1880-1889

Copy of a letter Richard Henry Pratt sent to Congressman Frank Hiscock, Chairman Appropriations Committee in the House of Representatives regarding the Committee's hearing on the Carlisle Indian School's appropriation. Pratt disagrees with the idea that the school is being run in an extravagant manner and that while he can run the school on a…

Richard H. Pratt submits a report that lists employees who have left the school (T. S. Reighter and Alice M. Robertson). These reports include reasons for departure for those leaving. 

Richard Henry Pratt submits an Estimate of Funds for the first quarter of 1883. Included is a note stating why the estimate was rejected. 

Richard Henry Pratt informs the Office of Indian Affairs that he has notified Richard M. Parker of his intent to terminate the lease of the Carlisle Indian School for the Parker Farm.

Lessons on the Human Body, by Orestes M. Brands, 1883. Indian School textbook with paper cover stating "Title: Hygiene" and "The Property of the United States Indian Industrial School, Carlisle, PA." Signed in front by Lillie Smith and others and in back by Julia B. Dorris, Nettie Buckles, and Bremer.

Note: Pages scanned if they…

Richard Henry Pratt returns the estimate of funds for the first quarter of 1883 to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs for further action. 

Notice of the death of White Shield is received by Richard Henry Pratt from U.S. Indian Agent John D. Miles. As a result Pratt requests authorization for sending home his son Harvey in order to provide help to the family. In addition, Pratt requests sending home two young Arapaho girls with Harvey as a chaperone.

Arden R. Smith, U.S. Indian Agent for the Crow Agency, writes that he has received authority to send ten boys and ten girls to the Carlisle Indian School. Smith writes that it will be quite easy to send the ten boys as he met with a local chief Bear in the Water who was quite eager to send the boys. But Smith notes that the Crow Nation will…

Richard Henry Pratt requests authority to visit Washington D.C. to discuss farming at the Carlisle Indian School.

A note from Hiram Price recommends that Pratt's request be approved by the Secretary of the Interior.

Richard Henry Pratt requests permission to allow Frank Engler to return home due to his mother's illness. Pratt writes that other members of the Cheyenne Nation have pooled their money to cover Engler's transportation expense and recommends allowing him to return for a brief time.

H. J. Armstrong, U.S. Indian Agent for the Crow Agency, asks to be sent to the Carlisle Indian School as the escort for the Crow students rather than some other individual. Armstrong indicates that when recruiting for Carlisle he promised he would be the escort and would also benefit from being aware of the practices of the Industrial Training…

Arden R. Smith, Special U.S. Indian Agent, writes the Commissioner of Indian Affairs seeking specific instructions for how he should escort 20 Crow students from the Crow Agency to the Carlisle Indian School. Smith provides context on previous encounters traveling east as well as inquiring about the specifics of traveling with the students.

Arden R. Smith, U.S. Indian Agent for the Crow Agency, requests the Indian Affairs Office to send transportation for Crow students from St. Paul to Carlisle.

Carlisle School physician O. G. Given provides a report on the health of some of the remaining Northern Arapaho students at Carlisle and recommends returning four boys to their homes. Richard Henry Pratt endorses this recommendation and asks for authority to cover the expense for returning the students to their homes.

Richard Henry Pratt provides the Indian Affairs Office with proposed text for receiving funds for educating Osage students from the Osage trust fund. Pratt notes that if he does not receive the funds for the Osage then he can place more students on outing to reduce costs for running the school.

Richard Henry Pratt forwards for approval the lease agreement between the Carlisle Indian School and Samuel K. Humrich for a 225 acre farm beginning on February 17, 1883.

Henry Morgan Teller, Secretary of the Interior, approves the lease.

H. J. Armstrong, U.S. Indian Agent for the Crow Agency, sends a telegraph that he cannot send the full allotment of Crow students to Carlisle at present. Inquires if he can send twelve students now and the remainder at a later date.

H. J. Armstrong, U.S. Indian Agent for the Crow Agency, reports that he has sent eight Crow boys to Carlisle under escort of Special U.S. Indian Agent Arden Smith. Armstrong indicates that he was unable to secure any girls to go to Carlisle but will try again in the Spring.

These materials include a cover letter and a Descriptive Statement of Pupils regarding 8 children transferred to the Carlisle Indian School from the Crow Agency in Montana. The Descriptive Statement indicates that two female children initially intended for transfer refused to go with the rest of the group.

Representative Henry Meyer writes to an unknown recipient, possibly Marie, about recent occurrences in Harrisburg.  Included is a brief description of a visit of Carlisle Indian School students to the House of Representatives.  Meyer notes that "They are in U.S. uniform, and are intelligent looking.  There ages are from about 12…

Itemized statement from John Robinson in assisting Marianna Burgess in escorting 68 Sioux students from the Pine Ridge and Rosebud Agencies to Carlisle.

Richard Henry Pratt submits a "Special" Estimate of Funds form for $1045 for support of Indian school to purchase 200 tons of coal. 

Carlisle Indian School physician O. G. Given provides a report on the recently arrived Crow students from Carlisle, several of whom should be sent back. As a result of the report Pratt recommends including additional agency health examinations.

Lizzie Spence, a teacher at the Kaw Agency Boarding School, requests the Carlisle Indian School enroll Otwin James who is a student at the school. Richard Henry Pratt endorses the recommendation to the Indian Affairs Office.

Request to return Katie La Croix to her home due to a pulmonary illness with the U.S. Indian Agent for the Sisseton Agency when he returns from Washington D.C.