Letters/Correspondence

Richard Henry Pratt informs the Office of Indian Affairs that there are differences between the quantities of school books requested and what was received. Pratt states that he hopes the differences were not denied or cut without his consultation.

Captain Richard H. Pratt submits a report that lists irregular employees who worked at the school during October 1891. The report includes details on compensation, position titles, race, and the number of days worked during that month.

Richard Henry Pratt forwards comments made by the school's doctor, C. R. Dixon, to an article on the treatment of the eyes of Indian pupils. Dixon comments that a number of the treatments recommended while sound should only be used by trained physicians. As a result he provides a few corrections for untrained nurses.

Richard Henry Pratt requests authority to purchase various garden seeds for the school.

Richard Henry Pratt informs Thomas J. Morgan that Eliza Choteau claims she has written to the Office of Indian Affairs twice regarding annuity money owed to her and her sister. Pratt notes that Choteau is "a Seneca of the Quapaw Agency" and that both of them are at Carlisle and as far he knows are due to their share of the annuity.

Richard Henry Pratt responds to a letter from Thomas J. Morgan regarding accepting students from Arizona. Pratt states that he would not hesitate to accept pupils during the winter. In addition he discusses delaying their enrollment to the spring when he can send current pupils on outing to limit the burden of his appropriation which is nearly…

Richard Henry Pratt notes that C. R. Dixon, School Physician, recommends that pupils have a liberal supply of fruit available. With the delay in dried fruit, Pratt requests authority to purchase 110 bushels of apples.

Richard Henry Pratt writes to Thomas J. Morgan on behalf of Captain Brown of the Pine Ridge Agency. Brown seeks to enlist and command his own company of Indian soldiers at the agency which Pratt approves of in order to create no disharmony between the Indian agent and an officer in charge of troops.

Richard Henry Pratt informs the Office of Indian Affairs that none of the party of seven students from Red Lake have arrived, but the one from the White Earth Agency who was to accompany them has arrived at Carlisle. Pratt further states that this student, upon his medical examination, was found unfit. As a result, he recommends that the…

Festus Pelone requests permission from Thomas J. Morgan to be returned to his home during the winter. Pelone writes that he has no money in the bank due to being unfairly punished by Richard Henry Pratt for leaving his outing.

C. R. A. Scobey, U.S. Indian Agent for the Fort Peck Agency, writes to the Office of Indian Affairs letter objecting to a letter from Richard Henry Pratt to Smoker. Scobey claims that the agency has sent sixty students to Carlisle and that all of the students were selected with care by the agency physician and superintendent and that is not the…

B. F. Gilkeson, Comptroller in the Second Comptroller's Office, responds to Thomas J. Morgan's letter regarding using interest generated from the Osage Fund to pay for Osage students at the Carlisle Indian School. Gilkeson writes that his interpretation of the treaty holds that only uses which were mentioned are valid and so funds cannot be…

Richard Henry Pratt replies to two Office of Indian Affairs letters regarding the construction of the Boiler House and the pay of student Nellie Carey as a matron.

C. R. Dixon, the school physician, compiles the monthly sanitary report for November 1891.

Richard Henry Pratt forwards a letter from former student Co-zed (Below) requesting assistance in obtaining a shop at the Kiowa Agency.

Captain Richard H. Pratt submits a report that lists irregular employees who worked at the school during November 1891. The report includes details on compensation, position titles, race, and the number of days worked during that month.

Charles S. Kelsey, U.S. Indian agent for the Green Bay Agency, informs the Office of Indian Affairs that eight students have departed the agency for the Carlisle Indian School.

Captain Richard H. Pratt returns corrected report of irregular employees who worked at the school during October 1891. Pratt advises the Commissioner of Indian Affairs of the changes made in the amount paid to A. Smith and George Work.

Richard Henry Pratt requests from the Office of Indian Affairs to be informed if a group of Piegan chiefs decide to visit the Carlisle Indian School. Pratt writes that he was informed that the chiefs are visiting Washington D.C. from his students and that if they decide to visit he would like to bring some students back from outing in order to…

Captain Richard H. Pratt replies to a letter from the Commission of Indian Affairs questioning the report of irregular employees during October 1891. Pratt explains why some regular employees were submitted as irregular, why irregular employees performed work that regular employees should do, and failure to identify each authorized item. Also,…

Richard Henry Pratt responds to an Office of Indian Affairs letter regarding a request to be returned home by Festus Pelone. Pratt includes a copy of Pelone's disciplinary record while at Carlisle and notes that his punishment of being on "no pay" is deserved. Because of the pattern of bad behavior, Pratt is willing to send Pelone home but…

Richard Henry Pratt responds to a letter from the Office of Indian Affairs regarding a letter from C. R. A. Scobey, U.S. Indian Agent for the Fort Peck Agency. Pratt writes that he was mistaken in his letter to Smoker of the identity of the student who has rarely been in school since her arrival. Pratt details the treatment he has undertaken to…

Richard Henry Pratt responds to an Office of Indian Affairs letter regarding a request from James Bird for the return of his daughter Fanny Bird due to his illness. Pratt notes that Fanny is only 11 but has been at the school three years and both her health and conduct are constantly improving. As a result Pratt notes that if she returns home…

Robert H. Ashley, U.S. Indian Agent for the Omaha and Winnebago Agency, responds to an Office of Indian Affairs letter regarding the return of Fanny Bird. Ashley states that her father has been getting better and that Fanny would be better off at Carlisle.

Richard Henry Pratt forwards a copy of a letter from George LeRoy Brown, Acting U.S. Indian Agent for the Pine Ridge Agency, to the Office of Indian Affairs. In Brown's letter he provides an update and a character assessment on former Carlisle Indian School students he has met.