White Buffalo

Student file of White Buffalo, a member of the Cheyenne Nation, who entered the school on February 3, 1881, and departed on June 17, 1884.  The file contains student information cards, newspaper clippings, and a report after leaving indicating that he was farming in Darlington, Oklahoma, in 1910.  The record also indicates that he…

Student information card of Effie Hart, a member of the Arapaho Nation, who entered the school on August 31, 1882 and departed on January 31, 1883.

Student information card of Amy White Buffalo, a member of the Cheyenne Nation, who entered the school on February 10, 1903 and departed on September 30, 1904.

Student information card of Amy White Buffalo, a member of the Cheyenne Nation, who entered the school on February 10, 1903 and departed on September 30, 1904.

In school documentation Amy White Buffalo is also known as Emma White Buffalo.

Page one was entirely taken up by a letter from Summer Riggs (Cheyenne), in which he discussed visiting friends and how a white man wanted to learn his actual name, Marchewa, in his native language. Page two mentioned issues that some Congressmen have with rules and conditions students at the school. There was also a letter from White Buffalo…

The first page opened with a poem titled "Suppose," followed by a story by P.B. called, "An Indian Story" about using the powers of observation to identify a thief. The other items on the page were two short geography queries. Page two recounted national news items including the hanging of Louis Riel for leading a Native American uprising in…

A souvenir booklet from the Carlisle Indian School, published for their 23rd year.  A short description of the aims and goals of the school is presented.  Images of students as they first arrived, as well as important visiting chiefs, are given, as are before and after images including those of Tom Torlino.  Extracurricular…

An excerpt from the Annual Report of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs to the Secretary of the Interior for the fiscal year ending 1903, containing the Twenty-Fourth Annual Report of the Carlisle Indian Industrial School. The report, submitted by Superintendent Richard Henry Pratt, includes a school population table and discussions of the…

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 student White Buffalo in Native dress wearing a feathered headdress.

Studio portrait of student White Buffalo in Native dress wearing a feather headdress and holding a bow and arrow. 

The handwritten note on the reverse side reads: White Buffalo. Cheyenne. Native dress.

 The Cumberland County Historical Society has two copies of this image: PA-CH2-003a and BS-CH-001a…

The caption reads: WHITE BUFFALO – CHEYENNE.  AT CARLISLE '81–'84.

This image appears in John N. Choate's Souvenir of the Carlisle Indian School (Carlisle, PA: J. N. Choate, 1902).

Studio portrait of White Buffalo wearing Native clothing including feathered headdress and holding a bow and arrow.

Studio portrait of White Buffalo.

The handwritten note on the reverse side reads: White Buffalo. Cheyenne.

Note: The Cumberland County Historical Society also has a copy of this image: PA-CH2-092b.

Studio portrait of White Buffalo.

Studio portrait of seven male Cheyenne students. One is wearing a school uniform. White Buffalo is seated at the far left; the rest are unidentified.

A researcher has identified the person standing in the last row behind White Buffalo as Kise Williams.

Photo taken of visiting Cheyenne and Arapahoe Chiefs with Carlisle students and government employees at Devil's Den at the Gettysburg battlefield. The image is dated November 28, 1884.

One person is identified only as "Kise." It is not known if this is Kias Red Wolf (as known as Kise) or Kise Williams. 

The handwritten note reads: CHOATE

The reverse side reads: Old Guard House    Capt. R. H. Pratt Supt.    Old Chapel.     Supt. Quarters.      Ass't Supt. Quarters     Small Boys' Quarters.  …

Group portrait of Richard Henry Pratt with a large number of male and female Native Americans and a few white people. There are some children in the group. 

Among the group is former student White Buffalo, and it seems likely this is a group of former students who returned, along with Pratt, to attend the school's commencement in…

John D. Miles, Agent for the Cheyenne and Arapaho Agency, tells Richard Henry Pratt that his agency gave students cattle to take care of over vacation. As students did not know about the money and effort involved in caring for the animals, Miles relays a suggestion from John Holmes Seger (from the Arapaho school) that male students sell their…

Richard Henry Pratt reports that the visit of Ponca Chiefs Harry Bear, Standing Eagle, and White Buffalo went well. He also notes that Chief Harry Bear asked that his son be returned home due to his falling ill multiple times at Carlisle. Pratt notes that he approved the return home of the student despite his condition improving following…

Richard Henry Pratt forwards correspondence and a copy of the North American article regarding the article accusing White Buffalo of three murders.

Richard Henry Pratt forwards a copy of the Carlisle Weekly Herald which reprinted an article regarding accusations that White Buffalo killed three women. Pratt also forwards a copy of a telegram from the agent claiming that the article is entirely false. As a result Pratt requests the government bring a suit against the North…

Richard Henry Pratt provides a history of Alaskan students at the Carlisle Indian School and notes that their education has been accomplished through the use of extra funds.

Also included is a newspaper clipping from the North American concerning a libel case against the author of a previous article regarding murder accusations…