Scope and Content: The State Primary School, opened at the State Almshouse at Monson in 1866 and continuing after the almshouse’s closing in 1872 until 1895, provided lodging, instruction, and employment for dependent and neglected children under age sixteen without settlement in the Commonwealth and some juvenile offenders.  Inmates were placed out on trial (often subsequently indentured) with families (originally by school inspectors–St 1866, c 209, s 7; then by school trustees–St 1880, c 208, s 1) and periodically monitored by the visiting agent of the Board of State Charities (St 1869, c 453, s 2; St 1870, c 359, s 2–in which called State Visiting Agency) and from 1879 by the Division of Visiting, Dept. of Indoor Poor, State Board of Health, Lunacy, and Charity (State Board of Lunacy and Charity from 1886); they were returned to school if arrangements were not mutually satisfactory (St 1870, c 359, s 3).  Inmates too young or otherwise handicapped to earn their own support were placed on board with families, the state paying attendant costs (St 1880, c 208, s 1).  Series was created to administer and record placement.
Arrangement: Arranged chronologically by date of placement or indenture
Notes: Volume 1 formerly separate series known as: Placement and indenture register.  Spine title: Indenture & agreement book. Volume 2 formerly separate series known as: Trial book (spine title)
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