Documents
The Documents section features digitized copies of documents relating to the history of the school. These documents include correspondence, graduation pamphlets, and other forms of ephemera, and have been digitized by Digital Resource Center staff. Today, these documents are preserved in a number of locations, including the Dickinson College Archives and Special Collections as well as private collections.
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Date: December 20-30, 1878
Hampton Institute Principal Samuel Chapman Armstrong responds to Commissioner of Indian Affairs E. A. Hayt's inquiry regarding the need for Captain Richard Henry Pratt to stay at Hampton to help care for and manage the Indian students. Armstrong states that it would be best for the Indians and Hampton for Pratt to remain at the school.
Note: This item was copied from U.S. National Archives microfilm reels (M234), which were filmed from the original documents found in Record Group 75, Entry 79, "Letters Received by the Office of Indian Affairs, 1824-80."
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Date: February 14, 1879
Spencer Fullteron Baird, Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, writes to Secretary of the Interior Carl Schurz to endorse Captain Richard H. Pratt's request to establish an Indian School at the Carlisle Barracks. Baird contends that there is "no better spot" to open an Indian School because the buildings at the barracks would be well-suited for a school.
Note: This item was copied from U.S. National Archives microfilm reels (M234), which were filmed from the original documents found in Record Group 75, Entry 79, "Letters Received by the Office of Indian Affairs, 1824-80."
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Date: June 2, 1879
Hampton Institute Principal Samuel C. Armstrong states that they are currently educating 38 Indian boys and only 9 Indian girls, so he requests that they recruit 20 Dakota female Indian students. He requests that, if his wish is granted, Captain Richard H. Pratt be sent to secure the students and that he be allowed to bring back no more than six boys along with the girls.
Note: This item was copied from U.S. National Archives microfilm reels (M234), which were filmed from the original documents found in Record Group 75, Entry 79, "Letters Received by the Office of Indian Affairs, 1824-80."
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Format: Letters/Correspondence
View Document: 
Request to Recruit Dakota Students for Hampton
Date: August 4, 1879
Letter from Richard Henry Pratt to Commissioner of Indian Affairs Ezra A. Hayt suggesting an increase in the per-student funding afforded by the government to Indian schools. Pratt also encourages the Commissioner to continue pursuing Congressional approval for the opening of an Indian school at the Carlisle Barracks.
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Topics:
View Document: Per-Student Funding and Establishment of School at Carlisle
Date: September 8, 1879
Letter from Richard Henry Pratt to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, transferring his account of travel expenses from Florida. Immediately before this time, Pratt was stationed at Fort Marion in St. Augustine, Florida as a jailer for Indian prisoners-of-war.
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
View Document: Account for Transit Expenses from Florida
Date: September 9, 1879
List of supplies requested by Richard Henry Pratt for the school he is preparing to establish at Carlisle Barracks. Requested supplies include clothing, tools, cooking supplies, and firefighting equipment.
Pratt refers to this request list in a letter sent to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs the following day.
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Topics: Supplies and Materials
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Date: September 10, 1879
Letter from Superintendent Richard Henry Pratt to Commissioner of Indian Affairs Ezra Hayt, forwarding drawings of the Carlisle Barracks and a copy of the transfer order. Those enclosures are not included here.
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Topics: Buildings and Grounds
Format: Letters/Correspondence
View Document: Letter About Drawings of Carlisle Barracks
Date: September 10, 1879
Letter from Richard Henry Pratt informing the Commissioner of Indian Affairs that he has received funds for a recruitment trip out West, and will set off that day. Pratt also requests supplies be sent to the Carlisle Barracks in preparation for his arrival with students, and asks for permission to repair the Barracks buildings after the property is legally transferred into his custody.
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Format: Letters/Correspondence
View Document: Request for Supplies and Repairs at Carlisle Barracks
Date: September 10, 1879
Richard Henry Pratt forwards his Supplementary Property Return forms to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs.
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Topics:
View Document: Forwarding Supplementary Property Return Forms
Date: September 10, 1879
Correspondence from Superintendent Pratt to Commissioner of Indian Affairs Ezra Hayt noting that any communication regarding supplies will receive immediate attention.
Other documents from this same time period attest to Pratt's desperate need for supplies at Carlisle Barracks, before the arrival of the first group of students.
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Topics: Supplies and Materials
Format: Letters/Correspondence
View Document: Notice Regarding Need for Supplies
Date: September 11, 1879
Letter from Richard Henry Pratt to Edwin J. Brooks regarding sick students discharged from the Hampton Institute. Pratt insists that too many boys were sent home, against his and the doctor's advice, and asserts that Spotted Tail and Red Cloud will be less interested in sending students to Carlisle as a result.
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Format: Letters/Correspondence
View Document: Medical Discharge at Hampton and Recruitment for Carlisle
Date: September 15, 1879
Hampton Institute Principal Samuel C. Armstrong informs Commissioner of Indian Affairs E. A. Hayt that he has signed his contract. He states that he's unhappy with the terms of the contract and describes the expense and difficulty of educating Indian students.
