1880-1889

Captain Richard H. Pratt provides the Commissioner of Indian Affairs with a list of irregular labor required for May 1886. Pratt also includes details on compensation, position title, and the number of workdays required for the month.

T. S. Childs makes a report to the Office of Indian Affairs on Carlisle Indian School and the Indian Training School at the Hampton Institute. Childs report was prompted by complaints made against the Hampton Institute related to the health and discipline of students. Childs report focuses mostly on Hampton while examining Carlisle in order to…

Acting Secretary of the Interior H. L. Muldrew returns a letter from Richard Henry Pratt regarding exceptions of the Second Auditor taken regarding settlement of accounts for various contractors. The contracts were modified to reflect that payment was made by Pratt and not the Office of Indian Affairs.

Charles Potter, U.S. Indian Agent for the Omaha and Winnebago Agency, requests on behalf of Sin-de-ha-ha or William Hamilton that his son Joseph Hamilton be returned from the Carlisle Indian School. Potter cites Sin-de-ha-ha's poor health as a reason for requesting the return of his son.

Superintendent Richard Henry Pratt writes to Dr. Cornelius Rea Agnew suggesting that Agnew stops in Carlisle to say goodbye before traveling.  Pratt also mentions discussions between teacher Mary Hyde and Charles Pratt of the Astral Oil Works, Brooklyn, New York, regarding her employment at a new industrial school in that city. Transcript…

Superintendent Richard Henry Pratt writes to Dr. Cornelius Rea Agnew saying that he received Congressional funding for the purchase of a farm adjacent to the school, as well as for the construction of a chapel, stable, and two new school wings. 

Captain Richard H. Pratt provides the Commissioner of Indian Affairs with a list of irregular labor required for June 1886. Pratt also includes details on compensation, position title, and the number of workdays required for the month.

David Butcher requests the return of his son, William Butcher, from the Carlisle Indian School due to ill health.

Henry Martin requests the return of his son Charles Martin from the Carlisle Indian School due to the health of other Chippewa students at Carlisle. The interpreter writing the letter, J. A. Gilfillian, adds that he believes that because half of the students he brought to Carlisle have died that it has caused lots of consternation among parents…

Richard Henry Pratt provides the Office of Indian Affairs with a list of students whose terms of enrollment are set to expire or for other reasons and requests authority to return them to their homes.

Richard Henry Pratt reports on a proposed plan to bring the children currently being held in St. Augustine, Florida to be educated at the Carlisle Indian School. In addition, at the suggestion of Lieutenant Richards that he send Bonito, a student at Carlisle, to promote the school as an ambassador for the school among the Apaches in addition to…

Superintendent Richard Henry Pratt writes to Doctor Cornelius Rea Agnew regarding plans for new and renovated buildings at Carlisle.  Pratt states that he does not intend to take on more students, but rather to create a more individualized training environment.  He compares Carlisle's Congressional funding to Congressional funding for…

Obadiah G. Given, the school physician of the Carlisle Indian School, reports on the health and treatment of William Butcher. Given states that Butcher has a localized scrofula infection that is best treated at the school. Richard Henry Pratt further states that Butcher is still active in both his duties in the Printing Office as well as…

Reply to Office of Indian Affairs letter regarding the ages of outgoing pupils.

Stailey Norcross writes to his former outing patron William Balderston regarding his current work on the Carlisle Indian School farm.

Se he du ba requests the return of his son Thomas Mitchell due to his age and the fact that he has been at the Carlisle Indian School for a year longer than his term of enrollment. Se he du ba also encloses a letter from Mitchell detailing his son's request to be returned home and his experience on outing.

Request to return Bennie Thomas and Annie Thomas to their homes by Richard Henry Pratt. Pratt notes that the students returned after the expiration of their first term of three years with a party of students who had five year terms. However, their parents were told they were sent for two years. Pratt notes that while he has no proof that this…

Richard Henry Pratt forwards a letter from D. F. Small requesting to have enrolled at the Carlisle Indian School a sister of a former Carlisle student, Rosa White Bear, from the Rosebud Agency. Small provides the history of the proposed student and his desire to see her enrolled at Carlisle. Pratt endorses the application and requests…

Richard Henry Pratt responds to the Office of Indian Affairs letter which enclosed a letter from Charles H. Potter requesting the return of Joseph Hamilton, the son of Sin du ha ha. Pratt answers that Hamilton is small for his age and unable to run a farm on his own. In addition, approving the request might cause other parents in Hamilton's…

Richard Henry Pratt responds to an Office of Indian Affairs letter regarding a request by Se he du ba requesting the return of his son Thomas Mitchell from the Carlisle Indian School. Pratt notes that Mitchell is doing well at Carlisle and that if his father is encouraged to let Mitchell stay would likely withdraw his request.

Samuel C. Armstrong, Principal of the Hampton Normal and Agricultural School, notes that with Richard Henry Pratt willing to take all of the imprisoned children at Fort Marion that the Apache students at Hampton also be transferred to Carlisle.

Richard Henry Pratt notes that he postponed the departure of students to their homes due to not having time to notify the agents to meet the students on their arrival. As a result he delayed the trip and met with the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Agent to make the arrangements which should be complete in a couple of days.

Richard Henry Pratt submits a "Special" Estimate of Funds form for $3,899.30 to purchase materials to build additional girls quarters.

Richard Henry Pratt requests permission to travel to St. Augustine with a Carlisle Indian School student from Chiricahua to provide a presentation to the Apache prisoners of war about the intentions of the Government in seeking to educate their children and how beneficial enrolling their children at Carlisle would be.

Correspondence discussing the appropriation of $37,500 for improvements to the Carlisle Indian School including the acquisition of the neighboring Parker farm, a new large boys’ dormitory, a school barn, and some other improvements.  A letter from Pratt explaining the need for the new facilities is included as part of the document.