The Documents section features digitized copies of documents relating to the history of the school. These documents include correspondence, graduation pamphlets, and other forms of ephemera, and have been digitized by Digital Resource Center staff. Today, these documents are preserved in a number of locations, including the Dickinson College Archives and Special Collections as well as private collections.
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June 29, 1881
C. H. Hepburn, Carlisle Indian School Physician, informs Richard Henry Pratt that some mattresses should be destroyed due to scarlet fever contamination.
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Format: Letters/Correspondence
View Document: Recommendation for Destruction of Mattresses due to Scarlet Fever425.76 KB
July 4, 1881 - July 18, 1881
Black Bear writes to Richard Henry Pratt asking for him to write to the Department of Indian Affairs to allow his son Paul Black Bear to visit him during his trip to Washington D.C. Black Bear notes that he has not been allowed permission to…
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Topics:
Format: Letters/Correspondence
View Document: Black Bear Requests Son Visit Him in Washington D.C.365.82 KB
July 23, 1881 - August 5, 1881
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.
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Topics:
Format: Letters/Correspondence
View Document: Blue Teeth Desires to be Included in Sioux Delegation708.57 KB
July 28, 1881
Kihega, a chief of the Iowa Nation, requests funds to allow him, his wife, and an interpreter to visit the Carlisle Indian School to see their children through the U.S. Indian Agent at the Great Nemaha Agency, A. Brosius.
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Format: Letters/Correspondence
View Document: Kihega Requests Funds to Visit Carlisle498.01 KB
July 28, 1881
Richard Henry Pratt requests that he be allowed to extend the outings of certain students until the winter in order to allow them to attend the country schools located near their patrons.
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Format: Letters/Correspondence
View Document: Proposal for Extended Outings391.14 KB
August 11, 1881
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.
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Topics:
Format: Letters/Correspondence
View Document: Recommendation of Returning Children of Spotted Tail to Carlisle396.33 KB
August 12, 1881
Richard Henry Pratt endorsees a request from the Sisseton Agency U.S. Indian Agent that a number of men be allowed to enroll at Carlisle as they offer to pay their own transportation. Pratt notes that despite the school having more than enough…
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Topics:
Format: Letters/Correspondence
View Document: Sisseton Agency Request to Send Students to Carlisle606.21 KB
August 15, 1881
J. M. Haworth, Inspector, details various events in the Pueblo Agency including opposition to the schooling at the agency. Haworth reports that much of the opposition is a result of the religious nature of the schooling. He also notes that…
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Format: Letters/Correspondence
View Document: Report on Various Dissatisfactions in the Pueblo Agency1.07 MB
August 17, 1881
Benjamin M. Thomas, U.S. Indian Agent for the Pueblo Indian Agency, requests on behalf of the Pueblo Nation to take a delegation of eight individuals to visit their children at Carlisle and also to visit Washington D.C. Thomas also requests…
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Format: Letters/Correspondence
View Document: Request of Pueblo Indians to Visit Carlisle and Washington795.73 KB
August 22, 1881
Richard Henry Pratt inquires into the number of visitors to expect from the delegation currently in Washington D.C. He also suggests that the delegation along with their children take a picnic to Luray Caverns in Virginia.
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Format: Letters/Correspondence
View Document: Inquiry into Number of Visitors to Expect at Carlisle366.9 KB
September 1, 1881
Richard Henry Pratt requests authority to pay for the expenses of returning to their homes Gilbert and Norman due to their poor health.
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Format: Letters/Correspondence
View Document: Request to Send Gilbert and Norman Home546.9 KB
September 1, 1881
Richard Henry Pratt seeks authority to send James, a member of the Sioux Nation, back to his home.
