The Images section features photographs, postcards, and different types of artwork, as well as reproductions of images that appeared in newspapers, magazines, and other publications. These images all reflect the Carlisle Indian School students, facilities, and staff. Images available here are drawn from files housed at the U. S. National Archives, from collections of Carlisle Indian School materials housed at various archival repositories, and from a variety of published sources. Visitors to this website are also invited to share copies of photographs from their own personal and family collections; please contact us if you have images you would like to contribute.
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Portrait of seven male students and four female students posed on the school grounds. This photo was taken on the day they arrived, July 31, 1880. Although the caption states that they were Pueblo students, ten of them were Pueblo and one was Apache. The Pubelo students are: Frank Cushing, Taylor Ealy, Mary Ealy, Jennie Hammaker, Sheldon Jackson, Mary Perry, John Menual Chaves, Benjamin Thomas, John Shields, and Harvey Townsend. The Apache student is Nellie Carey.
The Cumberland County Historical Society has two copies of this image: PA-CH1-082c and CS-CH-091.
Format: Photographic Print, B&W
Repository: Cumberland County Historical Society
Studio portrait of Benjamin Thomas (Wat-ye-eh), Mary Perry (Ki-ot-se), and John Menaul (Kowsh-te-ah), at their arrival and in native dress.
Note: The Cumberland County Historical Society has two copies of this image: CS-CH-072 and 10B-02-01.
Format: Photographic Print, B&W
Repository: Dickinson College Archives & Special Collections
Studio portrait of Red Dog, a Sioux chief, with Lizzie Glode and Lucy Day.
The student newspaper reports that Red Dog visited the school in August 1880.
Format: Photographic Print, B&W
Repository: Swedish National Museums of World Culture
Studio portrait of American Horse, a Sioux chief.
American Horse visited the school in August 1880 which is probably when this photograph was taken. This is #25 on Choate's list of images for sale.
The Cumberland County Historical Society has five copies of this image; PA-CH1-010b and CS-CH-033.1-.4.
Format: Photographic Print, B&W
Repository: Cumberland County Historical Society
Portrait of six Sioux chiefs posed with four other men on the steps of the bandstand on the school grounds. The man at the far left leaning on the railing is probably Richard Henry Pratt. The chiefs are Red Shirt, Thunder Hawk, Big Head (or Big Headed), John Grass, Two Bear (or Two Bears), and Charger. One of the four other men is Louis Primeau, the interpreter from Standing Rock.
The school paper documents a visit to the school by these chiefs in August 1880.
The caption below this image was added by CCHS staff.
Format: Photographic Print, B&W
Repository: Cumberland County Historical Society
Studio portrait of Poor Wolf, a Mandan chief, not wearing a shirt and so showing his torso and arms with painted body ornatmentation.
The student newspaper records a visit to the school by Poor Wolf in August 1880.
Note: The authenticy of this ornamentation is questionable. This photo may have been manipulated by Choate.
Format: Photographic Print, B&W
Repository: Cumberland County Historical Society
Studio portrait of Red Dog, a Sioux chief, with Lucy Day and Lizzie Glode.
The student newspaper reports that Red Dog visited in August 1880.
Format: Photographic Print, B&W
Repository: Cumberland County Historical Society
Studio portrait of Gabriel Renville.
Note: Gabriel Renville was the father of students John Renville and Nancy Renville. This photo was probably taken between August 10, 1880 (when he came to Carlisle to bring home the body of John, who had died at the school) and August 17, 1880 (when he and his daughter Nancy left the school).
Format: Glass Plate Negative
Repository: National Anthropological Archives, Smithsonian Institution
Studio portrait of Poor Wolf, a Mandan chief.
The student newspaper records a visit to the school by Poor Wolf in August 1880.
The Cumberland County Historical Society has three copies of this image: PA-CH1-019a and CS-CH-034a.1-.2.
Format: Photographic Print, B&W
Repository: Cumberland County Historical Society
Portrait of six Sioux chiefs posed with four other men on the steps of the bandstand on the school grounds. The man at the far left leaning on the railing is probably Richard Henry Pratt. The chiefs are Red Shirt, Thunder Hawk, Big Head (or Big Headed), John Grass, Two Bear (or Two Bears), and Charger. One of the four other men is Louis Primeau, the interpreter from Standing Rock.
Format: Glass Plate Negative
Repository: National Anthropological Archives, Smithsonian Institution
Studio portrait of Man-on-the-Cloud, a Cheyenne chief.
The Cumberland County Historical Society has three copies of this image: PA-CH1-027a and CS-CH-029.1-.2.
