The Images section features photographs, postcards, and different types of artwork, as well as reproductions of images that appeared in newspapers, magazines, and other publications. These images all reflect the Carlisle Indian School students, facilities, and staff. Images available here are drawn from files housed at the U. S. National Archives, from collections of Carlisle Indian School materials housed at various archival repositories, and from a variety of published sources. Visitors to this website are also invited to share copies of photographs from their own personal and family collections; please contact us if you have images you would like to contribute.
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Male students posed standing and sitting on the lawn of the school grounds, with female students in the background.
In 1901 the Bureau of Indian Affairs contracted with the photographer Frances Benjamin Johnston to document the school at Carlisle for an exhibit at the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, New York. Johnston visited the school in the spring of that year and took at least one hundred photographs. Johnston donated her personal papers, including 103 prints of the photographs taken at Carlisle, to the Library of Congress.
A copy of this print is available for download from the Library of Congress website: https://www.loc.gov/item/98512039/
Format: Photographic Print, B&W
Repository: Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division
Male students posed doing calisthenics, on gymnastic equipment, and on the sides watching, in the gymnasium.
In 1901 the Bureau of Indian Affairs contracted with the photographer Frances Benjamin Johnston to document the school at Carlisle for an exhibit at the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, New York. Johnston visited the school in the spring of that year and took at least one hundred photographs. Johnston donated her personal papers, including 103 prints of the photographs taken at Carlisle, to the Library of Congress.
A copy of this print is available for download from the Library of Congress website: https://www.loc.gov/item/98509238/.
This image appears with the caption GENERAL PRACTICE IN GYMNASIUM in The Indian Industrial School, Carlisle, Pa.: 23rd Year (Carlisle, PA: The School, 1902) [p. 61].
Format: Photographic Print, B&W
Repository: Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division
Female students in athletic clothing posed with a white man in the gymnasium. The man is holding a basketball and two students are waiting for him to throw a jump ball while the other students surround them in a circle.
In 1901 the Bureau of Indian Affairs contracted with the photographer Frances Benjamin Johnston to document the school at Carlisle for an exhibit at the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, New York. Johnston visited the school in the spring of that year and took at least one hundred photographs. When the school closed in 1918, two albums of Johnston's photographs were sent to the Pennsylvania State Museum, which transferred them to the Cumberland County Historical Society in 1934. This is one of the images from those albums.
This image with the caption BASKET BALL GIRLS appears in The Indian Industrial School, Carlisle, Pa.: 23rd Year (Carlisle, PA: The School, 1902) [p.65].
Format: Photographic Print, B&W
Repository: Cumberland County Historical Society
Male student posed shoeing a horse, with white male instructor holding the horse. Two male students are in the background with blacksmithing tools.
In 1901 the Bureau of Indian Affairs contracted with the photographer Frances Benjamin Johnston to document the school at Carlisle for an exhibit at the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, New York. Johnston visited the school in the spring of that year and took at least one hundred photographs. When the school closed in 1918, two albums of Johnston's photographs were sent to the Pennsylvania State Museum, which transferred them to the Cumberland County Historical Society in 1934. This is one of the images from those albums.
This image with the caption BLACKSMITH SHOP – HORSESHOEING appears in The Indian Industrial School, Carlisle, Pa.: 23rd Year (Carlisle, PA: The School, 1902) [p. 46].
Format: Photographic Print, B&W
Repository: Cumberland County Historical Society
Three male students posed working on upholstered parts for carriages.
In 1901 the Bureau of Indian Affairs contracted with the photographer Frances Benjamin Johnston to document the school at Carlisle for an exhibit at the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, New York. Johnston visited the school in the spring of that year and took at least one hundred photographs. When the school closed in 1918, two albums of Johnston's photographs were sent to the Pennsylvania State Museum, which transferred them to the Cumberland County Historical Society in 1934. This is one of the images from those albums.
The Frances Benjamin Johnston Collection at the Library of Congress also contains a print of this photograph. A copy of that print is available for download from the Library of Congress website: https://www.loc.gov/item/2008675515/.
This image with the caption CARRIAGE MAKING, UPHOLSTERING SECTION appears in The Indian Industrial School, Carlisle, Pa.: 23rd Year (Carlisle, PA: The School, 1902) [p. 41].
Format: Photographic Print, B&W
Repository: Cumberland County Historical Society
Male students posed with a white man in the gymnasium. The man is holding a basketball and two students are waiting for him to throw a jump ball while the other students surround them in a circle.
