Black Bear, Paul

Student file of Paul Black Bear, a member of the Sioux Nation, who entered the school on October 6, 1879 and ultimately departed on July 6, 1888. The student did not attend the school continuously, but left and reentered. The file contains student information cards and a report after leaving indicating that he was living in Allen, South Dakota…

Student information card of Paul Black Bear (Makes Himself Run), a member of the Sioux Nation, who entered the school on October 6, 1879 and departed on July 6, 1888.

The first page opened with a poem by Fannie Bolton titled “It is Time,” followed by “The Experience of a Bull: A Child’s Version of the Recent Flood at Lewistown,” followed by “A Busy Indian Boy in the Country” which was Wallace Scott’s (Pueblo) description of his farm experience in Bucks County. Page two featured a notice of the new premium…

Portrait of Andrew (His Shield), Paul Black Bear (Makes Himself Run), and Baldwin Blue Horse (Takes His Own) posed on the bandstand on the school grounds. One student is wearing a school uniform; the other two are in non-native dress. 

Portrait of Andrew (His Shield), Paul Black Bear (Makes Himself Run), and Baldwin Blue Horse (Takes His Own) posed on the bandstand on the school grounds. One student is wearing a school uniform; the other two are in in non-native clothing. 

A posed group of male students in the Carlisle Indian School tin shop with their instructor and Richard Henry Pratt. They are, from left to right: Charles Oheltoint, Richard Henry Pratt, Henry Roman Nose, Paul Black Bear, J.H. Curtain (instructor), Ernest, and Koba.

The Cumberland County Historical Society has two copies of this image:…

Studio portrait of Paul Black Bear wearing non-native clothing, dated July 11, 1887. 

The caption reads: #596 Paul Black Bear 7 11/87

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 visit Carlisle and he was also the first Head Man to allow his son to attend school at Carlisle.

Richard Henry Pratt informs the Office of the Indian Affairs of the 60 students who are entitled to return to their home at the end of the school term due to the expiration of their enrollment or sickness.

These materials include a cover letter and a Descriptive Statement of Pupils regarding 61 individuals discharged from the Carlisle Indian School and transferred back to their homes in the San Carlos, Laguna, Wallace, Isleta, Quapaw, Eufaula, Omaha, Winnebago, Nez Perce, Crow, Kiowa and Comanche, Cheyenne and Arapaho, Ponca, Rosebud, and Pine…

Richard Henry Pratt forwards a copy of a letter from George LeRoy Brown, Acting U.S. Indian Agent for the Pine Ridge Agency, to the Office of Indian Affairs. In Brown's letter he provides an update and a character assessment on former Carlisle Indian School students he has met.