The first volume of the Simon papers contains documents relating to Heinrich Simon's school-days in Breslau, from 1816 until 1819, and to his time as a grammar-school pupil in Brieg, from Easter 1819 to Michaelmas 1824. The description below is divided into two parts, reflecting the division of the pieces in the volume into these two periods. The volume begins with a certified copy of the parish register entry of St Elisabeth in Breslau concerning the birth (29 Oct 1805) and baptism (2 Dec 1805) of August Heinrich Simon, naming the baptismal witnesses and dated 17 Jul 1851.
The first part of the volume, covering the years from 1816 to 1819, includes documents such as weekly (1a-g, 22a-q), quarterly (2, 21) and half-yearly school reports (29), assessments for Emilie and Julie Simon (1h-j), school statutes (3) and two small maps done by Heinrich Simon in 1818 (23, 26). In addition, there is correspondence between Heinrich Eduard Kaiser and the Simon children, Heinrich, Gustav, Auguste, Emilie, Julie, Hermine and Ludowika. Kaiser had been the teacher of the Simon children in Breslau and had obviously left the school to live in Schmiedeberg. The letters (4-18, 20, 24, 25, 27) start at about 1817; the last letter (31) in this section is dated Jan 1819. One posted letter often consists of letters written over several days, or by more than one person, or addressed to more than one person. For example, piece 8 to Kaiser includes a letter from Heinrich Simon followed by a note from Sophie Lewald. Piece 27/28, written by Kaiser, contains a part to Heinrich Simon and then, separately, another one to a "friend", who could be either Sophie Lewald (see piece 8) or Minna Lewald, mother of Heinrich Simon. Piece 31 is a letter written by Heinrich Simon to his uncle in Berlin, the lawyer-judge Heinrich Simon, in which he tells his uncle about his imminent attendance at grammar school and announces a visit in Berlin on the way to Brieg.
The second part of the volume, referring to Heinrich Simon's time at the Königliches Gymnasium zu Brieg (Royal Grammar School at Brieg), from Easter 1819 to Michaelmas 1824, comprises a larger number of documents. Like the first section, it contains letters and school reports, as well as personal accounts, materials referring to the teaching schedule and subject-matter and to customs at school. School life: a list of clothes, shoes and linen belonging to Heinrich Simon (32); Simon's timetable, dated 27 Apr 1819, with a note about the monthly school fees, signed by the headmaster of the grammar school, Dr Friedrich Schmieder (33); a bill for Heinrich Simon, from Jan 1822 to Jan 1823, on e.g. fees, books, repairs and travel expenses (165); an announcement of the increase of the school fees, dated Brieg 9 Oct 1823, with critical remarks concerning the style of writing made by Heinrich Simon (220). Subject-matter: several essay and writing books (37, 68, 69, 155, 171, 188, 210, 216, 240); a sketch book (71); a geometry book (145); a handwritten Greek alphabet (115); a printed Roman calendar (135); exercitiis (91); Latin exercises (170, 260-262, 266); a cross-section of the human eye (231); a map of Turkey and the Black Sea region made by Heinrich Simon (232); maps illustrating the history of cartography made by Heinrich Simon (233); a preparation book for the Michaelmas exam 1822 (167); a list of books, signed "K." (228); a list of mathematics and its sub-sciences, which would today be considered as physics, astronomy and architecture (229); a list of German and foreign universities with the years of their foundation and remarks (230). Information about the schedule is also included in the Diarien (see below). The school reports of Heinrich Simon are well recorded: 1820 Easter (105), Michaelmas (105a), 1821 Easter (119), Michaelmas (120), 1822 Easter (168), Michaelmas (169), 1823 Easter (183), Michaelmas (184), and 1824 Easter (249), and the school-leaving report "mit vorzüglicher Auszeichnung" (with first-rate honours), dated 27 Sep 1824, signed by the examining commission and certified with the seals of the Royal Commission and the grammar school (272). Several pieces point to customs or special occasions at school: an invitation to a public Latin examination (118); printed birthday congratulations from pupils for headmaster Schmieder with a note about the author (166, 219); a fine-list for mistakes in the exercitii (131); an invitation to a raffle of three books, signed "Simon", with a list of the participants on the reverse (239); a protest of the whole Prima-class against criticism publicly made by their teacher Dr Ulfert, signed by the pupils (227a, back); a bill for meals dated "Carlsruh, den 4 Juli 1824" (258). Personal accounts are available in several calendars (189, 189a, 238) and Diarien (70, 94), a kind of diary containing personal entries and notes, scribblings and school exercises. The first Diarium (70) includes a note of Heinrich Simon referring to his confirmation on 12 Jul 1819. Also contained are accounts of excursions (138, 205, 209); a picture of a student made by Heinrich Simon, entitled "Pauper Studiosus" (212); and a title page of a little printed prayer given to Simon by pastor Jordan (213).
The remaining material consists of letters, mainly the correspondence between Heinrich Simon and his family during the time he attended the grammar school, but also letters, for example, from Simon to his uncle in Berlin, letters from his cousin Carl Lütke or a letter Heinrich Simon wrote to Mrs Schmieder in 1823 asking for better food (186). Piece 243 is a letter from Jordan to "Monsieur Simon" concerning French lessons. Whereas the correspondence before Jan 1822 largely comprises letters sent to Heinrich Simon by his family, thereafter the number of letters he sent to his parents, brother and sisters increases. Again, letters are often "collective letters" written by several members of the family or addressed to two or more people, dealing principally with family affairs and matters related to school, e.g. learning, teachers, friends and the spare-time activities of Heinrich Simon. They also report incidents in Breslau, Brieg or other places. Piece 100 includes a town-gate registration form (99). Piece 273 to Julie Simon is overwritten on the first page, with notes from several people in the margins.