asked for the hoisting of the flag on school houses and for a state school tax. The enrollment was 1,243. D. E. Sanders was elected president. In 1890 the meeting was on Dec. 29-31. Resolutions against state uniformity of text-books, in favor of district ownership of books, county taxation, qualifications for the office of county superintendent, district libraries and a more stringent compulsory law were adopted. The attendance was 825. D. S. Pence was elected president. The meeting in 1891 was on Dec. 29-31. There were 1,165 in attendance. A primary and kindergarten department was established. J. E. Klock was elected president. In 1892 the association met on Dec. 27-29. Resolutions asked for restoration of state school tax, uniform courses of study for district schools, and free text-books. George W. Winans was elected president.

From 1892 until 1909 the meeting of the association continued to be held in Topeka the last week in December. In 1909 the schools throughout the state were dismissed the latter part of the first week in November that the teachers might convene at Topeka. The importance of the association as a factor in the teachers' work is appreciated by the various boards of education and the teachers are required to attend. The association is divided into nine districts, which have local meetings once a year, usually during Thanksgiving or Easter vacation. The district associations are: The northeastern, the northwestern, the north central, the Golden Belt, the western, the central, the southwestern, the southern and the southeastern. These meetings are for discussion and mutual helpfulness, and usually an interesting program is given. The state association, which convenes annually for three days, has a membership of about 4,500, including leaders in every line of educational work. The general program of the state association brings before the teachers many of the best educators and lecturers of the country.

The association maintains departments as follows: the college and high school, the common and graded schools, primary and kindergarten, county supervision, music. These departments devote their attention to some phase of educational work within their respective provinces. In addition there are round tables for the informal discussion of topics of interest related to educational matters as is shown by the following list of round tables: city superintendents, history and sociology, county high schools, science teachers, drawing, teachers of English and teachers of foreign languages. The annual meetings of the state college presidents' association and the state association of mathematics teachers occur at the same time. The presidents of the association from 1893 to 1910 were: W. M. Davidson, 1894; John Dietrich, 1895; George W. Kendrick, 1896; J. E. Pears, 1897; John McDonald, 1898; F. R. Dyer, 1899; E. T. Fairchild, 1900; E. M. Sinclair, 1901; J. H. Hill, 1902; Arvin S. Olin, 1903; A. H. Bushby, 1904; T. W. Butcher, 1905; D. M. Bower, 1906; W. S. Picken, 1907; J. E. Boyer, 1908.

In every county of the state a county association is maintained, which is under the management of the county superintendent and officers elected by the membership of the association. The meetings are usually held on one Saturday of each month. A program is given and questions of general and local educational interest are discussed.