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: November 4, 1879
Richard Henry Pratt writes to Commissioner of Indian Affairs Ezra Hayt, requesting $4000 be transferred to his credit for the purposes of settling debts and paying owed salaries. A note in the file suggests that the Commissioner had a total of $7000 transferred into Pratt's account.
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Topics:
View Document: 
Request for Fund Transfer for Salaries and Debts
Date: November 5, 1879
Richard Henry Pratt requests approved funds be transferred to his credit, so that supplies can be purchased.
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Topics: Supplies and Materials
View Document: Request for Fund Transfer for Supplies Purchases
Date: November 6, 1879
Telegram from Richard Henry Pratt noting the arrival of Sisseton, Standing Rock, and Cheyenne River Sioux children, Green Bay Menominee children, and Chief Little Noheart at Carlisle. Pratt requests whether these children should be sent to the Hampton Institute.
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Topics: Student Arrival
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Date: November 6-19, 1879
Richard Henry Pratt forwards to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs a letter, sent to General Samuel Armstrong of the Hampton Institute by Green Bay agent E. Stephens. Stephens requests that two students just sent to Carlisle, Joseph Wishecoppy and Moses Nonway, be sent to Hampton to join two other recently enrolled Menominee students, Charles Shamin and Michael Oshkenamew. Pratt approves the transfer, if the Commissioner also finds it favorable.
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Topics: Student Transfer
Format: Letters/Correspondence
View Document: Transfer of Menominee Boys from Carlisle to Hampton
Date: November 7, 1879
Richard Henry Pratt informs Commissioner of Indian Affairs Ezra Hayt that, at the request of Hampton Institute director General Samuel Armstrong, six Sisseton Sioux children and two Menominee boys from Green Bay, Wisconsin will be retained at Carlisle. Their addition increases the school's population to 158.
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Format: Letters/Correspondence
View Document: Retaining Sisseton Sioux and Menominee Students at Carlisle
Date: November 7, 1879
Richard Henry Pratt writes to Commissioner of Indian Affairs Ezra Hayt regarding the quality of clothing provided to Carlisle Indian School students. Pratt complains that the partial order of clothing he received from the Bureau is not durable or warm enough, and leaves students uncomfortable and discontent. Pratt requests that he be provided with the funds to replace the garmants, and permission to purchase the clothing on the public market.
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Topics: Supplies and Materials
Format: Letters/Correspondence
View Document: Complaint Regarding Quality of Student Clothing
Date: November 12, 1879
Richard Henry Pratt acknowledges receipt of numerous boxes of clothing and other supplies, including and organ for the chapel.
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Topics: Supplies and Materials
Format: Letters/Correspondence
View Document: Acknowledgement of Received Supplies
Date: November 13, 1879
Captain Richard Henry Pratt writes to Ezra H. Hayt, Commissioner of Indian Affairs, regarding the first group of Sioux, Ponca, Pawnee, Kiowa, Comanche, Wichita, Seminole, Cheyenne, and Arapahoe children and young adults brought to the Carlisle Indian School. Pratt offers a detailed description of the journey, and then lists each individual brought to the school, organized by agency. Also included is information on each individual's name, age, gender, band, father's name, and father's rank.
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Format: Letters/Correspondence, Reports
Date: November 17, 1879
Richard Henry Pratt forwards to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs a letter, penned by James E. Rhodes of Germantown, Pennsylvania. Rhodes asks if the son of one of his Seneca friends, John Kennedy, might be allowed to enroll at Carlisle. Pratt notes that he is willing to accept the boy, if the Commissioner approves.
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Topics: Recruitment of Students
Format: Letters/Correspondence
View Document: Request to Enroll Seneca Student
Date: December 9, 1879
Richard H. Pratt informs Commissioner of Indian Affairs E. A. Hayt that Dr. J. J. Bender would be willing to be the Indian School's doctor for $600 per year. However, Dr. Bender is the leading physician in the town of Carlisle and has many patients. Pratt suggests that it could be better for the Indian School to hire its own physician.
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
Topics: Health and Medicine, Staff Employment
Format: Letters/Correspondence
View Document: Employment of a Doctor
Date: December 12, 1879
Richard H. Pratt transmits a "Special" Estimate for Funds form for the fourth quarter of 1879 amounting to $1,250.50 for the fitting of chapel and school room, repairs, and supplies. An explanatory cover letter is included.
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
Topics: Estimate of Funds
View Document: Special Estimate of Funds, Fourth Quarter 1879
Date: December 12, 1879
Richard H. Pratt informs Commissioner of Indian Affairs E. A. Hayt that Dr. J. J. Bender will be hired in a temporary capacity. Dr. Bender will visit the school as often as necessary and will "take charge of all cases of sickness."