Format: Photographic Print, B&W
Repository: Cumberland County Historical Society
Studio portrait of Man-in-the-Cloud (also known as Man on the Cloud) and Mad Wolf, both Cheyenne chiefs.
Newspaper accounts document a visit by the two chiefs to the school in September 1880.
The Cumberland County Historical Society has four copies of this image: PA-CH1-026a and CS-CH-042.1-.3.
Format: Photographic Print, B&W
Repository: Cumberland County Historical Society
Portrait of forty-three female students, posed in three rows on the school grounds. In the background on the bandstand are seated Richard Henry Pratt and some teachers. The caption for this image identifies it as "Indian girls in their first uniforms, October 1880."
Format: Photographic Print, B&W
Repository: Cumberland County Historical Society
Studio portrait of seven unidentified male students.
Previous cataloging identifies them as from the Pawnee nation and provides a date of January 1881 for the image.
Format: Glass Plate Negative
Repository: National Anthropological Archives, Smithsonian Institution
Group portrait of nine Native American men, one white man, and two female students. Most of the Native American men are probably visiting chiefs. They are posed on the school grounds, in front of one of the dormitory buildings.
Format: Glass Plate Negative
Repository: National Anthropological Archives, Smithsonian Institution
Studio portrait of twelve unidentified male students, most in school uniforms.
Previous cataloging identifies these students as being from the Arapaho nation.
Format: Glass Plate Negative
Repository: National Anthropological Archives, Smithsonian Institution
Studio portrait of six male students, all wearing school uniforms. The caption identifies them as being from the Osage tribe.
Cumberland County Historical Society Staff have identified Fred Lookout as the student in the front row, far right, based on comparison with other photos.
Format: Glass Plate Negative
Repository: National Anthropological Archives, Smithsonian Institution
View of the dining room decorated for Christmas with female student workers posed near the tables.
The caption identifies it as "Christmas Dinner, Indian School, Carlisle, Pa."
Format: Photographic Print, B&W
Repository: Cumberland County Historical Society
Studio portrait of Lydia Harrington probably wearing school uniform.
Format: Glass Plate Negative
Repository: National Anthropological Archives, Smithsonian Institution
Three male students posed standing in the print shop with Marianna Burgess seated writing at a desk.
Format: Glass Plate Negative
Repository: National Anthropological Archives, Smithsonian Institution
Studio portrait of Lamotte Primaux wearing school uniform.
Format: Glass Plate Negative
Repository: National Anthropological Archives, Smithsonian Institution
Portrait of eighteen male students in school uniforms, lined up on the school grounds in front of the girls' dormitory. There is a small child in a sleigh on the ground near them although there is no snow on the ground.
Format: Glass Plate Negative, Stereograph
Repository: Cumberland County Historical Society
Studio portrait of a visiting Native American chief with four male students in school uniforms.
Format: Glass Plate Negative
Repository: National Anthropological Archives, Smithsonian Institution
Students working in the shoe shop with a table covered wtih boots in the center.
Format: Glass Plate Negative
Repository: National Anthropological Archives, Smithsonian Institution
The caption reads: Noted Indian Chiefs.
The printed note on the reverse side reads: NOTED INDIAN CHIEFS Who have visited the Indian Training School, Carlisle, Pa.
1. Spotted Tail, Sioux Chief, Rosebud Agency, Dakota.
2. Iron Wing, Sioux Chief, Rosebud Agency, Dakota.
3. American Horse, Sioux Chief, Pine Ridge Agency, Dakota.
4. Red Shirt, Sioux Chief, Pine Ridge Agency, Dakota.
5. White Eagle, Ponca Chief, Indian Territory.
6. Standing Buffalo, Ponca Chief, Indian Territory.
7. Poor Wolf, Mandan Chief, Fort Berthold, Dakota.
8. Son of the Star. Arickaree Chief, Fort Berthold, Dakota.
9. White Man, Apache Chief, Indian Territory.
10. Stumbling Bear, Kiowa Chief, Indian Territory.
11. Tso-de-ar-ko, Wichita Chief, Indian Territory.
12. Big Horse, Cheyenne Chief, Indian Territory.
13. Bob Tail, Cheyenne Chief, Indian Territory.
14. Man-on-the-Cloud, Cheyenne, Indian Territory.
15. Mad Wolf, Cheyenne, Indian Territory.
16. Little Raven, Arapahoe Chief, Indian Territory.
17. Yellow Bear, Arapahoe Chief, Indian Territory.
18. Left Hand, Arapahoe Chief, Indian Territory.
19. Ouray, Ute Chief, Colorado.
The Cumberland County Historical Society has a copy of this image: PA-CH1-072a.
Format: Photographic Print, B&W
Repository: Dickinson College Archives & Special Collections