Atkins, John D. C.

Richard Henry Pratt provides recommendations for improving the Indian School system to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs. Pratt's suggestions include educating everyone of school age compared to the quarter currently enrolled, requiring a census of school age children, and muster of students to track progress.

John D. C. Atkins, Commissioner of Indian Affairs, refers to the letter from Richard Henry Pratt regarding donating parts or the whole of the Carlisle Indian School exhibit at the Government Exhibition in New Orleans to the French Government in a letter to the Secretary of the Interior.

Richard Henry Pratt calls attention to his nomination of employees for the current year sent out on June 15, 1885 which has not yet been confirmed.

Richard Henry Pratt calls attention to pending requests for authorities requested on June 13, 1885.

Oneida student Dennison Wheelock writes to John D. C. Atkins, Commissioner of Indian Affairs, about his desire to return home. He says that he would prefer to attend a school for white students there rather than remain at Carlisle.

Two Strike requests to visit Washington D. C. with four other chiefs from the Sioux Agencies along with an interpreter. In addition to visiting Washington D. C. they hope to visit their children at Carlisle.

John Oberly writes that if given permission to visit Washington the group should be allowed to visit Carlisle. However, the…

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.

Clinton B. Fisk, Chairman of the Board of Indian Commissioners, provides his inspection of the Carlisle Indian School to John D. C. Atkins. In particular, Fisk suggests purchasing the Parker farm, building a large barn, and building a large new dormitory building for the boys. Fisk additionally adds that with these improvements further…

Richard Henry Pratt requests authority to renew the lease on the Hocker Farm. Pratt provides the justification for the lease by claiming that the lease goes to support the charity fund which in turn is used to rent additional farmland including the Henderson and Sanno Farms. Pratt ends by stating that until the Parker Farm is purchased by the…

Isaac H. Maynard, Second Comptroller, requests written evidence of the renewal of the lease of the Hocker Farm for the benefit of the Carlisle Indian School be filed with his office.

Richard Henry Pratt requests assistance for Rev. S. S. Harry in constructing a school building for the Cheyenne and Arapaho Agency. In doing so he would have the children of the Agency in school for the winter.

Richard Henry Pratt informs the John D. C. Atkins, the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, that he has arrived back at Carlisle with 62 members of the Chiricahua band from Fort Marion. He ends by noting that he hopes the Atkins will now visit the school.

Sigourney Butler, Comptroller, forwards the original contract between James Andrew McCauley, Robert M. Henderson, and Richard Henry Pratt for the lease of the Hocker Farm by the Carlisle Indian School.

Richard Henry Pratt responds to a letter from Lucius Q. C. Lamar, Secretary of the Interior, with information about two Nez Perce students, Luke Phillips and Samuel Johns, who became ill during their second term of enrollment. Pratt notes that he believes in many cases it is better to retain students at Carlisle then send them home where he…

George W. Scott, Superintendent of the Fort Stevenson School, requests a Carlisle Indian School student to fill the position of assistant seamstress at the School.

A. B. Upshaw, the Acting Commissioner of the Office of Indian Affairs, appoints Rev. T. S. Childs to investigate complaints made against the Hampton Institute Indian Department.

The report was then submitted to the Secretary of the Interior.

Richard Henry Pratt requests that Congress provide an appropriation for building a new school building through the Office of Indian Affairs. Pratt notes that the school can accommodate 600 students except for its school rooms which are overcrowded at 440 students. He provides the history of the current building and the reasons for his request…

Richard R. McMahon, Acting Comptroller, informs John D. C. Atkins that he has received Atkins letter regarding the extension of the lease between J. A. McCauley, R. M. Henderson, and Richard Henry Pratt to reduce the annual rental of the farm to $600 per year.

Richard Henry Pratt informs the Office of Indian Affairs that he has received their letter advising the continuance for one year of the lease on the Hocker Farm.