Letters/Correspondence

Acting Secretary of the Interior, M. L. Joslyn, instructs the Commissioner of Indian Affairs to stop Richard Henry Pratt from traveling West as had written previously. Pratt had desired to go West in order to bring back Sioux students from various agencies as well as a group of Navajo students.

Correspondence regarding the enrollment of children from the Sitting Bull band of Sioux being held as prisoners at Fort Randall. The officer in charge of Fort Randall indicates that the parents of the eligible children do not wish to see their children to be enrolled at Carlisle. Pratt notes that he would prefer to speak to these parents to…

Richard Henry Pratt requests to return Alfred Charko (mistakenly listed as Albert in Pratt's letter, but properly identified at Alfred in the physician's letter) and Henry Eagle Chief to their homes due to their ill health. Pratt notes that he can escort the students back to their homes if he is given permission to visit the Navajo Agency.

Richard Henry Pratt requests the Commissioner of Indian Affairs reconsider its decision to not allow him personally to go select students at the Navajo and Sioux Agencies. Pratt believes that none of his employees have the requisite knowledge to successfully select students from the agencies.

Benjamin M. Thomas, U.S. Indian Agent for the Pueblo Agency, refers the Commissioner of Indian Affairs to a prior letter to which he asks to send more students to the Carlisle Indian School especially a Cochiti student.

Richard Henry Pratt informs the Commissioner of Indian Affairs that the he and the Carlisle Indian School have been invited to attend and participate at the Bi-Centennial celebration in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on October 24, 1882. Pratt recommends accepting the invitation if the Bi-Centennial Association pays the costs.

Alice C. Fletcher indicates that she has five Omaha pupils in her charge and desires that they be given permission to attend the Carlisle Indian School.

Estimate of funds for the fourth quarter of 1882 amounting to $8,682.25 for support of the school, and an additional $4,976.25 for employee wages.

Richard Henry Pratt provides the Commissioner of Indian Affairs the total and per capita expenses for educating Pine Ridge and Rosebud students as well as Sisseton Agency students.

Richard Henry Pratt notes that the school is already ten percent over its appropriation in terms of students but he would be willing to accept three Ottawa Nation girls if the J. M. Haworth recommends they be brought to Carlisle. Pratt writes that when he goes to pick up 20 Navajo students he can bring back the Ottawa girls as well.

Third annual report of the Carlisle Indian School providing statistics of the number of students from various nations during the school year. Pratt notes that the outing system has been highly successful and comments on the progress of the first group of students from the Sioux Nation along with other groups of students from the Cheyenne,…

Richard H. Pratt submits a report that lists irregular employees who worked at the school during September 1882. The report includes details on compensation, position titles, race, and the number of days worked during that month.

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.

Alice C. Fletcher requests permission to enroll six Omaha students at the Carlisle Indian School. Fletcher recounts she had been fundraising to secure funds for their education and had nearly succeeded.

Richard Henry Pratt recommends being allowed to send eight small girls to be educated by Emily J. Bowen of Woodstock, Connecticut.

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 H. Pratt submits a report that lists irregular employees who worked at the school during October 1882. The report includes details on compensation, position titles, race, and the number of days worked during that month.

Richard Henry Pratt requests $50 worth of 3 cent stamps in order for the Carlisle Indian School to correspond with outing patrons, returned students, parents, and official inquiries.

Richard Henry Pratt replies to an inquiry that the cost of recruiting Osage students for the third quarter of 1882 was $2143.96.

Richard Henry Pratt informs the Office of Indian Affairs that he has hired Obadiah G. Given as the Carlisle Indian School physician. Pratt details how he came to the decision as well as Given's salary.

Captain Richard H. Pratt submits a report that lists new employees (Florence M. Carter, M. E. Snyder), those who have left the school (Mary Pain, Emma C. Sickels, Thomas Stewart Jr., Margaret Wilson, H. H. Shiverick), and those who have changed positions (Ella L. Patterson, Anne S. Ely). These reports include personal information about those…

Richard Henry Pratt notifies the Department of the Interior of changes made by the Indian Department regarding changes in transportation. Pratt indicates that the Department has arranged the delegation to travel by the B&O Railroad rather than the Penn Railroad incurring additional time and costs to the Carlisle Indian School. Pratt…

J. R. Buchannan, the passenger agent for the Sioux City and Pacific Railroad, writes regarding transportation ordered for 70 students from the Rosebud Agency to the Carlisle Indian School.

Richard Henry Pratt provides the account of Samuel Bausley, a member of the Pottawatomi Nation, who came to Carlisle on his own accord in order to enroll at the school. Pratt recommends retaining Bausley at Carlisle if his story is truthful.

Richard Henry Pratt reports the arrival of 68 students at the Carlisle Indian School from the Rosebud and Pine Ridge Agencies.