Pratt, Richard Henry

Richard Henry Pratt requests an increase in the proposed appropriation for 1883 allocated to the Carlisle Indian School.

C. M. Semple, the Principal of the Education Department at the Carlisle Indian School provides a report on the teaching methods, educational foundations, and principles guiding the teachers at Carlisle.

Richard Henry Pratt requests that Sheldon Jackson be allowed to go to the Navajo Agency to recruit a delegation of students for the Carlisle Indian School along with an assistant.

Richard Henry Pratt forwards certificate of receipt from the War Department of two Lipan children.

Richard Henry Pratt seeks authorization for his actions in allowing Lincoln to return with his father due to his health and covering the expense of the return trip.

Augustus Brosius, U.S. Indian Agent at the Great Nemaha Agency, informs Richard Henry Pratt that a group of Iowa Nation people led by Chief Kihega will be visiting Washington to decide whether to remain in Nebraska. Kihega wishes his son who is at Carlisle to accompany the delegation in order to help his father.

In addition there are two…

Estimate of funds for the second quarter of 1882 amounting to $11,445.75 for areas covering rations, the pay of employees, clothing, the farm, supplies, contingencies, and special allowance. Richard H. Pratt also requests additional funds amounting to $4,772 for regular employee pay.

Richard Henry Pratt replies to an Department of Indian Affairs letter concerning the failure to return sick students back to their homes before their deaths. Pratt details two cases where students were too ill to be sent back to their homes. He further states that the initial students from the Osage Agency be returned at the end of the school…

Richard Henry Pratt inquires about a request from Chief Kihega through U.S. Indian Agent Brosius about sending two Carlisle students, Charles Kihega and Ellwood Dorian, to Washington to serve as counsel for Chief Kihega.

Richard Henry Pratt requests a reduction in various rations in order to purchase additional cows for providing a greater milk supply to students. Pratt cites a visit from Dr. Cornelius Rea Agnew and his recommendation that for a healthy student body students be allowed to drink as much milk as they want in the morning and evening. To follow…

Richard Henry Pratt requests permission to send Irvine, a member of the Comanche Nation, home due to poor health. Pratt notes that Na as toe and Big Man are leaving for their agency soon and can accompany Irvine home.

Richard Henry Pratt forwards a request from Wichita Chief Na has toe and Big Man for a set of spring wagon and harness. Pratt documents his history working with Na has toe during his Army experience and recommends fulfilling the request.

Richard Henry Pratt recommends Indian Agent John D. Miles for the new position of Inspector of Schools in the Indian Service.

The father of Moses Nonway requests that his son be returned to his home in order to help him on his farm due to his poor health. Richard Henry Pratt believes that the request should be approved and sent home along with Charles Somains with U.S. Indian Agent E. Stephens.

Chris Burns inquires about sending his three children to Carlisle to be educated. Richard Henry Pratt forwarded the Commissioner of Indian Affairs with instructions on establishing precedent in such cases. Pratt proposes that white fathers pay some expenses towards the education of their children.

Richard Henry Pratt writes that the initial delegation of students from the Pine Ridge and Rosebud Agencies terms of enrollment are set to expire and requests authorization for funds to return them. Pratt notes that many of the students wish to remain but that their parents desire them to return home. He writes that many of the older students…

Richard Henry Pratt refers to his previous letter informing the Commissioner of Indian Affairs that only 25 students will stay on at Carlisle. As a result Pratt seeks approval for the expense of returning the remaining students to their homes in the current fiscal year.

Richard Henry Pratt forwards a letter from Standing Bear after his arrival at the Carlisle Indian School. In the letter Pratt notes that Standing Bear believes that the school should return the children for the summer but that many of the younger ones are likely to be back in the fall. He also notes that Standing Bear wishes for the government…

Richard Henry Pratt writes that the terms of enrollment are up for students from the Cheyenne and Arapaho Agency,  the Kiowa, Comanche, and Wichita Agency, the Sisseton Agency, the Pawnee Agency, the Ponca Agency, and the Green Bay Agency. 

Pratt notes that half of the students whose terms are set to expire desire to remain at…

Richard Henry Pratt notes that with the upcoming return of 86 students to their homes the school will be able to accommodate 175 new students in the fall. Pratt notes that there are already 20 students from the Osage Nation and 25 from the Omaha Nation. He believes that many the remaining students could be brought in from the Sioux Nation or…

Richard Henry Pratt seeks authority for his actions in returning Mary, a member of the Sioux Nation, to her home in Rosebud due to her ill health.

Julia E. Remington inquires if the Carlisle Indian School has room for a member of the Onondaga Nation. Pratt notes when forwarding the letter to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs that due to limited appropriations the father of the prospective student should be required to pay for travel expenses.

Richard Henry Pratt notes that his office has no record of receiving a telegram authorizing the return of Mary to her home.

Richard Henry Pratt forwards a copy of a telegram that Osage children were going to arrive at Martinsburg on June 8, 1882. Pratt writes that he met the children at Martinsburg and due to the lack of a train back to Carlisle they were forced to stay the night at Martinsburg incurring an additional expense which Pratt asks to cover on his…

Richard Henry Pratt provides notification that he has arranged a special car to bring around 35 students from the Pine Ridge and Rosebud Agencies to their homes. He notes that his arrangements bring the students to Chamberlain where he hopes the Agent will have their parents meet them at Chamberlain which would save the Government some expense…