Letters/Correspondence

Richard Henry Pratt sends cover letter forwarding descriptive statement of students who arrived at the Carlisle Indian School from the Pine Ridge Agency on January 1, 1889.

Note: The descriptive statement itself was missing.

Captain Richard H. Pratt submits a report that lists new employees (John E. Pollinger and Anna C. Pollinger) and those who have left the school (B. F. Comman and Mary E. Comman). These reports include personal information about those being hired as well as reasons for departure for those leaving. Pratt also sends a reference from Jacob Enminger…

Estimate of funds for the third quarter of 1889 amounting to $8,676.85 for support of the school, $7,705.00 of which is for regular employee pay. 

Richard H. Pratt submits an Estimate of Supplies for the third quarter of fiscal year 1889 amounting to $491.85 and requests to purchase those items in the open market. The form includes the items being requested, the quantity, the estimated cost, and how the item will be used at the school. Included is an explanatory cover letter, in which…

Richard Henry Pratt responds to an Office of Indian Affairs letter regarding the responsibilities of Anne S. Ely, Agent for Outing Pupils at the Carlisle Indian School. Pratt indicates that Ely oversees all aspects of the Outing program including corresponding with the students and patrons as well as arranging transportation as well as…

A. G. Miller requests the Office of Indian Affairs provide an order to Richard Henry Pratt to enroll Little Bear at the Carlisle Indian School. Pratt had informed him that he could only enroll Little Bear with an order from the Office.

Captain Richard H. Pratt provides the Commissioner of Indian Affairs with a list of irregular labor required for February 1889. Pratt also includes details on compensation, position title, and the number of workdays required for the month.

Richard Henry Pratt provides his recommendations on securing a party of Navajo students for the Carlisle Indian School. Pratt indicates that the agent should attempt to gather 50 students with a minimum of one-third of the party being girls and to have no students under the age of 12. When the party is ready he can have a Carlisle School…

Richard Henry Pratt responds to an Office of Indian Affairs letter regarding a request by A. G. Miller to enroll Little Bear. Pratt notes that his school physician examined Little Bear when he visited the school with his parents. Pratt ends by saying that he notified Miller that Carlisle will accept Little Bear on the authority of the Office.…

C. E. Vandever, U.S. Indian Agent for the Navajo Agency, responds to an Office of Indian Affairs telegram to have him secure 50 Navajo students for the Carlisle Indian School. Vandever notes that it is difficult to secure Navajo students in normal times but at present the snow makes travel impossible and that he hopes to be able to secure 25…

Richard H. Pratt recommends that Carrie E. Morse be appointed to replace Mabel Crane as a teacher at the school. Pratt forwards Crane's resignation, Morse's application, and four references.

Crane cites her "approaching marriage" as the reason for leaving the school.

Richard Henry Pratt requests to return Mark Penoi to his home in Laguna, New Mexico due to the death of his parents. Pratt states that officials from Laguna have requested his return in order to look over his family's property and the children who depend on it.

Richard Henry Pratt requests to return Zippa Metoxen to her home due to the health of her parents and be provided with transportation for her to De Pere, Wisconsin.

Richard Henry Pratt inquires when he will be informed of action on his application to appoint Mr. and Mrs. Pollinger to the positions at the school farm of the Carlisle Indian School.

Richard Henry Pratt requests authority to employ a singing teacher as well as purchasing 400 song books.

Richard Henry Pratt informs the Office of Indian Affairs that he has received word from Fletcher J. Cowart that Cowart has 15 students he would like to enroll at Carlisle. Pratt notes that he has written to Cowart that he wants to maintain the gender ratio at the school.

Captain Richard H. Pratt provides the Commissioner of Indian Affairs with a list of irregular labor required for March 1889. Pratt also includes details on compensation, position title, and the number of workdays required for the month.

Richard Henry Pratt forwards a request from Almon B. Coe, Superintendent of the Blackfeet Schools, to have a party of students from his school enroll at the Carlisle Indian School. Pratt in his note to the Office of Indian Affairs states that he would be willing to take a party of students from the Agency as long as they are in proper health…

Richard Henry Pratt follows up on his request to employ Professor Brown of Pittsburg as a music teacher and purchase song books. 

Charles D. Wheelock informs Richard Henry Pratt that his father is retiring as a farmer and has offered him the option to take over his farm. Wheelock notes that to accept would require him to leave Carlisle early. Pratt in forwarding the letter to the Office of Indian Affairs notes that Wheelock's case warrants an exception to having students…

H. L. Muldrew, 1st Assistant Secretary of the Department of the Interior, grants two weeks leave of absence to Richard Henry Pratt.

Captain Richard H. Pratt provides the Commissioner of Indian Affairs with a list of irregular labor required for April 1889. Pratt also includes details on compensation, position title, and the number of workdays required for the month.

Richard Henry Pratt forwards a request from H. Heth, Special Agent in Charge of the Nez Perce Agency, to enroll 6 boys from that agency in the Carlisle Indian School. Pratt notes that in his letter to the Office of Indian Affairs that he would be willing to accept the students as long they were accompanied by at least four girls and they passed…

Richard Henry Pratt forwards a letter from M. D. Baldwin, U.S. Indian Agent for the Blackfeet Agency, regarding a request from Baldwin for students from the Blackfeet Agency to enroll at the Carlisle Indian School.

Richard Henry Pratt requests authority to return four students from the Pine Ridge Agency due to health and character. He notes that the school physician has diagnosed three students with scrofula and incipient consumption. Pratt asks that he be provided with four tickets from Carlisle to Rushville, Nebraska for the students and one ticket for…