NOTE: An updated version of this dataset and others are available free at http://www.eh.net.  Click on "Databases" and then on "Historical Labor Statistics Project Series." Valuable resource!   --Prof Olney

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               REPORTED IN THE FIRST BIENNIAL REPORT OF THE
                      IOWA BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS

                                Version 3.0
                              April 22, 1993

                              Susan B. Carter
                              Roger L. Ransom
                               Richard Sutch
                              Hongcheng Zhao

     These data come from a survey of 347 teachers conducted by the Iowa Bureau of Labor Statistics in 1884 and published in its First Biennial Report [1885].  While the stated purpose of the survey was to ascertain the opinions of teachers regarding the possible adoption of a uniform system of text-books throughout the state, the Bureau also collected and published data on personal characteristics of teachers including gender, age, nativity, college education, earnings, expenses, savings, debt, insurance, and home ownership.  The report does not contain a description of the sampling procedure used other than to state, "blanks were sent out, and a large number of replies received" [Iowa Bureau of Labor Statistics 1885, p. 245].

ID        Case Number
SEX       Sex   (1=male; 2=female)
OCC       Occupation     (1=teacher; 2=principal; 3=superintendent)
AGE       Age      (-9 means "no response")
POB       Nativity         (1= Canada;2 = England; 3 =  Germany; 4 =Ireland; 5 = Norway; 6 = Nova Scotia; 7 = Prince Edward Island; 8 = Sweden; 9 = Switzerland; 10 = United States)
HOURS     Average Number of Hours Taught per day (-9 = "no response")
TERMS     Number of Terms Taught (-9(No response); -8 = 1st term)
COLLEGE   Received a College Education   (-9=no response; 2=yes)
EARNMO    Earnings Per Month (-9= "no response")
TOTEAR    Total Earnings for the Year   (-9= "no response")
COLYR     Cost of Living for the Year   (-9= "no response")
BOARD     Average Monthly Cost of Board  (-9= "no response"; -8 = "at home"; -7 = "for use of organ"; -6 = "work for board")
DEP       Number Wholly or Partially Dependent on the Teacher for
            Support (-9= "no response")
PERIOD    Pay Period (1 = 5 months;      2 = Close of term;      3 =Indefinite;      4 =Monthly;      5=  Quarterly;      6 = Semi-annually;      7 =Time yearly )
BENESOC   Belong to a Beneficiary Association (-9 = "no response") 2 = yes
INSUR     Have Insurance  (-9 = "no response"; 1=fire insur; 2=life insur; 3=life & fire insur; 4= life, fire & accident insur)
SAVINGS   Have Accumulated Savings  (-9 = "no response"; -8= ‘give all to parents"; 2 = yes)
IFDEBT    Have Run into Debt  (-9 = "no response"; 2 = yes)
WHYDEBT   Reasons for Running in Debt  (-9 = "no response"; 1 = 80 acres; 2 =College; 3 =For education; 4 =For home; 5 =For land;   6 =For sickness; 7 =Traveling)
TEXTBK    Favoring a State Uniformity of Textbooks (-9 = "no response"; 1 = no; 2 = yes; 3 = indifferent; 4 = undecided)
OWNHM     Own a Home   (-9 = "no response"; 2 = yes)