Prior to 1949, commissions for members of county Boards of Education and for school superintendents were issued through the State Superintendent of Schools and through the Secretary of State thereafter. Most of the pre‑1949 materials are originals; afterwards most are copies of originals in the Secretary of State's files. No commissions are included for board members or superintendents of independent (i.e. city) school systems. Among the papers in this series are: (1) copies of commissions issued by the Governor's office (2) copies of dedimus potestatems (authority to administer the oath of office addressed to ordinaries) with attached certificates by the ordinaries showing that the oath had been administered (3) letters and certificates from county officials notifying the Secretary of State or the State Superintendent of Schools of the appointment of new board members or superintendents (4) letters of resignation of board members or superintendents and letters of acceptance of the resignations. For record copies of these records after 1949, RGSGSERIES 2-3-63, Abolished County Board of Education Commission Files.