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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January 28, 1885
Richard Henry Pratt requests permission from the Commissioner of Indian Affairs for approval to have 200 boys and the Carlisle Indian School band to participate in the inaugural ceremonies. Pratt notes that Secretary of the Interior Henry Morgan…
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Format: Letters/Correspondence
View Document: Inquiry About Participating in Inaugural Ceremonies312.53 KB
January 28, 1885 - February 2, 1885
Richard Henry Pratt forwards a letter from John D. Miles about establishing an Indian School at For Dodge, Kansas focusing on cattle raising. Pratt writes that in his opinion the idea is not a good idea due to being located near reservations as…
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Topics:
Format: Letters/Correspondence
View Document: Proposal to Establish Indian School at Fort Dodge, Kansas1.72 MB
January 28, 1885
O. P. Goodwin requests from the Wyoming Congressional Representative Morton Everel Post for his daughters to be enrolled either at the Carlisle Indian School or the Lincoln Institute. Post forwarded the letter to the Bureau of Indian Affairs…
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Format: Letters/Correspondence
View Document: Request from O. P. Goodwin for His Daughters to be Enrolled at Carlisle or Lincoln352.02 KB
February 5, 1885
Richard Henry Pratt submits a "Special" Estimate of Funds form for $4025 from the interest on the Osage Fund for the support of 23 Osage students. An explanatory cover letter is included.
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Topics:
View Document: Special Estimate of Funds, First Quarter 18851.03 MB
February 11, 1885 - February 18, 1885
Frank Ensminger writes the Bureau of Indian Affairs regarding a civil dispute between him and Richard Henry Pratt over payment for training George Walker in harness making. Pratt claims that he was only to pay Ensminger if Walker was not a good…
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Format: Letters/Correspondence
View Document: Dispute Over Lack of Payment for Training a Student in Harness Making1.61 MB
February 18, 1885 - March 3, 1885
Richard Henry Pratt responds to a letter from H. J. Armstrong, U.S. Indian Agent for the Crow Agency, regarding a promise that Armstrong made that students sent to Carlisle could return after two years and not three years. Armstrong believes that…
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Topics: Enrollment Policies, Students on Outings
Format: Letters/Correspondence
View Document: Potential Return of Crow Students to Their Home1.1 MB
February 19, 1885
Superintendent Richard Henry Pratt writes to Doctor Cornelius Rea Agnew regarding a possible trip to the southern United States, including a visit at the Exposition and the International Convention of Educators. Pratt also mentions his…
Repository: Dickinson College Archives & Special Collections
Topics:
Format: Letters/Correspondence
View Document: Letter from Richard H. Pratt to Cornelius R. Agnew914.45 KB
February 25, 1885
Superintendent Richard Henry Pratt writes to Doctor Cornelius Rea Agnew regarding his concerns for the new head of the Interior Department. Pratt also notes that he has postponed his trip south. This letter is part of a series of…
Repository: Dickinson College Archives & Special Collections
Topics:
Format: Letters/Correspondence
View Document: Letter from Richard H. Pratt to Cornelius R. Agnew1.43 MB
March 16, 1885
John H. Bowman, U.S. Indian Agent for the Navajo Agency, writes regarding obtaining students for the Carlisle Indian School. Bowman notes that because of Navajo customs he does not believe it possible for the agency to send girls but he can send…
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Format: Letters/Correspondence
View Document: Possibility of Sending Students from the Navajo Agency to Carlisle668.62 KB
March 21, 1885
Superintendent Richard Henry Pratt writes to Doctor Cornelius Rea Agnew over his concerns for the organization and staffing of offices within the Interior Department. This letter is part of a series of related correspondence which can be…
Repository: Dickinson College Archives & Special Collections
Topics:
Format: Letters/Correspondence
View Document: Letter from Richard H. Pratt to Cornelius R. Agnew901.58 KB
March 26, 1885
Superintendent Richard Henry Pratt writes to Doctor Cornelius Rea Agnew regarding Pratt's visit with the new Commissioner of Indian Affairs, and a donation towards the farm debt. This letter is part of a series of related correspondence…
Repository: Dickinson College Archives & Special Collections
Topics: Fundraising
Format: Letters/Correspondence
View Document: Letter from Richard H. Pratt to Cornelius R. Agnew755.96 KB
March 28, 1885
Richard Henry Pratt seeks the opinion of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs in regards to returning seven Nez Perce students currently at Carlisle. Pratt writes that the Nez Perce are returning to Idaho and they want their children to return with…
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Format: Letters/Correspondence
View Document: Pratt Seeks Information Regarding Return of Nez Perce Students648.9 KB
March 30, 1885
Richard Henry Pratt notes that the Carlisle Indian School has 58 Osage students at the school at present including 45 boys and 13 girls. He writes that between 10 and 15 of these students should be returned due to health and other considerations…
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Topics:
Format: Letters/Correspondence
View Document: Education and Return of Osage Students at Carlisle620.45 KB
April 2, 1885
Richard Henry Pratt seeks guidance on the case of Joshua H. Given, a member of the Kiowa Nation, who is seeking to become a United States citizen. Given had enrolled in the Lincoln University in Oxford, Pennsylvania with the help of the…
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Topics:
Format: Letters/Correspondence
View Document: Joshua Given Seeks Help Obtaining United States Citizenship427.92 KB
April 7, 1885 - April 8, 1885
Richard Henry Pratt seeks to obtain two or three dozen fire protection hand grenades for the Carlisle Indian School.
