Elder, Harriet Mary

Student file of Harriet Mary Elder, a member of the Nez Perce Nation, who entered the school on February 20, 1880 and departed on August 27, 1886. The file contains a student information card, a returned student survey in which she writes about her role as president of the Nez Perce women's missionary society, a former student response postcard…

Student information card of Harriet Mary Elder, a member of the Nez Perce Nation, who entered the school on February 20, 1880 and departed on August 27, 1886. The file indicates Elder was married and living in Kooskia, Idaho in 1912.

The first page opened with the poem, "New Every Morning" by Susan Coolidge, followed by "Good Words from a Blind Young Man," which was a typewritten letter sent by Joseph Link, student of the Institution of the Blind, to Charles Wheelock (Oneida). There was also an article reprinted from the Truckee (Cal.) Republican, titled "Indian…

The first page opened with a poem titled “To Tell a Good House-Keeper,” reprinted from The New Moon. Also on the page was an account by Johnnie Schmoker about bird hunting at the Cheyenne and Arapaho School in Oklahoma titled “INCIDENTS OF SCHOOL WORK AMONG THE CHEYENNES AND ARAPAHOES, IN THE INDIAN TERRITORY, WHEN THEY WERE REALLY…

The first page opened with a poem "Wanted,” followed by a fictitious conversation titled “Sallie Lump-of-Mud and Little Miss Sensible Have a Talk.” The page ended with news from Harriet Elder (Nez Perce) and her agency, titled “This Was My Name When at School – Harriet M. Elder.” Page two reported about “The Persian Talk” and an article titled…

The first page opened with a poem by E.G. titled "U.S.I.D.” followed by the next installment of the series titled “How An Indian Girl Might Tell Her Own Story if She Had the Chance: Founded on Actual Observations of the Man-on-the-band-stand’s Chief Clerk” (continued from the previous week). The story continued on the fourth page. Page two…

The first page opened with a notice that there were no Indian Helper newspapers published for December 28 and January 3rd. A notice followed: “A Novel Christmas Present: Our Superintendent Made with his own Hands a tin Cup for Each Employee.” Next was a poem, by “E.G.“dated Dec. 25, ’89 titled “The School Poet Again Stirred” about…

Studio portrait of Alice Wynn (back left), Kisetta Roosevelt (back middle), Mabel Doanmoe (back right), Rebecca Big Star (front left), and Harriet Mary Elder (front right). All are wearing school uniforms.

Studio portrait of Alice Wynn (back left), Kisetta Roosevelt (back middle), Mabel Doanmoe (back right), Rebecca Big Star (front left), and Harriet Mary Elder (front right). All are wearing school uniforms.

Note: The Cumberland County Historical Society dates this image to March, 1880. The Society has three copies of this image: PA-CH1-…

Studio portrait of Harriet Mary Elder probably wearing school uniform. 

Studio portrait of Harriet Mary Elder possibly wearing school uniform.

Note: The Cumberland County Historical Society has two copies of this image: PA-CH1-013b and CS-CH-012.

The printed note on the reverse side reads: OUR BOYS AND GIRLS At the Indian Training School, Carlisle, Pa.

1. White Buffalo, Cheyenne, I. T.
2. Mittie Houston, Wichita, I. T.
3. Samuel Townsend, Pawnee, I. T.
4. Nancy Renville, Sisseston Sioux, D. T…

Studio portrait of five male students and four female students.

They are, back row, left to right: Frank West, George Summers, Percy Zadoka, Warden Cleaver; front row, left to right: Annie Thomas, Minnie Yellow Bear, Pollock Spotted Tail, Hattie Longwolf, and Harriet Mary Elder. 

Studio portrait of nine students. Back row, left to right: Frank West, George Summers, Percy Zadoka, Warden Cleaver; front row, left to right: Annie Thomas, Minnie Yellow Bear, Pollock Spotted Tail, Hattie Longwolf, and Harriet Mary Elder. 

The Cumberland County Historical Society has three copies of this image: PA-CH1-004, 10-B-17…

Richard Henry Pratt provides a list of students to be returned to their homes at the end of their enrollment terms. Pratt notes that many of these students have expressed a desire to remain and notes that agents should attempt to secure permission from their parents for their children to remain. Pratt notes many students who were expected to…

Lewellyn E. Woodin, U.S. Indian Agent for the Ponca, Pawnee, and Otoe Agency, notes that the mother of Harriet Mary Elder (here Harriet May) requests her daughter to be sent home from Carlisle. Woodin writes that the mother is part of a party going from the Oakland Reservation to Idaho and wants her daughter to accompany her.

Lewellyn E. Woodin, U.S. Indian Agent for the Ponca, Pawnee, and Otoe Agency, provides the answers of the parents whose children's terms are set to expire regarding extending their terms at Carlisle.

Richard Henry Pratt requests authority to pay for the transportation of Harriet Mary, a member of the Nez Perce Nation, whose term of enrollment has expired and whose mother is requesting her return home. Pratt notes that the Nez Perce agent Charles E. Montieth recommends the new agent for the Nez Perce Agency accompany her on her trip home.…

George W. Norris, the newly appointed U.S. Indian Agent for the Nez Perce Agency, replies to an Office of the Indian Affairs letter that he will travel to the Nez Perce Agency via Carlisle, Pennsylvania in order to pick up Harriet Mary to return her to her home.

Richard Henry Pratt writes that it will be difficult to send Harriet Mary Elder (here Harriet Mary Boston) to the agency, seemingly due to expense, but he will see that she gets there. 

A series of fifteen letters written to Captain Richard H. Pratt in response to a questionnaire sent to former students. The accompanying questionnaire forms are not included.

Transcripts follow each handwritten letter.