Letters/Correspondence

Henry Martin requests the return of his son Charles Martin from the Carlisle Indian School due to the health of other Chippewa students at Carlisle. The interpreter writing the letter, J. A. Gilfillian, adds that he believes that because half of the students he brought to Carlisle have died that it has caused lots of consternation among parents…

Richard Henry Pratt provides the Office of Indian Affairs with a list of students whose terms of enrollment are set to expire or for other reasons and requests authority to return them to their homes.

Richard Henry Pratt reports on a proposed plan to bring the children currently being held in St. Augustine, Florida to be educated at the Carlisle Indian School. In addition, at the suggestion of Lieutenant Richards that he send Bonito, a student at Carlisle, to promote the school as an ambassador for the school among the Apaches in addition to…

Superintendent Richard Henry Pratt writes to Doctor Cornelius Rea Agnew regarding plans for new and renovated buildings at Carlisle.  Pratt states that he does not intend to take on more students, but rather to create a more individualized training environment.  He compares Carlisle's Congressional funding to Congressional funding for…

Obadiah G. Given, the school physician of the Carlisle Indian School, reports on the health and treatment of William Butcher. Given states that Butcher has a localized scrofula infection that is best treated at the school. Richard Henry Pratt further states that Butcher is still active in both his duties in the Printing Office as well as…

Reply to Office of Indian Affairs letter regarding the ages of outgoing pupils.

Stailey Norcross writes to his former outing patron William Balderston regarding his current work on the Carlisle Indian School farm.

Se he du ba requests the return of his son Thomas Mitchell due to his age and the fact that he has been at the Carlisle Indian School for a year longer than his term of enrollment. Se he du ba also encloses a letter from Mitchell detailing his son's request to be returned home and his experience on outing.

Request to return Bennie Thomas and Annie Thomas to their homes by Richard Henry Pratt. Pratt notes that the students returned after the expiration of their first term of three years with a party of students who had five year terms. However, their parents were told they were sent for two years. Pratt notes that while he has no proof that this…

Richard Henry Pratt forwards a letter from D. F. Small requesting to have enrolled at the Carlisle Indian School a sister of a former Carlisle student, Rosa White Bear, from the Rosebud Agency. Small provides the history of the proposed student and his desire to see her enrolled at Carlisle. Pratt endorses the application and requests…

Richard Henry Pratt responds to the Office of Indian Affairs letter which enclosed a letter from Charles H. Potter requesting the return of Joseph Hamilton, the son of Sin du ha ha. Pratt answers that Hamilton is small for his age and unable to run a farm on his own. In addition, approving the request might cause other parents in Hamilton's…

Richard Henry Pratt responds to an Office of Indian Affairs letter regarding a request by Se he du ba requesting the return of his son Thomas Mitchell from the Carlisle Indian School. Pratt notes that Mitchell is doing well at Carlisle and that if his father is encouraged to let Mitchell stay would likely withdraw his request.

Samuel C. Armstrong, Principal of the Hampton Normal and Agricultural School, notes that with Richard Henry Pratt willing to take all of the imprisoned children at Fort Marion that the Apache students at Hampton also be transferred to Carlisle.

Richard Henry Pratt notes that he postponed the departure of students to their homes due to not having time to notify the agents to meet the students on their arrival. As a result he delayed the trip and met with the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Agent to make the arrangements which should be complete in a couple of days.

Richard Henry Pratt requests permission to travel to St. Augustine with a Carlisle Indian School student from Chiricahua to provide a presentation to the Apache prisoners of war about the intentions of the Government in seeking to educate their children and how beneficial enrolling their children at Carlisle would be.

Correspondence discussing the appropriation of $37,500 for improvements to the Carlisle Indian School including the acquisition of the neighboring Parker farm, a new large boys’ dormitory, a school barn, and some other improvements.  A letter from Pratt explaining the need for the new facilities is included as part of the document.

First Lieutenant Stephen C. Mills, the officer in charge of the Chiricahua Indian Prisoners at Fort Marion, Florida recommends sending Bonito, a student at the Carlisle Indian School and a member of the Apache Nation, to Fort Marion to discuss the benefits of sending their children to Carlisle or another Indian Training School.

Captain Richard H. Pratt provides the Commissioner of Indian Affairs with a list of irregular labor required for July 1886. Pratt also includes details on compensation, position title, and the number of workdays required for the month.

Clinton B. Fisk, Chairman of the Board of Indian Commissioners, provides his inspection of the Carlisle Indian School to John D. C. Atkins. In particular, Fisk suggests purchasing the Parker farm, building a large barn, and building a large new dormitory building for the boys. Fisk additionally adds that with these improvements further…

Captain Richard H. Pratt provides the Commissioner of Indian Affairs with additional information in regard to required labor needed for July 1886. Pratt inadvertently omitted the need for a music instructor from the list sent previously on June 21, 1886. 

Mauricio Martin requests the return of his son Lorenzo Martinez (here referred to as Lorenzo Martin) for the vacation due to his mother's ill health. Martin states that she does not believe the letters and photographs Lorenzo sends home.

Richard Henry Pratt responds that Martinez is doing well at the Carlisle Indian School and does not…

Richard Henry Pratt requests transportation to send Joseph Hamilton, a member of the Omaha Nation, from Carlisle to Bancroft, Nebraska.

Richard Henry Pratt forwards transportation requests covering students and employees over the Union Pacific and the Sioux City & Pacific railroads which were disallowed to the Secretary of the Interior.

Richard Henry Pratt submits a voucher to the Office of Indian Affairs for expenses related to arresting and returning the two students who had run away from the Carlisle Indian School and were apprehended at Gallitzin, Pennsylvania.

Richard Henry Pratt submits eight photographs to the Office of Indian Affairs. Pratt mentions that four photos were of the three spring and four of the platform spring.