Pratt, Richard Henry

Samuel Chapman Armstrong of the Hampton Institute writes to Richard Henry Pratt discussing public sentiments towards Indian education, arguing that Pratt's upcoming school at Carlisle will help shift public views.

Commissioner of Indian Affairs E. A. Hayt instructs the Acting Commissioner to allow Richard Henry Pratt to select 70 students from Sioux Nations and 30 from the Kiowa, Comanche, Cheyenne, and Arapaho Nations.

Note: This item was copied from U.S. National Archives microfilm reels (M234), which were filmed from the original documents…

Adjutant General E. D. Townsend states that the Secretary of War has approved the Secretary of the Interior's request to transfer the Carlisle Barracks from the War Department to the Interior. The Barracks will be used as a school for Indian children and will be under the charge of Richard Henry Pratt. The War Department retains the right to…

The Chief Clerk for the Secretary of War forwards a series of documents to the Secretary of the Interior regarding the transfer of the Carlisle Barracks from the War Department to the Interior Department. First, Adjutant General E. D. Townsend issues Special Orders No. 194 stating that Richard Henry Pratt now officially works in Indian…

Acting Secretary of the Interior A. Bell informs the Commissioner of Indian Affairs that he is giving permission to Lieutenant Richard Henry Pratt to proceed to Lee, Massachusetts. Bell notes that Pratt will secure current Hampton Institute students who are on outing and take them to the Carlisle Barracks. These Hampton students will become…

Samuel Chapman Armstrong of the Hampton Institute writes to Richard Henry Pratt forwarding a letter about girls recruited for Carlisle that are waiting in Yankton until the agent there believes the river has enough water to transport them. Armstrong reports concerns that the recruits will abandon the trip.

Adjutant General E. D. Townsend informs the Commanding General of the Atlantic that the Secretary of War George W. McCrary has ordered that all "movable property" at the Carlisle Barracks be turned over to the Indian Bureau as part of the transfer of the Barracks from the War to Interior Department. McCray encloses the letter to the Secretary…

Richard H. Pratt forwards an estimate of cost for necessary repairs to the buildings at the Carlisle Barracks. These repairs, which are needed to prepare the buildings for use by the Carlisle Indian School, are estimated to cost $1,399.00.

Note: This item was copied from U.S. National Archives microfilm reels (M234), which were filmed…

Acting Secretary of the Interior A. Bell informs the Commissioner of Indian Affairs that the War Department has transferred the buildings at the Carlisle Barracks to the Interior Department and that Special Agent Richard Henry Pratt is authorized to create an Indian school at the Barracks using the buildings. He also grants authority for Pratt…

Letter from Richard Henry Pratt to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, transferring his account of travel expenses from Florida. Immediately before this time, Pratt had been sent to Florida to locate, enumerate, and report on the condition of the Native Americans there. 

Richard Henry Pratt forwards his Supplementary Property Return forms to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs.

Correspondence from Superintendent Pratt to Commissioner of Indian Affairs Ezra Hayt noting that any communication regarding supplies will receive immediate attention.

Other documents from this same time period attest to Pratt's desperate need for supplies at Carlisle Barracks, before the arrival of the first group of students.

Letter from Richard Henry Pratt informing the Commissioner of Indian Affairs that he has received funds for a recruitment trip out West, and will set off that day. Pratt also requests supplies be sent to the barracks in preparation for his arrival with students, and asks for permission to repair the barracks buildings after the property is…

Letter from Richard Henry Pratt to Acting Commissioner of Indian Affairs Edwin J. Brooks regarding sick students discharged from the Hampton Institute. Pratt insists that too many boys were sent home, against his and the doctor's advice, and asserts that Spotted Tail and Red Cloud will be less interested in sending students to Carlisle as a…

Acting Secretary of the Interior A. Bell returns an Estimate of Expenditures (not attached) for building repairs at the Carlisle Barracks to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs. As Bell deems these repairs to be necessary to converting the Barracks to a school, he grants Richard Henry Pratt authority to spend $1,332 on supplies.

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Samuel Chapman Armstrong of the Hampton Institute writes to Richard Henry Pratt discussing arrangements for Indians coming to either Hampton or Carlisle, as well as arrangements to transfer the Florida prisoners north. He also notes that Pratt can turn to the American Missionary Association for funding.

Commissioner of Indian Affairs Ezra A. Hayt's reply to a letter from H. E. Behn seeking appointment as a teacher at the Carlisle Indian School wherein Hayt suggests that he directly contact the head of the school, Richard Henry Pratt, to apply.

Commissioner of Indian Affairs Ezra A. Hayt's reply to a James E. Rhoades, a man who requested that two Shawnee boys who he is looking after "be sent to school at Hampton, Va." Hayt lets Rhoades know that he can arrange to have the boys be educated at Hampton Institute or Carlisle Indian School. Hayt describes Pratt's plan to go to Indian…

Acting Secretary of the Interior A. Bell grants authority to purchase a list of articles and supplies, including bedding and clothing, amounting to $2,000, on the open market rather than through regular government contractors. This action was taken because, as the letter notes, the students needing the supplies are already currently on their…

Edward Bloeden writes to U.S. Indian Inspector William J. Pollock looking for a job, so Pollock forwards Bloden's letter to Richard Henry Pratt. Pratt forwards Bloeden's letter to Commissioner of Indian Affairs E. A. Hayt and states that he doesn't know him well but believes he could be a good employee for the Carlisle Indian School.

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Telegram from Richard Henry Pratt, at the Yankton Agency, to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs informing him that 47 boys and 17 girls from Rosebud as well as 12 boys and 6 girls from Pine Ridge have been recruited. Pratt notes that he will proceed on to Carlisle. The note suggests that Pratt was due to rendezvous with "C" (probably agent…

Telegram from Richard Henry Pratt in Onawa, Iowa, to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs following up on a previous message regarding his orders to recruit a party of students for the Hampton Institute. Pratt notifies the Commissioner that he has started his return journey.

Telegram to Richard Henry Pratt from Commissioner of Indian Affairs E. J. Brooks while Pratt is out recruiting students to attend the Carlisle Indian School that reads, "had better wait for [Charles] Crissey. If he does not arrive by fifth without telegraph". Charles Crissey was the Indian Agent who was recruiting students for the Hampton…

Telegram from Richard Henry Pratt to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs requesting materials and funds to erect a "picket fence six feet high to keep Indians in and citizens out" of the Carlisle Indian School campus.

Telegram from Richard Henry Pratt informing the Commissioner of Indian Affairs that he has arrived in Carlisle with the first party of students. Pratt also asks about his previous requests for supplies and rations, which have gone unanswered.