Recruitment of Students

Richard Henry Pratt reports that he returned from his trip to recruit Navajo students. He notes that he only brought back 12 Navajo students rather than the allotted 20.

Richard Henry Pratt informs the Commissioner of Indian Affairs that he has received word that Sitting Bull refuses to send any children to Carlisle. As a result he has directed his representative to go directly to Rosebud or Pine Ridge to bring back students. He ended by saying that if there are more students desiring to come from Rosebud or…

Richard Henry Pratt documents his trip to the Rosebud Agency where he attempted to secure ninety students for the school. He notes that after an initial meeting where this was received with much enthusiasm, he failed to gather the allotted students due to the work of the Catholic priest at the agency. Pratt claims that the priest may be opposed…

Richard Henry Pratt discusses the number of students that Carlisle can carry for the upcoming school year in 1883. He declares that the school is currently has around 320 students enrolled and can carry over 400 which he proposes to acquire from traveling West in order to select certain students who are better suited for Carlisle. In particular…

Richard Henry Pratt provides an update to the Secretary of the Interior on his recruitment of students for the Carlisle Indian School in the fall of 1883. Pratt notes that he can acquire some students from the Ponca and Nez Perce Agency, the Kiowa Agency, and the Rosebud and Pine Ridge Agencies. He also provides an update on the Pawnee Agency…

Richard Henry Pratt notifies the Office of Indian Affairs that Obadiah G. Given is at the San Carlos Agency recruiting students for the Carlisle Indian School.

Richard Henry Pratt responds to an Office of Indian Affairs telegraph that he has sent the school physician Obadiah G. Given to recruit students among the Pueblos and Apaches. He also details arrangements he has made with the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railroad company.

Pratt then details the various actions he has taken in regards…

Superintendent Richard Henry Pratt writes to Doctor Cornelius Rea Agnew regarding their upcoming trip to the west and the visit of Mr. Blaine to Carlisle to lay the cornerstone for Bosler Hall.

Transcript included.

Richard Henry Pratt requests the approval for his request for $7000 in order to transport pupils to Carlisle. In particular, Pratt notes that one of the Carlisle Indian School teachers who returned with Pueblo students has seen 40 students from Laguna request to be enrolled at Carlisle. This is in addition to other Pueblo villages as well as…

Superintendent Richard Henry Pratt writes to Doctor Cornelius Rea Agnew attempting to arrange a visit, as well as a trip to the west to recruit students.  Pratt asks Agnew to come along to help select healthy children, and suggests that they rest in the Las Vegas, New Mexico Hot Springs. 

Transcript included.

Acting Secretary in the Department of the Interior M. S. Juslyn writes to Doctor Cornelius Rea Agnew enclosing an order securing Agency and Indian Service assistance for Agnew while he is in the West. 

Richard Henry Pratt informs the Bureau of Indian Affairs that he is leaving for the Indian Territory and New Mexico for new pupils for the Carlisle Indian School. In his absence he leaves A. J. Standing in charge of the School.

Richard Henry Pratt reports his return to the Carlisle Indian School from his student recruiting trip out West along with 77 students. He notes that he brought back 57 students from Laguna, 14 from Acoma, four from Cochiti, and two from Jemes. Pratt also notes that he made arrangements with the Osage and Mescalero Agencies to send additional…

Richard Henry Pratt inquires whether it is worthwhile to wait for William H. H. Llewellyn to recruit girls from the Mescalero Agency. Notes that L. J. Miles is going to leave the Osage Agency with 40 students and he can accept 50 more from that agency.

Marianna Burgess sends a report to Richard Henry Pratt regarding a recruiting trip at the Menominee Agency. Burgess details the difficulties resulting from opposition from the local Catholic Priest. Pratt notes that he has experienced similar opposition at the Rosebud, Pine Ridge, and in a number of the Pueblo Agencies.

Richard Henry Pratt references the telegrams sent by William H. H. Llewellyn, U.S. Indian Agent for the Mescalero Agency, and recommends that the agent be encouraged to make up the party of students from the agency in November. He notes that if Carlisle is unable to enroll the students that they can likely be sent to another Indian School.

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 around 12 boys.

Notice of intent by Richard Henry Pratt that either he or the Carlisle Indian School physician Obadiah G. Given is set to visit the Rosebud and Pine Ridge Agencies to enroll 75 students. Pratt notes that due to students at Rosebud being sent to Genoa and Lincoln, in addition to the opposition to the Catholic Church, they are unlikely to enroll…

Richard Henry Pratt informs the Bureau of Indian Affairs that he has received word from the Green Bay Agency of a number of Oneida students who desire to enroll at Carlisle. As a result he has sent Marrianna Burgess to select 20 students to bring back to Carlisle and requests transportation for that number to be made available at Oneida,…

Richard Henry Pratt requests permission to travel to St. Augustine with a Carlisle Indian School student from Chiricahua to provide a presentation to the Apache prisoners of war about the intentions of the Government in seeking to educate their children and how beneficial enrolling their children at Carlisle would be.

Richard Henry Pratt requests permission to recruit female students, along with his oldest daughter as an assistant, from the Cheyenne and Arapaho Agency, the Kiowa and Comanche and the Quapaw Agency, the Pueblo Agency, the Navajo Agency, and the Pine Ridge Agency. He further requests transportation expenses to be covered for himself along with…

A request from Richard Herny Pratt to send Tom Torlino to his home in order to serve as an example of the benefits of the Carlisle Indian School.

Richard Henry Pratt requests full authority and instructions from the Office of Indian Affairs to travel West and recruit new students as soon as possible.

Richard Henry Pratt responds to a letter from Secretary of the Interior Lucius Q. C. Lamar regarding sending children and young adults at Fort Marion, St. Augustine, Florida to the Carlisle Indian School. Pratt provides details on the number of students that can be accommodated at Carlisle through temporary shelters and through sending students…

Richard Henry Pratt notes that the Carlisle Indian School can have 650 to 675 students for the upcoming fiscal year on its Congressional appropriation compared to its current enrollment of 531. As a result Pratt notes that this would require bringing in 125 and 150 students many of whom could be students who were recently returned to the…