Peliza

Student information card of Peliza, a member of the Osage Nation, who entered the school on June 9, 1882 and ultimately departed on August 17, 1885.

In school documentation Peliza is also known as Pun-g-tah and Peliza Moh shon kah she (alternatively spelled Peliza Moshonkashe, Peliza Mohshankahshe, and Peliza Moshenkah).

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Student information card of Peliza, a member of the Osage Nation, who entered the school on June 9, 1882 and departed on August 17, 1885.

Studio portrait of Peliza, Paul Big Horse, and Edward Chouteau, all wearing school uniforms.

Studio portrait of Peliza, Paul Big Horse, and Edward Chouteau, all wearing school uniforms.

The Cumberland County Historical Society has several copies of this image: PA-CH1-037a, CS-CH-056, and CS-CH-075. 

Complying with Indian Office orders, Richard Henry Pratt provides a list of students brought to the Carlisle Indian School by Special Agent E. B. Townsend for the fall of 1882. Students were from the Osage, Kaw, and Nez Perce Nations.

These materials include a cover letter and Descriptive Statements of Pupils regarding 27 children transferred to the Lincoln Institute in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania from the Carlisle Indian School. Those children, from a variety of Nations, had previously been sent to Carlisle. 

Richard Henry Pratt writes regarding a promise made by Laban J. Miles, U.S. Indian Agent, that three students would be returned with the party of the Osage students being sent home. Pratt writes that this promise should be fulfilled and asks that Peliza who is at the Lincoln Institute be transferred back to Carlisle and along with Edward…

L. J. Miles, U.S. Indian Agent for the Osage Agency inquires about returning Osage students who were set to be transferred to Juniata College and replaced with full blood students. Miles indicates that it would be possible to pay for the expense out of the Osage Fund. Richard Henry Pratt endorses this view but notes that the matter is currently…

L. J. Miles, U.S. Indian Agent for the Osage Agency, requests permission to return with a number of Osage students at the Carlisle Indian School due to requests from their parents.

Note: No student named Emma Ross attended Carlisle so it is likely that Miles is referring to Emily B. Ross.

A series of twenty-three letters written to Captain Richard H. Pratt in response to a questionnaire sent to former students. The accompanying questionnaire forms are not included.

Transcripts follow each handwritten letter.