The Documents section features digitized copies of documents relating to the history of the school. These documents include correspondence, graduation pamphlets, and other forms of ephemera, and have been digitized by Digital Resource Center staff. Today, these documents are preserved in a number of locations, including the Dickinson College Archives and Special Collections as well as private collections.
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November 18, 1882
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…
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Topics:
Format: Letters/Correspondence
View Document: Transportation of Sioux Students to Carlisle1.02 MB
November 25, 1882
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.
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Topics:
Format: Letters/Correspondence
View Document: Transportation of Sioux Students through the Sioux City and Pacific Railroad1.27 MB
November 30, 1882
Richard Henry Pratt submits this Monthly School Report for November 1882, which includes a list of text books used for the academic education, industrial trades taught, information on the arrival of students from Pine Ridge and Rosebud Agencies,…
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Format: Reports
View Document: Monthly School Report for November 18821.28 MB
November 30, 1882
Richard H. Pratt submits a report that lists irregular employees who worked at the school during November 1882. The report includes details on compensation, position titles, race, and the number of days worked during that month.
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Topics: School Employees - General
Format: Reports
View Document: Report of Irregular Employees, November 18821.25 MB
December 1, 1882
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.
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Topics: Request for Enrollment
Format: Letters/Correspondence
View Document: Account of Samuel Bausley Arrival at Carlisle616.6 KB
December 1, 1882
Richard Henry Pratt reports the arrival of 68 students at the Carlisle Indian School from the Rosebud and Pine Ridge Agencies.
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Topics: Student Travel to Enroll
Format: Letters/Correspondence
View Document: Arrival of 68 Students from Rosebud and Pine Ridge Agencies441.71 KB
December 1882
O. G. Given, the school physician, compiles the monthly sanitary report for November 1882.
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Topics: Student Illness
Format: Reports
View Document: Monthly Sanitary Report of Sick and Wounded, November 1882575.81 KB
December 9, 1882
Richard H. Pratt submits a report that lists new employees (A. J. Wetzel and Lavinia Bender) as well as one who had left the school (Thomas Baird). These reports include personal information about those being hired as well as reasons for…
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Topics: School Employees - General
Format: Legal and Government Documents
View Document: Descriptive Statement of Changes in School Employees, December 1882981.35 KB
December 11, 1882
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.
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
View Document: Special Estimate for Medical Supplies, December 18822.97 MB
December 13-26, 1882
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…
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Topics: Request for Enrollment
Format: Letters/Correspondence
View Document: Request to Enroll Six Crow Students1.62 MB
December 16, 1882 - January 2, 1883
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.
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Format: Letters/Correspondence
View Document: Cook Writes About Rosebud and Visiting His Daughter652.18 KB
December 16, 1882
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…
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Format: Letters/Correspondence
View Document: Objection to Appropriations Committee Statements on Extravagance at Carlisle1.45 MB
December 20, 1882
Richard H. Pratt submits a report that lists employees who have left the school (T. S. Reighter and Alice M. Robertson). These reports include reasons for departure for those leaving.
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Topics: School Employees - General
Format: Legal and Government Documents
View Document: Descriptive Statement of Changes in School Employees, December 1882 961.51 KB
December 20, 1882
Richard Henry Pratt submits an Estimate of Funds for the first quarter of 1883. Included is a note stating why the estimate was rejected.
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Topics:
Format: Letters/Correspondence
View Document: Estimate of Funds, First Quarter 1883566.05 KB
December 28, 1882
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.
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Topics: School Farms - Land Transactions
Format: Letters/Correspondence
View Document: Office Informed of Intent to Terminate Lease for the Parker Farm424.6 KB
1883 - November 2, 1893
Lessons on the Human Body, by Orestes M. Brands, 1883. Indian School textbook with paper cover stating "Title: Hygiene" and "The Property of the United States Indian Industrial School, Carlisle, PA." Signed in front by Lillie Smith and others and…
Repository: Cumberland County Historical Society
Topics: Hygiene Instruction, Books Used at School
Format: Books and Pamphlets
View Document: Lessons on the Human Body Textbook, 1883916.28 KB
January 8, 1883
Richard Henry Pratt returns the estimate of funds for the first quarter of 1883 to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs for further action.
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Topics:
Format: Letters/Correspondence
View Document: Return of Estimate of Funds, First Quarter 1883322.47 KB
January 9, 1883
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…
Repository: Yale University Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library
Format: Letters/Correspondence
View Document: Armstrong Requests Travel Expense Estimates from Pratt1.98 MB
January 16, 1883
Samuel Chapman Armstrong of the Hampton Institute writes to Richard Henry Pratt discussing his willingness to lobby for both Hampton and Carlisle.
Repository: Yale University Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library
Topics: Congressional Lobbying
Format: Letters/Correspondence
View Document: Armstrong Discusses Lobbying with Pratt1.28 MB
January 19, 1883
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…
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Format: Letters/Correspondence
View Document: Request to Return Harvey White Shield Home441.01 KB
January 22, 1883
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…
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Topics:
Format: Letters/Correspondence
View Document: Crow Agency Response to Sending Students to Carlisle790.5 KB
January 22, 1883
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.
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Topics: Employee Travel
Format: Letters/Correspondence
View Document: Pratt Requests to Visit D.C. to Discuss Farm Matters432.03 KB
January 22, 1883
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…
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Format: Letters/Correspondence
View Document: Request to Allow Frank Engler to Visit His Home432.52 KB
February 8, 1883
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…
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Topics:
Format: Letters/Correspondence
View Document: H. J. Armstrong Presents Case for Escorting Crow Students to Carlisle1.03 MB
February 9, 1883
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…
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Topics:
Format: Letters/Correspondence
View Document: Arden Smith Instructions for Escorting Crow Students1.17 MB