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Format: Letters/Correspondence
View Document: Requests Authority to Send James Home595.05 KB
September 3, 1881
Richard Henry Pratt, brings to attention the account of Carlisle School physician Dr. W. H. Faulkner who was advanced two hundred dollars to accompany two sick students to their homes. According to Pratt this transaction was approved by the…
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
View Document: Attention Called to the Account of Dr. Faulkner600.71 KB
September 12-15, 1881
Benjamin M. Thomas, U.S. Indian Agent at the Pueblo Agency, forwards a petition from Juan Cristobal and Teodosio Duran to visit their children at Carlisle. They note they were the principal supporters of sending students to Carlisle and as a…
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Format: Letters/Correspondence
View Document: Petition of Teodosio Duran and Juan Cristobal to Visit Carlisle1.25 MB
September 16, 1881
Richard Henry Pratt comments that he has made arrangements to allow six large boys to remain in their summer outing homes. In addition, 17 other boys and 6 girls were found homes for the fall period. Pratt notes that he consulted with the…
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Format: Letters/Correspondence
View Document: Extended Outing Finalized and Summer Outing Report779.24 KB
September 30 - October 18, 1881
Richard Henry Pratt forwards a letter that was originally sent to Benjamin M. Thomas, U.S. Indian Agent at the Pueblo Agency, from S. A. Bentley a teacher in the Indian Service. Bentley's letter concerns the wishes of Frank Cushing's parents to…
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Topics: Student Deaths
Format: Letters/Correspondence
View Document: Request to Repatriate of Frank Cushing's Body to Zuni954.27 KB
October 8, 1881
Estimate of funds for the fourth quarter of 1881 amounting to $12,689.55 for areas covering shops, traveling expenses, hospital, contingencies, rations, the pay of employees, clothing, the farm, and special allowance. Richard H. Pratt also…
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
View Document: Estimate of Funds and Regular Employee Pay, Fourth Quarter 18812.15 MB
October 14, 1881
Richard Henry Pratt discusses the appropriation of $20,000 for employees at the Carlisle Indian School and his incorrect interpretation for applying the funds. Pratt indicates that he believed the funds only covered regular employees and not…
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Format: Letters/Correspondence
View Document: Pratt Asks to Make Alterations to Employee Appropriation1.04 MB
October 18, 1881
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…
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Topics: Student Illness, Student Medical Travel
Format: Letters/Correspondence
View Document: Request to Pay Expenses for Travel of Steve Willamson for Treatment505.54 KB
October 25, 1881
E. Whittley returns to the H. Price, the Comptroller of Indian Affairs, an account of William McMichael of the Indian Training School to show the differences in purchases from normal.
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Topics:
Format: Letters/Correspondence
View Document: Cover Letter for Return of Indian Training School Accounts464.45 KB
October 29, 1881
Richard Henry Pratt informs the Commissioner of Indian Affairs of his acceptance to attend the American Missionary Association annual meeting. He notes that it will allow him to return an exhibit on display in Boston, Massachusetts at no expense…
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Topics: Missionary Work, Exhibits of Student Work
Format: Letters/Correspondence
View Document: Pratt Leave of Absence to Attend American Missionary Association Meeting418.95 KB
October 28, 1881 - November 4, 1881
Richard Henry Pratt asks Samuel J. Kirkwood, Secretary of the Interior, through Hiram Price, the Commissioner of Indian Affairs for more oversight from the Department of the Interior or the Commissioner in overseeing the Carlisle Indian School.…
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Topics:
Format: Letters/Correspondence
View Document: Call for more Supervision from the Interior Department1017.68 KB
November 21, 1881
Richard Henry Pratt lends support to the request of the Northern Arapaho U.S. Indian Agent that the Chiefs from the Northern Arapaho be allowed to visit Carlisle as was promised when they sent their children. Pratt notes that Northern Arapaho…
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Topics:
Format: Letters/Correspondence
View Document: Support for Funds to Allow Northern Arapaho Chiefs to Visit Carlisle615.19 KB
November 24, 1881
Charles Hatton, U.S. Indian Agent at the Shoshone and Bannock Agency, writes asking for assistance from Michigan Senator Thomas W. Ferry in allowing him to bring a delegation of five Arapaho Chiefs to Carlisle and Washington D.C.
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Topics:
Format: Letters/Correspondence
View Document: Hatton Requests Help from Senator Ferry747.79 KB
November 24, 1881
Charles Hatton, U.S. Indian Agent for the Northern Arapaho Agency, seeks authority to bring five Northern Arapaho Chiefs to Carlisle and Washington D.C. to visit their children. The Chiefs were promised when they sent their children that they…
Repository: National Archives and Records Administration
Format: Letters/Correspondence
View Document: Proposal to Bring Northern Arapaho Chiefs to Carlisle691.01 KB