Spotted Tail

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…

Commissioner of Indian Affairs Ezra A. Hayt informs the Indian Agent of Rosebud Agency Cicero Newell that he cannot consider Spotted Tail's request to visit Carlisle this winter. "It is not deemed best for any of the members of the tribe to make the proposed visit this winter." Instead, arrangements will be made in the spring. 

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Richard Henry Pratt encloses a copy of a letter from B. F. Beveridge to Charles Tackett about how to ensure that the Indian chiefs while visiting Washington D.C. stay at the Washington House (Beveridge's establishment). In his cover letter, Pratt informs the Commissioner that he intends to discharge Charles Tackett but thinks it should be done…

Richard Henry Pratt informs Acting Commissioner of Indian Affairs E. J. Brooks that Chief Spotted Tail would like to return his children, one grandchild, and one other relative currently enrolled at the Carlisle Indian School to their homes at his own expense. Pratt believes he should be able to return his children home but not his grandchild…

Richard Henry Pratt informs Acting Commissioner of Indian Affairs E. J. Brooks that the party has left, and Spotted Tail took his children and grandchildren home.

Note: This item was copied from U.S. National Archives microfilm reels (M234), which were filmed from the original documents found in Record Group 75, Entry 79, "Letters…

Richard Henry Pratt asks E. J. Brooks to send him instructions for adding additional pupils to the Carlisle Indian School. He references Sheldon Jackson's mission to recruit Navajo and Pueblo students. Finally, he believes that Spotted Tail's decision to return his family members will work to the school's advantage and that Spotted Tail will…

Secretary of the Interior Carl Schurz informs Assistant Secretary of the Interior A. Bell that, if Spotted Tail wants to return his children to the Carlisle Indian School, he has to do it at his own expense. Schurz continues on to write about matters unrelated to Carlisle.

Note: This item was copied from U.S. National Archives microfilm…

The parents of Ernest White Thunder and Maud Swift Bear request that their bodies be returned to them in order to have them buried near their homes. They note that while Richard Henry Pratt sent them frequent letters they were not aware that their children were near death and are now unable to fulfill their hope of returning home to help their…

W. J. Cleveland writes to Richard Henry Pratt seeking clarification on the government's policy in regards to sending children home prior to their term of enrollment ending. Cleveland writes that since Spotted Tail was given permission to pay the expenses in returning his children home others have inquired if they are also able to do so. Pratt…

Richard Henry Pratt forwards to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs two letters he received from the Rosebud Agency. One concerns the deaths of Rosebud students while at Carlisle and the desire of the Rosebud Sioux Chiefs to educate their children closer to home. The second from Black Crow protesting the actions of Spotted Tail and others who…

A Council of Sioux Chiefs including Spotted Tail, Two Strike, White Thunder, and Swift Bear from the Rosebud Agency writes to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs to protest the deaths of their children at Carlisle and asks for a local school in order to educate their children along with teachers. U.S. Indian Agent John Cook notes that he is…

A Council of Sioux Chiefs including Spotted Tail, Two Strike, White Thunder, and Swift Bear from the Rosebud Agency writes to President James A. Garfield to protest the deaths of their children at Carlisle and asks for a local school in order to educate their children along with teachers. U.S. Indian Agent John Cook notes that he is agreement…

A council of Sioux Chiefs including Spotted Tail, Two Strike, White Thunder, and Swift Bear from the Rosebud Agency writes to the Secretary of the Interior to protest the deaths of their children at Carlisle and asks for a local school in order to educate their children along with teachers. U.S. Indian agent John Cook notes that he is agreement…

Cook, a member of the Sioux Nation, writes to his daughter Grace at the Carlisle Indian School. He writes that others in the Rosebud Agency are attempting to have their children returned from Carlisle but he does not think they will succeed. If they do though he would like Grace to return although he would also be happy with her staying and…

Blue Teeth writes to Richard Henry Pratt seeking his help in order to be included in Spotted Tail's delegation. Blue Teeth writes that he would like to go east in order to get a set of false teeth as well as visiting his children at Carlisle.

Richard Henry Pratt recommends the return of Pollock, Max, and Oliver Spotted Tail to Carlisle if an opportunity presents itself rather than having the cost born by their family.

Richard Henry Pratt documents his trip to the Rosebud Agency where he attempted to secure ninety students for the school. He notes that after an initial meeting where this was received with much enthusiasm, he failed to gather the allotted students due to the work of the Catholic priest at the agency. Pratt claims that the priest may be opposed…

Richard Henry Pratt sends the draft of his pamphlet "The Indian Industrial School, Carlisle, PA. Its Origin, Progress, and the Difficulties Surmounted" to William Miller of the Hamilton Library Association in Carlisle. Pratt notes that his purpose in writing the pamphlet is due to his feeling that government is becoming opposed to non-…