Choni, Manuelito

Student information card of Manuelito Choni, a member of the Navajo Nation, who entered the school on October 21, 1882 and departed on July 10, 1883.

In school documentation Manuelito Choni is also known as Manuelito Chou.

Student information card of Manuelito Choni, a member of the Navajo Nation, who entered the school on October 21, 1882 and departed on July 10, 1883.

Page one opens with a letter from the Secretary of the Interior, H.M. Teller, about the education of Indians. Page two had the Address Captain Pratt gave at the National Educational Convention at Ocean Grove, NJ. This address continued on to page three. After the end of Captain Pratt’s address, page three has an article titled “It is Folly to…

Studio portrait of Manuelio Choni wearing Native clothes.

Studio portrait of Manuelito Choni wearing Native clothing. 

This photograph was proabably taken on or very close to Choni's date of arrival, October 21, 1882.

Note: The Cumberland County HIstorical Society has two copies of this image: PA-CH2-004c and 10B-03-03. 

Portrait of Richard Henry Pratt (seated on the bandstand) with one female Navajo student and eleven male students. The female student, Antoinette Williams, had arrived on December 5, 1881. She and Pratt are posed with a group of male Navajo students who had arrived on the day this photograph was taken, October 21, 1882.

The students are…

Portrait of eleven male students and one female student posed in front of the bandstand on the school grounds. Richard Henry Pratt is sitting on the bandstand, behind the group.

The female student, Antoinette Williams, had arrived on December 5, 1881. The male students are a group of male Navajo students who arrived on October 21, 1882.…

Portrait of eleven male students and one female students posed in front of the bandstand on the school grounds. Richard Henry Pratt is sitting on the bandstand, behind the group. They are a group of Navajo students who arrived on October 21, 1882.

They are, front row, seated, left to right: George Williams, Stailey Norcross, Antoinette…

Studio portrait of ten male students and one female student.

For explantion of the identification of the students in this image and the date see the Dickinson College copy of this image in Related Images.

The students are, seated in front, left to right - Charles Damon, George Williams. Seated, left to right - Manuelito…

Studio portrait of ten male students and one female student.

The handwritten note reads: Students at Government School at Carlisle, Pa.

Based on enrollment information and a few other photographs of the individuals pictured, we believe the students are as follows:

Younger boys seated in front, left to right…

Richard Henry Pratt follows up on his earlier letter emphasizing his request to return Manuelito Chou as soon as possible due to his poor health.

Richard Henry Pratt requests authority to return and pay expenses for Manuelito Chou, Francisco, Eva Rufina, and Edward Myers to be returned to their homes due to their health. In addition, Pratt requests authority to return John Bull to be returned to his home due to the expiration of his term.

D. M. Riordan, U.S. Indian Agent for the Navajo Agency, writes to the Richard Henry Pratt on the anger of Manuelito regarding the death of his son. Manuelito asks for all of the Navajo students to be sent back from Carlisle. Riordan states that at a minimum Manuelito's son should be returned.

Pratt also states in his letter to…