In 1901 the Bureau of Indian Affairs contracted with the photographer Frances Benjamin Johnston to document the school at Carlisle for an exhibit at the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, New York. Johnston visited the school in the spring of that year and took at least one hundred photographs. When the school closed in 1918, two albums of Johnston's photographs were sent to the Pennsylvania State Museum, which transferred them to the Cumberland County Historical Society in 1934. This is one of the images from those albums.
This image with the caption BASKET BALL BOYS appears in The Indian Industrial School, Carlisle, Pa.: 23rd Year (Carlisle, PA: The School, 1902) [p.64].
Format: Photographic Print, B&W
Repository: Cumberland County Historical Society
Five male students posted working with printing presses.
In 1901 the Bureau of Indian Affairs contracted with the photographer Frances Benjamin Johnston to document the school at Carlisle for an exhibit at the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, New York. Johnston visited the school in the spring of that year and took at least one hundred photographs. Johnston donated her personal papers, including 103 prints of the photographs taken at Carlisle, to the Library of Congress.
A copy of this print is available for download from the Library of Congress website: https://www.loc.gov/item/98503032/.
This image appears with the caption PRESS DEPARTMENT in The Indian Industrial School, Carlisle, Pa.: 23rd Year (Carlisle, PA: The School, 1902) [p. 26].
Format: Photographic Print, B&W
Repository: Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division
Male and female students posed with white female teacher in the school's art studio. Students are standing or sitting in front of easels.
Johnston took another very similar photograph of students in the art studio. It is linked in Related Images. Interestingly, the artwork visible on the easels remains the same, but the students appear to change.
The Cumberland County Historical Society's cataloging indicates that the teacher was Elizabeth Forster, who later married William Beitzel. Violetta Nash is believed to be the seated student near the front of the room.
In 1901 the Bureau of Indian Affairs contracted with the photographer Frances Benjamin Johnston to document the school at Carlisle for an exhibit at the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, New York. Johnston visited the school in the spring of that year and took at least one hundred photographs. Johnston donated her personal papers, including 103 prints of the photographs taken at Carlisle, to the Library of Congress.
A copy of this print is available for download from the Library of Congress website: https://www.loc.gov/item/96501744/
Format: Photographic Print, B&W
Repository: Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division
Male and female students posed in a classroom with a white female teacher. On the blackboard at the rear of the room at left is a drawing of a teepee and at right is another drawing. Hanging against the blackboard are Native American textiles, possibly clothing. Native American baskets or pots are sitting on the desks of the students in the front row. The students are reading from small books, and may be studying the poem "The Song of Hiawatha" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.
Johnston took three similar photographs of this classroom. One other version can be seen in Related Images. The Cumberland County Historical Society's cataloging of the other image identifies this as a "Ninth Grade Class School Room." The third version has slight differences from this one and is also held by the Library of Congress: https://www.loc.gov/item/2008675528/.
In 1901 the Bureau of Indian Affairs contracted with the photographer Frances Benjamin Johnston to document the school at Carlisle for an exhibit at the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, New York. Johnston visited the school in the spring of that year and took at least one hundred photographs. Johnston donated her personal papers, including 103 prints of the photographs taken at Carlisle, to the Library of Congress.
A copy of this image can be downloaded from the Library of Congress website: https://www.loc.gov/item/98503023/
Format: Photographic Print, B&W
Repository: Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division
Seven male students and a white male instructor posed in the carpenter shop.
In 1901 the Bureau of Indian Affairs contracted with the photographer Frances Benjamin Johnston to document the school at Carlisle for an exhibit at the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, New York. Johnston visited the school in the spring of that year and took at least one hundred photographs. Johnston donated her personal papers, including 103 prints of the photographs taken at Carlisle, to the Library of Congress.
A copy of this print is available for download from the Library of Congress website: https://www.loc.gov/item/98503020/ .
This image appears with the caption CARPENTER WORK - CABINET MAKING in The Indian Industrial School, Carlisle, Pa.: 23rd Year (Carlisle, PA: The School, 1902) [p. 30].
Format: Photographic Print, B&W
Repository: Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division
Male students posed standing and kneeling weeding a field with a white man seated looking on.
In 1901 the Bureau of Indian Affairs contracted with the photographer Frances Benjamin Johnston to document the school at Carlisle for an exhibit at the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, New York. Johnston visited the school in the spring of that year and took at least one hundred photographs. When the school closed in 1918, two albums of Johnston's photographs were sent to the Pennsylvania State Museum, which transferred them to the Cumberland County Historical Society in 1934. This is one of the images from those albums.
This image with the caption WEEDING DETAIL appears in The Indian Industrial School, Carlisle, Pa.: 23rd Year (Carlisle, PA: The School, 1902) [p. 92].