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Format: Letters/Correspondence
View Document: Supply of Fire Protection Hand Grenades873.97 KB
April 9, 1885
Richard Henry Pratt informs the Office of Indian Affairs that he has on hand a larger number of boy's sizes of hose than he can use. As a result he requests he be provided with 20 dozen of boy's size 8 and 140 dozen of men's size 9, 10, and 11.…
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Format: Letters/Correspondence
View Document: Request to Change Order of Hose along with Coffee and Tea373.74 KB
April 15, 1885
Estimate of funds for the second quarter of 1885 amounting to $8,491.87 for support of the school, $6,090.00 of which is for regular employee pay.
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Topics:
Format: Financial Documents
View Document: Estimate of Funds and Regular Employee Pay, Second Quarter 1885711.53 KB
April 22, 1885
Richard Henry Pratt follows up his telegraph agreeing to send Dr. Obadiah G. Given with the party of Nez Perces being transferred. Pratt also recommends booking the Emigrant Sleepers as they provide the ability to make coffee therefore saving…
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Topics: Nez Perce Removal
Format: Letters/Correspondence
View Document: Follow Up on Sending Given with Nez Perce Party495.19 KB
April 22, 1885
Pratt writes that he is willing to spare the Carlisle School physician Obadiah G. Given for the Nez Perce removal. Pratt asks that his absence be as brief as possible.
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Format: Letters/Correspondence
View Document: Pratt Willing to Spare Carlisle Physician for Nez Perce Removal369.43 KB
April 24, 1885
Richard Henry Pratt inquires about expenses related to Obadiah G. Given accompanying the Nez Perce party being transferred. Pratt notes that Given is ready to start when the Bureau of Indian Affairs telegraphs that the expenses will be covered.…
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Topics: Nez Perce Removal
Format: Letters/Correspondence
View Document: Expenses to Cover Obadiah Given While Traveling with Nez Perce Party433.44 KB
April 27, 1885
Richard Henry Pratt provides recommendations for improving the Indian School system to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs. Pratt's suggestions include educating everyone of school age compared to the quarter currently enrolled, requiring a census…
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Topics: Indian School System
Format: Letters/Correspondence
View Document: Pratt Makes Suggestions for Improving Indian School System1.31 MB
April 28, 1885
R. F. Hunter writes the Bureau of Indian Affairs regarding the order of three dozen fire prevention hand grenades at a cost of $9 per dozen.
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Format: Letters/Correspondence
View Document: Delivery of Fire Prevention Hand Grenades to Carlisle432.1 KB
May 4, 1885
Richard Henry Pratt requests authority to bring in six boys and six girls from the Quapaw Nation to the Carlisle Indian School to learn trades and become teachers. Pratt indicates that the Society of Friends has taken a particular interest in the…
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Topics: Request for Enrollment
Format: Letters/Correspondence
View Document: Request to Enroll 12 Students from the Quapaw Nation at Carlisle626.76 KB
May 6, 1885
The program includes singing and recitation and other displays of acquired knowledge and speeches. The names of participating students are listed. Another part of the program was a discussion on the topic: “Should the Indians be farmers or stock-…
Repository: Cumberland County Historical Society
Format: Memorabilia and Ephemera
View Document: Printed Program of the Sixth Annual Examination607.51 KB
May 9, 1885 - June 9, 1885
Richard Henry Pratt forwards a contract between the Carlisle Indian School and Glatfelter and Nace for the latter to provide 600 barrels of flour for the 1885 fiscal year.
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
View Document: Contract for Flour for the 1885 Fiscal Year832.7 KB