Documents
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.
Search Documents
Browse Documents
Date: October 29, 1879
Telegram from Richard Henry Pratt asking the Commissioner of Indian Affairs for permission to travel to Washington the subsequent day.
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Topics:
Format: Letters/Correspondence
View Document: 
Telegram Requesting Trip to Washington
Date: October 30, 1879
Anna H. Haines asks Secretary of the Interior Carl Schurz if an Indian boarding school has been established in Carlisle. If so, she asks to be appointed as matron for the school.
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Topics:
Format: Letters/Correspondence
View Document: Application from Anna H. Haines for Appointment as Matron
Date: October 31, 1879
Secretary of the Interior Carl Schurz grants Richard Henry Pratt authority to purchase a list of supplies amounting to $1,998.25 on the open market. The list of supplies mostly includes bedding, furniture, and kitchen supplies.
Note: This item was copied from U.S. National Archives microfilm reels (M234), which were filmed from the original documents found in Record Group 75, Entry 79, "Letters Received by the Office of Indian Affairs, 1824-80."
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Date: October 31, 1879
Secretary of the Interior Carl Schurz grants authority for Richard Henry Pratt to visit Washington, D.C. to discuss the newly-established Carlisle Indian School.
Note: This item was copied from U.S. National Archives microfilm reels (M234), which were filmed from the original documents found in Record Group 75, Entry 79, "Letters Received by the Office of Indian Affairs, 1824-80."
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Topics:
Format: Letters/Correspondence
View Document: Authority for Pratt to Visit Washington, D.C.
Date: October 31, 1879
Richard Henry Pratt writes to Commissioner of Indian Affairs Ezra A. Hayt requesting authority to purchase dormitory furniture immediately needed at the Carlisle Indian School.
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Topics: School Furniture
Format: Letters/Correspondence
View Document: Request for Dormitory Furniture
Date: October 31, 1879
Richard Henry Pratt requests that a cooking range with a 300-person capacity be supplied to the Carlisle Indian School.
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Topics: Supplies and Materials
Format: Letters/Correspondence
View Document: Request for Cooking Range
Date: October 31, 1879
Richard Henry Pratt writes to Commissioner of Indian Affairs Ezra A. Hayt requesting authority to purchase personal supplies for students, including clothing and tolietries for both males and females.
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Date: November 1, 1879
Richard H. Pratt submits a "Special" Estimate of Supplies for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 1879 amounting to $24.99, allowing Pratt to purchase postage stamps. The form includes a note that the postage stamps will allow students to write to their family and friends. An explanatory cover letter is included
Note: This item was copied from U.S. National Archives microfilm reels (M234), which were filmed from the original documents found in Record Group 75, Entry 79, "Letters Received by the Office of Indian Affairs, 1824-80."
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Topics: Students Writing Home
Date: November 4, 1879
Agent Charles Crissey informs Commissioner of Indian Affairs E. A. Hayt that Agent Stephens is there with two students for the Carlisle Indian School and two for Hampton Institute. Crissey notes that he is also with Cheyenne Chief Little No Heart, who would like see the school. Crissey asks if he can bring Little No Heart with him.
Note: This item was copied from U.S. National Archives microfilm reels (M234), which were filmed from the original documents found in Record Group 75, Entry 79, "Letters Received by the Office of Indian Affairs, 1824-80."
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Format: Letters/Correspondence
View Document: Transportation of Four Students and Cheyenne Chief
Date: November 4, 1879
Richard Henry Pratt writes to Commissioner of Indian Affairs Ezra Hayt, requesting permission to spend $1000 on cold weather clothing for students. Pratt notes that supplies requested two months previous had not yet arrived, and that cold weather had set in at Carlisle.
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Topics: Student Uniforms and Clothing
Format: Letters/Correspondence
View Document: Urgent Request for Cold-Weather Clothing
Date: November 4, 1879
Richard Henry Pratt writes to Commissioner of Indian Affairs Ezra Hayt, requesting $4000 be transferred to his credit for the purposes of settling debts and paying owed salaries. A note in the file suggests that the Commissioner had a total of $7000 transferred into Pratt's account.
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Topics: Finance
Format: Letters/Correspondence
View Document: Request for Fund Transfer for Salaries and Debts
Date: November 5, 1879
Richard Henry Pratt requests approved funds be transferred to his credit, so that supplies can be purchased.
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Topics: Supplies and Materials, Request for Funds
Format: Letters/Correspondence
View Document: Request for Fund Transfer for Supplies Purchases
Date: November 6, 1879
Telegram from Richard Henry Pratt noting the arrival of Agent Crissey with Sisseton, Standing Rock, and Cheyenne River Sioux children, Green Bay Menominee children, and Chief Little No Heart at Carlisle. Pratt suggests that all these children should be sent to the Hampton Institute.
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Format: Letters/Correspondence
View Document: Notice of Arrival of Sioux and Menominee Students
Date: November 6-19, 1879
Richard Henry Pratt forwards to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs a letter, sent to General Samuel Armstrong of the Hampton Institute by Green Bay agent E. Stephens. Stephens requests that two students just sent to Carlisle, Joseph Wishecoppy [Wisecoby] and Moses Nonway, be sent to Hampton to join two other recently enrolled Menominee students, Charles Shamin and Michael Oshkenamew. Pratt approves the transfer, if the Commissioner also finds it favorable.