Format: Photographic Print, B&W
Repository: Cumberland County Historical Society
Male students posed standing in columns in the gymnasium in two calisthenic positions.
In 1901 the Bureau of Indian Affairs contracted with the photographer Frances Benjamin Johnston to document the school at Carlisle for an exhibit at the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, New York. Johnston visited the school in the spring of that year and took at least one hundred photographs. Johnston donated her personal papers, including 103 prints of the photographs taken at Carlisle, to the Library of Congress.
A copy of this print is available for download from the Library of Congress website: https://www.loc.gov/item/98509239.
Format: Photographic Print, B&W
Repository: Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division
Four male students posed standing at work tables.
The Cumberland County Historical Society identifies this as the Boiler Shop where "students are taught cutting and threading pipes."
In 1901 the Bureau of Indian Affairs contracted with the photographer Frances Benjamin Johnston to document the school at Carlisle for an exhibit at the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, New York. Johnston visited the school in the spring of that year and took at least one hundred photographs. When the school closed in 1918, two albums of Johnston's photographs were sent to the Pennsylvania State Museum, which transferred them to the Cumberland County Historical Society in 1934. This is one of the images from those albums.
This image with the caption STEAMFITTING appears in The Indian Industrial School, Carlisle, Pa.: 23rd Year (Carlisle, PA: The School, 1902) [p. 47].
Format: Photographic Print, B&W
Repository: Cumberland County Historical Society
The handwritten note on the reverse side reads: Shoe Shop. Repairing.
Note: The Library of Congress has a copy of this photo in its Frances Benjamin Johnston Collection: https://www.loc.gov/item/2006675679/
Format: Photographic Print, B&W
Repository: Dickinson College Archives & Special Collections
Male and female students posed holding sheets of music with white female choir director and accompanist at right. Violetta Nash is seated in the second row, fourth in from the left.
Johnston took two very similar photographs of the choir. The other one is linked in Related Images.
This image with the caption CHOIR appears in The Indian Industrial School, Carlisle, Pa.: 23rd Year (Carlisle, PA: The School, 1902) [p. 87].
Format: Photograph, Reproduction
Repository: Dickinson College Archives & Special Collections
Previous cataloging identified the students as being from Alaska and provides a date of 1901 for the image. It also identifies the white man as an Indian agent.
Based on this, this group would be the one that arrived July 11, 1901 from Woody Island, Alaska. The issue of the school newspaper also mentions that a Mr. C. E. Bunnell accompanied the group, so he is the white man in this photo. The female student in the center left is likely Kate Shepherd.
Here is the description from The Red Man and Helper (Vol. 2, No. 3) August 16, 1901:
"Mr. C. E. Bunnell is making a flying trip to the East during vacation. He took with him eleven young people to attend the Carlisle Indian School. Kate Shepherd, Anastatia Perrin [Anastasia Ashouwak], John Lolchesnekoff, Theodore Schclikoff [Fadya Shellikoff], Sashka Alexander, George Calaktinoff, and Michael Chabitnoy went from the Orphanage; Olsena Sperbaek [Orleana Yakoff], Pariscovia Feoderoff [Friendoff; Fadaoff] and Nikifer Shouchuk [middle of back row, tallest], from Wood Island : and Peter Debrowolsky from Kodiak."
Format: Glass Plate Negative
Repository: National Anthropological Archives, Smithsonian Institution
Portrait of student Nikefer Shoushick.
Format: Glass Plate Negative
Repository: Cumberland County Historical Society
Nikefer Shoushick posed on a field in football uniform and holding a football.
Format: Photographic Print, B&W
Repository: U. S. Army Heritage and Education Center
View of the school's Printing Shop.
Format: Glass Plate Negative
Repository: Cumberland County Historical Society
Group portrait of the school band posed in front of the band stand. James Riley Wheelock, the band director, is standing in the center with the baton.
Format: Photographic Print, B&W
Repository: Cumberland County Historical Society
View of the school's Harness Shop.
Format: Glass Plate Negative
Repository: Cumberland County Historical Society
A view of the school's tin shop.
Format: Glass Plate Negative
Repository: Cumberland County Historical Society
View of the interior of the school's laundry building.
Format: Glass Plate Negative
Repository: Cumberland County Historical Society
A herd of cows in an enclosure next to the school barn.
Format: Glass Plate Negative
Repository: Cumberland County Historical Society
Studio portrait of fifteen male students, most in sweaters with "P" on them, (one with "C" sweater). The student in the middle was identified as Dennison Wheelock. One student is holding a football with "02" written on it.
Format: Photographic Print, B&W
Repository: U. S. Army Heritage and Education Center