1880-1889

Richard Henry Pratt writes the Bureau of Indian Affairs regarding a proposed plan of the South Pennsylvania Railroad to use eminent domain through the state to build a railroad through the grounds of the Carlisle Indian School. Pratt notes that this would greatly diminish the capability of the school to properly educate students.

Request from the Cheyenne Agency for 80 children as well as 10 chiefs and police to visit the Carlisle Indian School.

Alfred John Standing informs the Commissioner of Indian Affairs that he has provided a ticket for Miles, a Hampton Institute student, to visit the Carlisle Indian School.

Estimate of funds for the fourth quarter of 1884 amounting to $14,921.50 for support of the school. Richard H. Pratt also requests additional funds amounting to $6,105.00 for regular employee pay and includes a lengthy letter asking for $6,000.00 to purchase lumber for dining room building.

Correspondence regarding a request of Richard Henry Pratt to have funds for building a new dining room to be sent to him.

Richard Henry Pratt informs the Office of Indian Affairs that his previous authority for purchasing lumber and other materials is nearly exhausted and he will need an additional authority soon.

James G. Wright, U.S. Indian Agent for the Rosebud Agency, requests instructions for allowing Cook and Two Strike to visit their children at the Genoa and Carlisle Indian Schools. Both propose to pay their way and a note attached to the letter indicates there is no objection as long as Pratt agrees and there is no Government expense.

Richard Henry Pratt requests authority to bring in an additional 60 students from various agencies.

Richard Henry Pratt requests permission to allow two Arapaho Chiefs, Powder Face and Left Hand, as well as their wives to visit the Carlisle Indian School in the hopes of making it easier to allow families to send girls to the school by having women visit. In addition, Pratt proposes allowing two Cheyenne chiefs and their wives visit for the…

Richard Henry Pratt proposes to two families to adopt Kisetta and Jack, members of the Apache Nation. Pratt indicates that Kisetta be adopted by Mr. Paxon a farmer who she has been living with on outing and Jack by Miss Mather, a former St. Augustine assistant.

Richard Henry Pratt asks if anything has been done about his previous letter about school stationery.

Tall Chief writes to the U.S. Indian Agent James I. David of the Osage Agency requesting his assistance in returning his daughter Myrtie Tallchief from the Carlisle Indian School. David forwarded the letter to the Office of Indian Affairs seeking their advice.

Also included is a school record of Myrtie Tallchief documenting her progress…

Richard Henry Pratt calls to the attention of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs his previous letter proposing the adoptions of Kisetta and Jack, members of the Apache Nation, to Mr. Paxon a farmer in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania and Miss Mather, one of his former assistants at St. Augustine.

Estimate of funds for the first quarter of 1885 amounting to $7,872.50 for support of the school. Richard H. Pratt also requests additional funds amounting to $6,105.00 for regular employee pay. 

Richard Henry Pratt inquires if an Office of Indian Affairs letter is meant to deny the Carlisle Indian School its yearly vacation during the Summer.

Superintendent Richard Henry Pratt writes to Doctor Cornelius Rea Agnew regarding his order of a coat and shoes from the school.  Pratt also commends Agnew for taking in a blind Osage child. 

Transcript included.

Louis Bourdeaux requests that his daughters Josephine and Martha be transferred from the Carlisle Indian School to Avoca. Bourdeaux writes that due to the outing program his daughters have rarely been at Carlisle and have instead been servants in various homes throughout Pennsylvania and so has not advanced her education.

Map of Asia drawn by George W. Fire Thunder.

Richard Henry Pratt requests authority for funds to return to their homes an additional 20 students above the appropriation provided by the Bureau of Indian Affairs on October 1, 1884. 

Richard Henry Pratt forwards a request of Long Face for a wagon to assist him in his farming.

Richard Henry Pratt requests permission from the Commissioner of Indian Affairs for approval to have 200 boys and the Carlisle Indian School band to participate in the inaugural ceremonies. Pratt notes that Secretary of the Interior Henry Morgan Teller believed the idea to be a good one and it would be without expense to the Government.

Richard Henry Pratt forwards a letter from John D. Miles about establishing an Indian School at Fort Dodge, Kansas focusing on cattle raising. Pratt writes that in his opinion the idea is not a good idea due to being located near reservations as well as the camp influences of Dodge City.

O. P. Goodwin requests from the Wyoming Congressional Representative Morton Everel Post for his daughters to be enrolled either at the Carlisle Indian School or the Lincoln Institute. Post forwarded the letter to the Bureau of Indian Affairs asking the request be considered favorably.

Richard Henry Pratt submits a "Special" Estimate of Funds form for $4025 from the interest on the Osage Fund for the support of 23 Osage students. An explanatory cover letter is included.

Frank Ensminger writes the Bureau of Indian Affairs regarding a civil dispute between him and Richard Henry Pratt over payment for training George Walker in harness making. Pratt claims that he was only to pay Ensminger if Walker was not a good worker and he never heard a complaint from him and so therefore refused to pay.

Pratt also…