NJDARM: Archives Collection Guides: Department of Education, Mercer County Superintendent of Schools, Teacher Certification Card File, 1890s-1970s

This card file indexes Mercer County teacher certifications granted by the State of New Jersey from the 1890s to the 1970s. Also included are a small number of cards (for deceased teachers) which contain information from as late as 1990. Arranged alphabetically by teacher's name, the cards record the following: type of certificate(s) granted, date issued, expiration date, and date recorded. Occasionally, notes on education, resignation, retirement, etc., are also included.

The certificate type is usually shown in an abbreviated form; however, the number and variety of abbreviations is far too great for a comprehensive glossary to be included here. Researchers can consult the series Department of Education/ Rules Concerning Teacher Certification [Handbooks], 1901-1950, for detailed information on the types of certificates issued at any given time. The following are some of the most common abbreviations used:

Abbreviation	Meaning	Abbreviation	Meaning

Bus.	Business	Nor.	Normal [School]
Ed.	Education	Per./Perm.	Permanent
El./Elem.	Elementary	Pri.	Primary
Emer.	Emergency	Prin.	Principal
End.	Endorsement	Prov.	Provisional
Gen.	General	Sch.	School
H. Ec.	Home Economics	Sec.	Secondary
High	High School	Spec./Sp.	Special
Kdg.	Kindergarten	Sub.	Substitute
Lim./L.	Limited	Sup./Supv.	Supervisor
Low. Vit.	Lowered Vitality	T.C.	Teacher’s College
M.T.	Manual Training	Tem./Temp.	Temporary
N.J.S.N.	NJ State Normal [School]	Voc.	Vocational