Pratt, Richard Henry

Secretary of War George W. McCrary informs Assistant Secretary of the Interior A. Bell that he does not have authority to allow Lieutenant Melville C. Wilkinson to engage in Indian education as Richard Henry Pratt is already in that line of work. Instead, Wilkinson will be sent to a college in Oregon where certain Indian youth can be sent.…

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.

Commissioner of Indian Affairs E. A. Hayt instructs the Acting Commissioner to allow Richard Henry Pratt to select 70 students from Sioux Nations and 30 from the Kiowa, Comanche, Cheyenne, and Arapaho Nations.

Note: This item was copied from U.S. National Archives microfilm reels (M234), which were filmed from the original documents…

Adjutant General E. D. Townsend states that the Secretary of War has approved the Secretary of the Interior's request to transfer the Carlisle Barracks from the War Department to the Interior. The Barracks will be used as a school for Indian children and will be under the charge of Richard Henry Pratt. The War Department retains the right to…

The Chief Clerk for the Secretary of War forwards a series of documents to the Secretary of the Interior regarding the transfer of the Carlisle Barracks from the War Department to the Interior Department. First, Adjutant General E. D. Townsend issues Special Orders No. 194 stating that Richard Henry Pratt now officially works in Indian…

Acting Secretary of the Interior A. Bell informs the Commissioner of Indian Affairs that he is giving permission to Lieutenant Richard Henry Pratt to proceed to Lee, Massachusetts. Bell notes that Pratt will secure current Hampton Institute students who are on outing and take them to the Carlisle Barracks. These Hampton students will become…

Adjutant General E. D. Townsend informs the Commanding General of the Atlantic that the Secretary of War George W. McCrary has ordered that all "movable property" at the Carlisle Barracks be turned over to the Indian Bureau as part of the transfer of the Barracks from the War to Interior Department. McCray encloses the letter to the Secretary…

Richard H. Pratt forwards an estimate of cost for necessary repairs to the buildings at the Carlisle Barracks. These repairs, which are needed to prepare the buildings for use by the Carlisle Indian School, are estimated to cost $1,399.00.

Note: This item was copied from U.S. National Archives microfilm reels (M234), which were filmed…

Acting Secretary of the Interior A. Bell informs the Commissioner of Indian Affairs that the War Department has transferred the buildings at the Carlisle Barracks to the Interior Department and that Special Agent Richard Henry Pratt is authorized to create an Indian school at the Barracks using the buildings. He also grants authority for Pratt…

Letter from Richard Henry Pratt to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, transferring his account of travel expenses from Florida. Immediately before this time, Pratt had been sent to Florida to locate, enumerate, and report on the condition of the Native Americans there. 

Richard Henry Pratt forwards his Supplementary Property Return forms to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs.

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.

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 barracks in preparation for his arrival with students, and asks for permission to repair the barracks buildings after the property is…

Letter from Richard Henry Pratt to Acting Commissioner of Indian Affairs 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…

Acting Secretary of the Interior A. Bell grants authority to purchase a list of articles and supplies, including bedding and clothing, amounting to $2,000, on the open market rather than through regular government contractors. This action was taken because, as the letter notes, the students needing the supplies are already currently on their…

Edward Bloeden writes to U.S. Indian Inspector William J. Pollock looking for a job, so Pollock forwards Bloden's letter to Richard Henry Pratt. Pratt forwards Bloeden's letter to Commissioner of Indian Affairs E. A. Hayt and states that he doesn't know him well but believes he could be a good employee for the Carlisle Indian School.

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Telegram from Richard Henry Pratt, at 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 he will proceed on to Carlisle. The note suggests that Pratt was due to rendezvous with "C" (probably agent…

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.

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.

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.

Telegram from Richard Henry Pratt to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs requesting $2,000 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.

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 timing of this visit, he will be unable to meet a group of recruited students in the West as planned, and instead suggests sending teachers Alfred J. Standing and Sarah Mather.…

Telegram from Richard Henry Pratt to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs asking for a quick response to outstanding requests for supplies.

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.

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.