Note: It appears these two students remained at Carlisle.
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Topics: Transfer of Students
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Date: November 6, 1879
Frank D. Karr, Superintendent of Warehouse, informs the Commissioner of Indian Affairs that one case has shipped to Carlisle and that he has invoices for two more, which he will ship immediately.
Note: This item was copied from U.S. National Archives microfilm reels (M234), which were filmed from the original documents found in Record Group 75, Entry 79, "Letters Received by the Office of Indian Affairs, 1824-80."
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Topics: Supplies and Materials
Format: Letters/Correspondence
View Document: Cases of Supplies en route to Carlisle Indian School
Date: November 7, 1879
Richard Henry Pratt informs Commissioner of Indian Affairs Ezra Hayt that, at the request of Hampton Institute director General Samuel Armstrong, six Sisseton Sioux children and two Menominee boys from Green Bay, Wisconsin will be retained at Carlisle. Their addition increases the school's population to 158.
Note: The two Menominee students were Joseph Wisecoby and Moses Nonway.
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Topics: Transfer of Students
Format: Letters/Correspondence
View Document: Retaining Sisseton Sioux and Menominee Students at Carlisle
Date: November 7, 1879
Richard Henry Pratt writes to Commissioner of Indian Affairs Ezra Hayt regarding the quality of clothing provided to Carlisle Indian School students. Pratt complains that the partial order of clothing he received from the Bureau is not durable or warm enough, and leaves students uncomfortable and discontent. Pratt requests that he be provided with the funds to replace the garments, and permission to purchase the clothing on the public market.
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Topics: Student Uniforms and Clothing
Format: Letters/Correspondence
View Document: Complaint Regarding Quality of Student Clothing
Date: November 11, 1879
Secretary of the Interior Carl Schurz grants Richard Henry Pratt authority to purchase $25 of stamps for students to use to correspond with their parents.
Note: This item was copied from U.S. National Archives microfilm reels (M234), which were filmed from the original documents found in Record Group 75, Entry 79, "Letters Received by the Office of Indian Affairs, 1824-80."
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Topics: Students Writing Home
Format: Letters/Correspondence
View Document: Authority to Purchase Postage Stamps for Student Use
Date: November 12, 1879
Secretary of the Interior Carl Schurz authorizes Richard Henry Pratt to visit New York City and spend $2,000 to purchase a cooking range, clothing, furniture, and supplies.
Note: This item was copied from U.S. National Archives microfilm reels (M234), which were filmed from the original documents found in Record Group 75, Entry 79, "Letters Received by the Office of Indian Affairs, 1824-80."
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Date: November 12, 1879
Richard Henry Pratt acknowledges receipt of numerous boxes of clothing and other supplies, including an organ for the chapel.
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Topics: Supplies and Materials
Format: Letters/Correspondence
View Document: Acknowledgement of Received Supplies
Date: November 13, 1879
Captain Richard Henry Pratt writes to Ezra H. Hayt, Commissioner of Indian Affairs, regarding the first group of Sioux, Ponca, Pawnee, Kiowa, Comanche, Wichita, Seminole, Cheyenne, and Arapahoe children and young adults brought to the Carlisle Indian School. Pratt offers a detailed description of the journey, and then lists each individual brought to the school, organized by agency. Also included is information on each individual's name, age, gender, band, father's name, and father's rank.
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Format: Letters/Correspondence, Reports
Date: November 13, 1879
Richard H. Pratt provides updates on the progress he's made since Sunday. Most notably, Pratt has organized the male students into companies, and they now occupy eight rooms instead of five, the bedding has arrived, and they've started building the foundation for the chapel and assembly room.
Note: This item was copied from U.S. National Archives microfilm reels (M234), which were filmed from the original documents found in Record Group 75, Entry 79, "Letters Received by the Office of Indian Affairs, 1824-80."
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Date: November 15-17, 1879
Samuel Wetzel, Superintendent of Building and Repairs, prepares a blueprint and estimate of cost, amounting to $1,165.94, for the chapel and assembly room. Richard H. Pratt forwards both documents to Commissioner of Indian Affairs E. A. Hayt and includes an explanatory cover letter.
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Topics: Finance, Request for Funds
View Document: Estimate of Cost and Blueprints for Chapel and Assembly Room
Date: November 15, 1879
Refers to proceeding of a Board of Survey at Carlisle Barracks of Public Property transferred to Indian Department.
Note no document is attached.
Note: This item was copied from U.S. National Archives microfilm reels (M234), which were filmed from the original documents found in Record Group 75, Entry 79, "Letters Received by the Office of Indian Affairs, 1824-80."
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Date: November 16, 1879 - December 24, 1879
Richard Henry Pratt forwards two letters to Commissioner of Indian Affairs E. A. Hayt and gives his side of the story regarding a disagreement over the price of beef supplied for the students recruited for Carlisle while they waited at the Rosebud Agency. Included is a letter from William Huston to Pratt regarding how much beef Pratt bought from him and asks if the amount was 367 pounds for $36.70. Pratt also includes his reply to Huston.
Note: This item was copied from U.S. National Archives microfilm reels (M234), which were filmed from the original documents found in Record Group 75, Entry 79, "Letters Received by the Office of Indian Affairs, 1824-80."
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Topics:
Format: Letters/Correspondence