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.
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March 30, 1885
Richard Henry Pratt notes that the Carlisle Indian School has 58 Osage students at the school at present including 45 boys and 13 girls. He writes that between 10 and 15 of these students should be returned due to health and other considerations…
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Topics:
Format: Letters/Correspondence
View Document: Education and Return of Osage Students at Carlisle620.45 KB
April 2, 1885
Richard Henry Pratt seeks guidance on the case of Joshua H. Given, a member of the Kiowa Nation, who is seeking to become a United States citizen. Given had enrolled in the Lincoln University in Oxford, Pennsylvania with the help of the…
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Topics:
Format: Letters/Correspondence
View Document: Joshua Given Seeks Help Obtaining United States Citizenship427.92 KB
April 7-8, 1885
Richard Henry Pratt seeks to obtain two or three dozen fire protection hand grenades for the Carlisle Indian School.
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Format: Letters/Correspondence
View Document: Supply of Fire Protection Hand Grenades873.97 KB
April 9, 1885
Richard Henry Pratt informs the Office of Indian Affairs that he has on hand a larger number of boy's sizes of hose than he can use. As a result he requests he be provided with 20 dozen of boy's size 8 and 140 dozen of men's size 9, 10, and 11.…
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Format: Letters/Correspondence
View Document: Request to Change Order of Hose along with Coffee and Tea373.74 KB
April 15, 1885
Estimate of funds for the second quarter of 1885 amounting to $8,491.87 for support of the school, $6,090.00 of which is for regular employee pay.
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Topics:
Format: Financial Documents
View Document: Estimate of Funds and Regular Employee Pay, Second Quarter 1885711.53 KB
April 22, 1885
Richard Henry Pratt follows up his telegraph agreeing to send Dr. Obadiah G. Given with the party of Nez Perces being transferred. Pratt also recommends booking the Emigrant Sleepers as they provide the ability to make coffee therefore saving…
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Topics: Nez Perce Removal
Format: Letters/Correspondence
View Document: Follow Up on Sending Given with Nez Perce Party495.19 KB
April 22, 1885
Pratt writes that he is willing to spare the Carlisle School physician Obadiah G. Given for the Nez Perce removal. Pratt asks that his absence be as brief as possible.
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Format: Letters/Correspondence
View Document: Pratt Willing to Spare Carlisle Physician for Nez Perce Removal369.43 KB
April 24, 1885
Richard Henry Pratt inquires about expenses related to Obadiah G. Given accompanying the Nez Perce party being transferred. Pratt notes that Given is ready to start when the Bureau of Indian Affairs telegraphs that the expenses will be covered.…
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Topics: Nez Perce Removal
Format: Letters/Correspondence
View Document: Expenses to Cover Obadiah Given While Traveling with Nez Perce Party433.44 KB
April 27, 1885
Richard Henry Pratt provides recommendations for improving the Indian School system to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs. Pratt's suggestions include educating everyone of school age compared to the quarter currently enrolled, requiring a census…
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Topics: Indian School System
Format: Letters/Correspondence
View Document: Pratt Makes Suggestions for Improving Indian School System1.31 MB
April 28, 1885
R. F. Hunter writes the Bureau of Indian Affairs regarding the order of three dozen fire prevention hand grenades at a cost of $9 per dozen.
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Format: Letters/Correspondence
View Document: Delivery of Fire Prevention Hand Grenades to Carlisle432.1 KB
May 4, 1885
Richard Henry Pratt requests authority to bring in six boys and six girls from the Quapaw Nation to the Carlisle Indian School to learn trades and become teachers. Pratt indicates that the Society of Friends has taken a particular interest in the…
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Topics: Request for Enrollment
Format: Letters/Correspondence
View Document: Request to Enroll 12 Students from the Quapaw Nation at Carlisle626.76 KB
May 6, 1885
The program includes singing and recitation and other displays of acquired knowledge and speeches. The names of participating students are listed. Another part of the program was a discussion on the topic: "Should the Indians be farmers or stock-…
Repository: Cumberland County Historical Society
Format: Memorabilia and Ephemera
View Document: Printed Program of the Sixth Annual Examination607.51 KB
May 9 - June 9, 1885
Richard Henry Pratt forwards a contract between the Carlisle Indian School and Glatfelter and Nace for the latter to provide 600 barrels of flour for the 1885 fiscal year.
