Student Illness

Richard Henry Pratt informs the Commissioner of Indian Affairs that he is sending Pine Ridge Sioux students Henry Thigh, Nathan, and Andrew home, escorted by Reverend Robinson, immediately because their health is so poor that they may die at the school before the Commissioner approves their transfer. Pratt adds that the Carlisle Indian School…

Richard Henry Pratt requests to spend $90 on the purchase of butter, milk, eggs, and fruit for sick students and the "general health of the school."

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 Received by the…

Dr. J. S. Bender responds to Richard Henry Pratt's letter relieving him of his duties as school physician. In his response, Bender explains and defends himself against the claims that Pratt makes about him. Pratt forwards Bender's letter to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs.

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

Richard Henry Pratt requests $800 from the Commissioner of Affairs to supplement funds he has raised from donors in order to install a heating apparatus in the boys quarters. Pratt states that last winter, the male students were very cold at night and suffered from illnesses due to their current heating system, which relies on coal stoves.…

Seven letters, written between December 6 and December 13, 1880, from Richard Henry Pratt to Chief White Thunder about the illness of his son, Ernest. 

Richard Henry Pratt informs the Commissioner of Indian Affairs that Chief White Thunder's son, Ernest, is very sick and may die. Pratt believes that it's "entirely his fault" and that he "wants to die."

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

Richard Henry Pratt writes to Chief White Thunder telling him of the death of his son, Ernest. 

Physician Charles H. Hepburn provides a report on the deaths of two Rosebud Sioux students: Maud and Ernest. Maud died of multiple lung issues on December 13, 1880 with Ernest dying of diphtheria on December 14, 1880. Richard Henry Pratt forwards Hepburn's report to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs.

Note: This item was copied from U.S…

Richard Henry Pratt reports that the visit of Ponca Chiefs Harry Bear, Standing Eagle, and White Buffalo went well. He also notes that Chief Harry Bear asked that his son be returned home due to his falling ill multiple times at Carlisle. Pratt notes that he approved the return home of the student despite his condition improving following…

Carlisle Indian School physician, C. H. Hepburn, reports on the death of Dennis Strikes First due to typhoid pneumonia on January 19, 1881.

Note: In this record the student is identified as Denis.

Richard Henry Pratt forwards a report on the health of the newly arrived Creek students from the school physician C. H. Hepburn. Hepburn indicates four students who have been physically affected by previous illness and comments on the age of the children as compared to the age they provided (noting he believes several of the girls are older…

Richard Henry Pratt forwards a report from the Carlisle School physician C. H. Hepburn on the health of students recently arrived from the Cheyenne, Arapaho, and Pueblo Nations to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs.

Richard Henry Pratt informs the Commissioner of Indian Affairs that due to Curtits' bad health, he has sent Curtis home with Roman Nose as a guardian, rather than wait for Bear's Heart to accompany him. Roman Nose was requested to return home by the Indian Agent L. J. Miles.

Richard Henry Pratt writes to inform the Commissioner of Indian Affairs of an outbreak of measles among the students of a mild type. He notes that as of March 26, 1881 their were fifty-four cases in bed.

Richard Henry Pratt forwards the reports of school physician C. H. Hepburn on the deaths of Dora (Her Pipe), Rose (Red Rose), and Albert. Hepburn provides details on the treatment and condition of each student as well as their illnesses including measles, bronchopneumonia or bronchitis, and pneumonia.

Richard Henry Pratt reports that a scarlet fever outbreak as occurred at the Carlisle Indian School. Pratt notes that there has been an outbreak in the borough of Carlisle for the past three months during which he has instituted a quarantine for the last two months including removing his own children from the local schools.

Pratt…

Richard Henry Pratt forwards the report of the Carlisle School physician C. H. Hepburn on the deaths of Edward Upright and Giles. Hepburn notes the cause of death resulting from scarlet fever as well as pneumonia while recovering from measles.

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…

C. H. Hepburn, Carlisle Indian School Physician, informs Richard Henry Pratt that some mattresses should be destroyed due to scarlet fever contamination.

Richard Henry Pratt details the course of actions he took to treat Steve Willamson, a member of the Arapaho Nation, by sending him and the school physician to the Wills Eye Hospital in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Pratt requests authorization to pay the costs associated with the travel for this treatment.

Richard Henry Pratt replies to an Department of Indian Affairs letter concerning the failure to return sick students back to their homes before their deaths. Pratt details two cases where students were too ill to be sent back to their homes. He further states that the initial students from the Osage Agency be returned at the end of the school…

Richard Henry Pratt requests permission to return Mary, a member of the Sioux Nation, home to the Pine Ridge Agency due to ill health along with the party previously mentioned.

Thomas Stewart Jr., school physician, compiles the monthly sanitary report for September 1882.

Thomas Stewarts Jr, school physician compiles the monthly sanitary report for October 1882.

O. G. Given, the school physician, compiles the monthly sanitary report for November 1882.