Letters/Correspondence

Richard Henry Pratt forwards letter from D. M. Riordan, U.S. Indian Agent for the Navajo Agency, discussing the hardships involved in overseeing the agency. Pratt also discusses various matters at the Carlisle Indian School.

H. J. Armstrong, U.S. Indian Agent for the Crow Agency, notes he wants to send twelve students to the Carlisle Indian School but has to wait until his employees return from Little Big Horn.

Richard Henry Pratt reports on the death of Gertrude Spotted Tail while living in Andalusia, Pennsylvania with a Carlisle Indian School teacher during the summer. Pratt also notes the health and death differences between the Rosebud and Pine Ridge Agency students.

Pratt concludes with a request for authority to pay for the expense of…

Richard Henry Pratt requests delaying returning four students from the Crow Nation until the other party comes to Carlisle. He further requests that the return of the students does not come from the School's appropriation.

Richard Henry Pratt requests authority to return a number of students to their homes due to ill health in addition to the students who are being returned due to the expiration of their terms.

Richard Henry Pratt submits a "Special" Estimate of Funds form for $3,000 to cover transportation and traveling expenses of pupils returning to their Agencies as well as students being brought to Carlisle. An explanatory cover letter is included.

Richard Henry Pratt responds to allegations from Henry M. Beadle, the editor of The Washington Catholic, that he prevents Catholic students at the Carlisle Indian School from attending the local Catholic Church in Carlisle. Pratt responds by noting his arrangement with Father Hickey regarding allowing students to attend services that…

Richard Henry Pratt seeks to clarify his earlier letter regarding enrolling additional students from the Pueblo Agency. He writes that he is satisfied with the current allotment of students from the Indian Territory and Dakota but could have additional students due to the success of the outing program.

Richard H. Pratt requests funds for regular employee pay, and he encloses an estimate of supplies amounting to $1,050. He also sends an estimate of funds for the fourth quarter of 1883 amounting to $10,295.00 for support of the school. 

Richard Henry Pratt forwards a letter from S. M. Brosius regarding enrolling four students from Nebraska in addition to Lizzie Gamble.

Richard Henry Pratt provides an update to the Secretary of the Interior on his recruitment of students for the Carlisle Indian School in the fall of 1883. Pratt notes that he can acquire some students from the Ponca and Nez Perce Agency, the Kiowa Agency, and the Rosebud and Pine Ridge Agencies. He also provides an update on the Pawnee Agency…

Obadiah G. Given forwards the deed of trust covering the purchase of the Hocker Farm by the Carlisle Indian School.

Samuel Jeanes writes regarding an omitted circular from an enclosure which Jeanes asks to be resent from the Indian Affairs Office. In a post script Jeanes documents that he has been informed that a student from Carlisle who was being returned to the Great Nemaha Agency was assaulted by a telegraph operator. Jeanes notes that a group is going…

Alice C. Fletcher asks for permission to send Winnebago children to be educated at the Carlisle Indian School and the Hampton Institute.

Obadiah G. Given, Carlisle Indian School Physician, acknowledges Hiram Price's letter and informs him that he has forwarded it to Richard Henry Pratt. The content of Price's letter is not mentioned. 

Richard Henry Pratt responds to an inquiry from H. J. Armstrong, U.S. Indian Agent for the Crow Agency, regarding a request to alter the composition of the delegation to be sent to Carlisle. Pratt notes that because of the greater expense of transporting students from the Crow Agency that it is more important to have a delegation that is able…

Richard Henry Pratt forwards a letter from Emmet Crawford, Captain 3rd Cavalry, regarding sending students to the Carlisle Indian School from the Tonto, San Carlos, Yuma, and Mojave bands of the Apache Nation. In addition to the students Crawford proposes sending a chief from each band in order to see the school and see the school for…

J. R. Buchanan, General Passenger Agent for the Missouri Valley, on a proposal by Richard Henry Pratt to move over one hundred children from the Rosebud Agency to Chamberlain. Buchanan notes that this will be hard on the passengers and instead proposes using the Missouri Valley Road which is closer.

H. J. Armstrong, U.S. Indian Agent for the Crow Agency, requests authority for transportation for six boys, seven girls, and one escort to Carlisle.

These materials include a cover letter and a Descriptive Statement of Pupils regarding 11 children transferred to the Carlisle Indian School from the Crow Agency in Montana.

Richard Henry Pratt forwards a letter from James G. Wright, U.S. Indian Agent for the Rosebud Agency, regarding his previous letter concerning the actions of Father M. Wright.

In addition, there is a letter from A. R. Z. Dawson, the U.S. Commander of the 2nd District of Dakota recommending that Father Craft be forbidden from attending…

H. J. Armstrong, U.S. Indian Agent for the Crow Agency, reports that he has sent 11 students to Carlisle due to some refusing to go at the last minute. He further notes that the Agency physician was not able to make an examination but he believes all are physically sound.

Richard Henry Pratt reports on his arrival back to the Carlisle Indian School with 60 students. He notes that with the 88 students on outing the school has a total of 424 students. He requests written authority to bring additional students from Indian Territory and the Dakotas.

Richard Henry Pratt requests the Office of Indian Affairs approve his Reports of Irregular Employees for August, September 1883 as well as his nomination of Alfred John Standing as Assistant Superintendent.

Richard Henry Pratt informs the Commissioner of Indian Affairs he is returning invoices of stationary.