Note: This item was copied from U.S. National Archives microfilm reels (M234), which were filmed from the original documents found in Record Group 75, Entry 79, "Letters Received by the Office of Indian Affairs, 1824-80."
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Format: Letters/Correspondence
View Document: Difficulties with Educating Indian Students at Hampton
Date: October 2, 1879
Telegram from Richard Henry Pratt, in the Yankton Agency, to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs informing him that 47 boys and 17 girls from Rosebud as well as 12 boys and 6 girls from Pine Ridge have been recruited. Pratt notes that these children will be escorted east to the Hampton Institute.
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Topics: Recruitment of Students
Format: Letters/Correspondence
View Document: Recruitment Report from Rosebud and Pine Ridge Sioux Agency
Date: October 3, 1879
Telegram from Richard Henry Pratt in Onawa, Iowa to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs following up on a previous message regarding his orders to recruit a party of students for the Hampton Institute. Pratt notifies the Commissioner that he has started his return journey.
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Topics: Recruitment of Students
Format: Letters/Correspondence
View Document: Telegram Regarding Orders to Return to Hampton
Date: October 6, 1879
Telegram from Richard Henry Pratt to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs requesting materials and funds to erect a "picket fence six feet high to keep Indians in and citizens out" of the Carlisle Indian School campus.
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Format: Letters/Correspondence
View Document: Materials Request for Picket Fence
Date: October 6, 1879
Telegram from Richard Henry Pratt informing the Commissioner of Indian Affairs that he has arrived in Carlisle with the first party of students. Pratt also asks about his previous requests for supplies and rations, which have gone unanswered.
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Topics: Supplies and Materials, Student Arrival
Format: Letters/Correspondence
View Document: Notice of Arrival of First Group of Students
Date: October 8, 1879
Request from Richard Henry Pratt for postage stamps, for use on official school business.
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Topics: Supplies and Materials
Format: Letters/Correspondence
View Document: Request for Postage Stamps
Date: October 8, 1879
Telegram from Richard Henry Pratt to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs requesting $2000 for food at the Carlisle Indian School and to cover expenses for a recruitment trip in the West. Pratt notes that he is leaving for Winfield, Kansas soon.
Repository: National Museum of the American Indian
Topics: Recruitment of Students
View Document: Request for Funds for Food and Travel
Date: October 9, 1879
Richard H. Pratt writes to Commissioner of Indian Affairs Ezra Hayt regarding a board to appraise property at the Carlisle Barracks. Pratt notes that, because of the visit, he will be unable to meet a group of recruited students in the West, and instead suggests sending teachers Alfred J. Standing and Sarah Mather. Pratt also notes the presence of journalists around the school, looking for information.
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Format: Letters/Correspondence
View Document: Notice of Board to Appraise Property
Date: October 9, 1879
Telegram from Richard Henry Pratt to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs asking for a quick response to outstanding requests for supplies.
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Topics: Supplies and Materials
Format: Letters/Correspondence
View Document: Request for Expedited Supplies Shipment
Date: October 10, 1879
Richard Henry Pratt writes to Commissioner of Indian Affairs Ezra Hayt asking whether official postage stamps can be used to send students' mail to their families and friends at home in the western Agencies.
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Topics: Finance
View Document: Use of Official Postage for Student Letters
Date: October 10, 1879
Telegram from Richard Henry Pratt requesting funds from the Commissioner of Indian Affairs. The funds were needs for repairs, the construction of a fence, and the purchase of school and bedding furniture.
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Topics: Supplies and Materials
View Document: Requesting Funds for Repairs and Furniture
Date: October 10, 1879
Richard Henry Pratt forwards a copy of a letter from the Carlisle Gas and Water Company regarding cost of water while the Barracks is occupied. Pratt requests permission to resume payment of a long-standing water contract, as requested by the company.
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
View Document: Contract for Water Supply at Carlisle Barracks
Date: October 11, 1879
Richard Henry Pratt writes to Commissioner of Indian Affairs Ezra Hayt for instructions on how to process donations received for the Carlisle Indian School. Pratt notes that he received a donation for the continued education of a former prisoner-of-war held at Fort Marion in St. Augustine, Florida. He requests specific instructions on how or whether these and other donated funds should be deposited in the government's Civilization Fund.
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
View Document: Request for Instructions Regarding Donations
Date: October 11, 1879
Richard Henry Pratt forwards to Commissioner of Indian Affiars Ezra Hayt a telegram sent by General Samuel Armstrong of the Hampton Institute. Armstrong telegrams Pratt asking whether he is needed for a westward recruitment trip, and Pratt forwards the telegram to the Commissioner for consultation.
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Topics: Recruitment of Students
Format: Letters/Correspondence
View Document: Westward Travel Plans for General Armstrong