Letters/Correspondence

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.

Richard Henry Pratt forwards special estimate for medical supplies in addition to a letter from the physician of the Carlisle Indian School, Obadiah Given, describing the necessity of the supplies.

H. J. Armstrong, U. S. Indian Agent at the Crow Agency, that he wants to send a few students from the Crow Agency to Carlisle. Armstrong states that the students previously lived in his home and are now back at their camp. Pratt's response to the Indian Affairs Office is that he would be glad to take more students from the Crow Agency but only…

Cook writes to Richard Henry Pratt regarding Rosebud Agency and asking either for his daughter to be sent home or the funds to come visit her at Carlisle.

Copy of a letter Richard Henry Pratt sent to Congressman Frank Hiscock, Chairman Appropriations Committee in the House of Representatives regarding the Committee's hearing on the Carlisle Indian School's appropriation. Pratt disagrees with the idea that the school is being run in an extravagant manner and that while he can run the school on a…

Richard Henry Pratt submits an Estimate of Funds for the first quarter of 1883. Included is a note stating why the estimate was rejected. 

Richard Henry Pratt informs the Office of Indian Affairs that he has notified Richard M. Parker of his intent to terminate the lease of the Carlisle Indian School for the Parker Farm.

Richard Henry Pratt returns the estimate of funds for the first quarter of 1883 to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs for further action. 

Samuel Chapman Armstrong of the Hampton Institute writes to Richard Henry Pratt to get an estimate of student travel expenses from Carlisle to the West. Armstrong also complains of financial limitations recently placed by Congress, and offers support for any of Pratt's efforts to advocate with the Indian Department.

Samuel Chapman Armstrong of the Hampton Institute writes to Richard Henry Pratt discussing his willingness to lobby for both Hampton and Carlisle.

Notice of the death of White Shield is received by Richard Henry Pratt from U.S. Indian Agent John D. Miles. As a result Pratt requests authorization for sending home his son Harvey in order to provide help to the family. In addition, Pratt requests sending home two young Arapaho girls with Harvey as a chaperone.

Arden R. Smith, Special Indian Agent, writes that he has received authority to send ten boys and ten girls to the Carlisle Indian School. Smith writes that it will be quite easy to send the ten boys as he met with a local chief Bear in the Water who was quite eager to send the boys. But Smith notes that the Crow Nation will likely be unwilling…

Richard Henry Pratt requests authority to visit Washington D.C. to discuss farming at the Carlisle Indian School.

A note from Hiram Price recommends that Pratt's request be approved by the Secretary of the Interior.

Richard Henry Pratt requests permission to allow Frank Engler to return home due to his mother's illness. Pratt writes that other members of the Cheyenne Nation have pooled their money to cover Engler's transportation expense and recommends allowing him to return for a brief time.

H. J. Armstrong, U.S. Indian Agent for the Crow Agency, asks to be sent to the Carlisle Indian School as the escort for the Crow students rather than some other individual. Armstrong indicates that when recruiting for Carlisle he promised he would be the escort and would also benefit from being aware of the practices of the Industrial Training…

Arden R. Smith, Special U.S. Indian Agent, writes the Commissioner of Indian Affairs seeking specific instructions for how he should escort 20 Crow students from the Crow Agency to the Carlisle Indian School. Smith provides context on previous encounters traveling east as well as inquiring about the specifics of traveling with the students.

Arden R. Smith, U.S. Indian Agent for the Crow Agency, requests the Indian Affairs Office to send transportation for Crow students from St. Paul to Carlisle.

Carlisle School physician O. G. Given provides a report on the health of some of the remaining Northern Arapaho students at Carlisle and recommends returning four boys to their homes. Richard Henry Pratt endorses this recommendation and asks for authority to cover the expense for returning the students to their homes.

Richard Henry Pratt provides the Indian Affairs Office with proposed text for receiving funds for educating Osage students from the Osage trust fund. Pratt notes that if he does not receive the funds for the Osage then he can place more students on outing to reduce costs for running the school.

Richard Henry Pratt forwards for approval the lease agreement between the Carlisle Indian School and Samuel K. Humrich for a 225 acre farm beginning on February 17, 1883.

Henry Morgan Teller, Secretary of the Interior, approves the lease.

Samuel Chapman Armstrong of the Hampton Institute writes to Richard Henry Pratt asking for him to write feedback on excerpts from Col. Richard H. Dodge's book Thirty-three Years among Our Wild Indians for publication. Armstrong wishes to challenge some of Dodge's claims.