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
View Document: Contract for Flour for the 1885 Fiscal Year832.7 KB
May 12, 1885
Richard Henry Pratt informs the Office of Indian Affairs that he needs to go to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and New York. Asks if the Commissioner can visit the following week.
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Topics: Visits by Government Officials
Format: Letters/Correspondence
View Document: Pratt Informs Office of Need to Travel to Philadelphia and New York373.58 KB
May 25, 1885
Richard Henry Pratt notes that he believes placing Carlisle Indian School students into white schools is a great benefit for the student. He notes that if it was possible he would like to have half the students at the school made up of white…
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Topics: Request for Enrollment
Format: Letters/Correspondence
View Document: Pratt Requests Enrolling New York Students to Carlisle661.61 KB
May 30 - June 8, 1885
Lyndon A. Smith requests from Richard Henry Pratt part of the Carlisle Indian School Exhibit at the Government Exhibition in New Orleans due to a request by the French Government. Pratt informs the Bureau of Indian Affairs that while he was…
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Format: Letters/Correspondence
View Document: Request of the French Government for Part of Exhibit1.74 MB
June 1, 1885
Letter from Ann Ely to outing patron William Balderston regarding student Stailey Norcross.
Repository: Princeton University Library, Department of Special Collections
Topics: Students on Outings, Outing Patrons
Format: Letters/Correspondence
View Document: Letter from Anne Ely to Outing Patron William Balderston, 1885476.4 KB
June 5, 1885
John D. C. Atkins, Commissioner of Indian Affairs, refers to the letter from Richard Henry Pratt regarding donating parts or the whole of the Carlisle Indian School exhibit at the Government Exhibition in New Orleans to the French Government in a…
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Format: Letters/Correspondence
View Document: Bureau of Indian Affairs Endorses Plan to Donate Exhibit to French797.21 KB
June 13, 1885
Richard Henry Pratt requests permission to return 48 students of the Carlisle Indian School. Pratt notes that of those being returned 23 students are being sent home due to the expiration of their terms and 25 for various reasons. In addition, he…
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Format: Letters/Correspondence
View Document: Request to Return 48 Students and Enroll 70429.21 KB
June 15, 1885
Estimate of funds for the third quarter of 1885 amounting to $24,592.50 for support of the school. Richard H. Pratt also requests additional funds amounting to $6,510.00 for regular employee pay.
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Topics:
Format: Financial Documents
View Document: Estimate of Funds and Regular Employee Pay, Third Quarter 18851.07 MB
June 23, 1885
Richard Henry Pratt seeks guidance from the Bureau of Indian Affairs regarding whether or not to return 12 members of the Cheyenne Nation to their home. Pratt references the Cheyenne Agent has written about unfavorable conditions at the Agency…
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Topics:
Format: Letters/Correspondence
View Document: Request to Delay Returning 12 Cheyenne Students Home643.36 KB
June 25 - July 23, 1885
Richard Henry Pratt responds to a letter from the Bureau of Indian Affairs informing him that the Bureau will arrange the agreements in transporting students to and from the Carlisle Indian School. Pratt notes that he has already sought bids from…
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Topics: Student Travel to Enroll
View Document: Transportation of Students to Carlisle from Rosebud and Pine Ridge1.29 MB
June 26, 1885
Richard Henry Pratt requests to allow Amos Lone Hill, who is to return home shortly, to purchase a spring wagon he made himself at a discount along with a commendation from the Office of Indian Affairs as an incentive.
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Format: Letters/Correspondence
View Document: Request to Allow Amos Lone Hill to Purchase Wagon at Discount660.28 KB
July 2, 1885
Richard Henry Pratt returns statement of funds for the third quarter of 1885 and advises commissioner he did not request cornmeal. An explanatory cover letter is attached.
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
View Document: Return and Correction of Statement of Funds, Third Quarter 18852.8 MB
July 9, 1885
Richard Henry Pratt references a letter from the Bureau of Indian Affairs regarding the Osage students at the Carlisle Indian School. Pratt notes that he has already returned 13 students and can transfer the remaining 43 students to Martinsburg…
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Topics: Student Transfers
Format: Letters/Correspondence
View Document: Sending Osage Students to Martinsburg427.66 KB