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
Topics: Health and Medicine, Staff Employment
Format: Letters/Correspondence
View Document: Temporary Employment of Dr. J. J. Bender
Date: December 13, 1879
Richard H. Pratt transmits an estimate of funds for the first quarter of 1880 amounting to $6,000.00 covering subsistence, salaries of employees, supplies, contingencies, and repairs.
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
Topics: Estimate of Funds
View Document: Estimate of Funds, First Quarter 1880
Date: December 18, 1879
Richard H. Pratt requests a six-month supply of various blank administrative forms used by the United States Indian Affairs division of the Department of the Interior.
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
Topics: Request for Blanks, Supplies and Materials
Format: Legal and Government Documents
View Document: Requisition for Blanks and Blank Books, December 1879
Date: December 19, 1879
Richard Henry Pratt writes to Commissioner of Indian Affairs Ezra Hayt, responding to a forwarded letter from Major Pollock of the Rosebud Agency. Pratt argues against screening students' letters home, suggesting that it would harm the government's relationship with their parents and chiefs. Pratt also addresses students' written complaints about clothing, noting that new standardized garmants are being made for all students.
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Topics: Student Censorship
Format: Letters/Correspondence
View Document: Expression Against Screening Student Mail
Date: December 23, 1879
Richard H. Pratt transmits a "Special" Estimate for Stationary form for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1880.
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
Topics: Supplies and Materials, Request for Blanks
View Document: Special Estimate for Stationary, December 1879
Date: December 27, 1879
Richard H. Pratt informs Commissioner of Indian Affairs E. A. Hayt that Dr. J. J. Bender's temporary employment "has proven acceptable" and requests to permanently hire him for $700 per year .
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Topics: Staff Employment, Health and Medicine
Format: Letters/Correspondence
View Document: Request to Permanently Hire Dr. J. J. Bender
Date: December 30, 1879
Richard Henry Pratt writes two letters to officials at the Bureau of Indian Affairs, inquiring why needed funds for the construction of the chapel have not been provided. In the first letter, to Commissioner of Indian Affairs Ezra Hayt, Pratt notes that he has borrowed money to fill the financial gap. In the second letter, to Edwin J. Brooks, Pratt complains that his numerous official letters still go unanswered. Pratt also notes that the school is ready to be inspected, that the sick list is trivial, and that students are happy.
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
View Document: Urgent Requests for Funds for Chapel
Date: January 1, 1880
Richard Henry Pratt acknowledges receipt of a Milburn wagon. A note indicates that this is a copy of the original receipt.
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Topics: Supplies and Materials
Format: Letters/Correspondence
View Document: Receipt for Milburn Wagon
Date: January 4, 1880
Richard Henry Pratt forwards to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs a letter from Olive Roberts, requesting employment as a teacher at the Carlisle Indian School. Roberts states that they previously ran the Crow Creek boarding school in Dakota. Pratt requests more information about Roberts, and notes that many of his teachers are giving up because of the hard work of educating Carlisle's students.
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Topics: Staff Employment
Format: Letters/Correspondence
View Document: Employment Application for Olive Roberts as Teacher
Date: January 5, 1880
Richard Henry Pratt telegrams the Commissioner of Indian Affairs asking for permission to come to Washington that day to discuss school matters, including a farm.
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Topics:
Format: Letters/Correspondence
View Document: Telegram Requesting Trip to Washington Regarding Farm
Date: January 10, 1880
Richard Henry Pratt reports that the Rosebud delegation that visited Carlisle consumed 1103 pounds of beef during their visit.
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Topics: Supplies and Materials
Format: Letters/Correspondence
View Document: Report of Beef Consumed by Rosebud Delegation
Date: January 12, 1880
Richard Henry Pratt writes to Commissioner of Indian Affairs Ezra Hayt suggesting the release of former prisoners jailed by Pratt at Fort Marion in St. Augustine, Florida. A delegation of the former prisoners had helped Pratt establish the Carlisle Indian School after their release from Fort Marion. Pratt suggested that, by releasing them and providing them with agricultural equipment, the former prisoners could continue to help civilize their people.
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Format: Letters/Correspondence
View Document: Plan for Release of Former Florida Prisoners
Date: January 15, 1880
Richard Henry Pratt writes to Commissioner of Indian Affairs Ezra Hayt, requesting permission to purchase the listed supplies for the school. Some of the supplies had already been purchased for immediate use. The request includes construction materials, repairs to buildings and the ambulance, books, scientific and medical supplies, industrial equipment, and a coffin for Amos LaFramboise (Sioux).
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
View Document: List of Supplies to Purchase
Date: January 20, 1880
Richard Henry Pratt reports that he was forced to purchase coal on the open market, above his pre-approved limit, due to a shortage for the first quarter of 1880.
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Topics: Supplies and Materials
View Document: Necessary Coal Purchase for First Quarter 1880