1880-1889

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 informs the Commissioner of Indian Affairs that his students are very hard on their clothes and that many of them have outgrown their clothing from a year ago. He requests to spend $2,000 on materials needed to manufacture new uniforms for his current students as well as new students from the Navajo and Pueblo Nations.

Richard Henry Pratt requests that the Commissioner of Indian Affairs approves spending $300 to convert the stable to a gymnasium for the male students. Pratt explains that they moved the animals to the rented school farm and no longer use the stable.

Note: This item was copied from U.S. National Archives microfilm reels (M234), which…

Richard Henry Pratt requests to purchase 300 washable bedspreads and blankets for the male students in order to increase cleanliness. Pratt notes that he believes it will cost $495 or less.

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…

Richard Henry Pratt requests to purchase livestock amounting to $1,000 to stock the new school farm. Pratt notes that he would like to purchase 4 horses or mules, 12 cows, 1 blooded bull, 25 sheep, 2 sows, 1 boar, and 50 chickens.

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

Richard Henry Pratt requests to purchase a variety of school supplies in the open market amounting to $1,100 during the first quarter of 1881.

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 Office of…

Richard Henry Pratt requests authority to kill two worn out mules.

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 Office of Indian Affairs, 1824-80."

Richard Henry Pratt requests to purchase 11,000 feet of yellow pine flooring and 4,300 feet of hemlock joints amounting to $442 to repair and replace flooring in the school building and the boys' quarters. Pratt adds that student apprentices will be able to do the work.

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

Richard Henry Pratt forwards excerpts of a letter from Lieutenant Kishingbury, who writes a letter on behalf of the Crow nation. In the excerpts, Kingshingbury argues that the Crow desperately need to be educated because they depend entirely on buffalo for their food supply, and the buffalo will soon be extinct. He continues to say that the…

Estimate of funds for the first quarter of 1881 amounting to $13,134 for subsistence, employee pay, clothing, farm, supplies, repairs, and contingencies.

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…

J. Nelson Trask writes to inquire about enrolling a Sac and Fox student he met in Tama, Iowa at Carlisle. Trask notes that Jim has considerable skill as a silversmith and can write in Meskwaki.

Richard Henry Pratt encloses original bills of lading.

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 Office of Indian Affairs, 1824-80."

Richard Henry Pratt forwards an Estimate of Medical Supplies that covers the first six months of 1881.

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 Office of Indian Affairs, 1824-80."

Richard Henry Pratt forwards a board of survey conducted on two mules. The board finds that the two mules should be sold.

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 Office of Indian Affairs, 1824…

Alexander Hyde writes to Secretary of the Interior Carl Schurz about his experience as an outing host for three Carlisle Indian School students, Lulu, Stephen, and Frank, in the Summer of 1880. Hyde states that he heard about outing from his daughter, Mary R. Hyde, who works as a girl's matron at Carlisle and that he enjoyed his time as a host,…

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 writes to Chief White Thunder about the funeral ceremony and burial of his son, Ernest. Pratt expresses his sorrow and sympathy at White Thunder's loss, but also argues that White Thunder was right to send Ernest to the school. 

Pratt notes that Maud (Little Girl) died the same night as Ernest, so they were…

Richard Henry Pratt requests that the Ponca delegation stops at the Carlisle Indian School to see their students on their way to Washington, D.C. Pratt states that White Eagle's son is at the school, and if White Eagle would like to bring him along to D.C., he should be allowed.

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

Richard Henry Pratt calls attention to his monthly changes in employees, irregular employees, and proposed changes in employees forms and requests that the Commissioner of Indian Affairs approve them.

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 corrects misspellings of employee names from his irregular service report for September 1880.

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 Office of Indian Affairs, 1824-80."

E. Ballon, from the Shoshone and Bannock Agency, requests to have Arapaho Nation students admitted to the Carlisle Indian School. Ballon states that many students have learned the basics and would likely progress rapidly if admitted to Carlisle. He further requests to accompany them to help them acclimate as well as stating that their parents…

S. Russell, U.S. Indian Agent, informs the Office of Indian Affairs that he has had no success in finding students from the Apache Nation to be educated in eastern schools.

Sheldon Jackson encloses the plan for the Pueblo Industrial Indian Boarding School in Albuquerque, New Mexico to the Office of Indian Affairs. Jackson also states that he is having difficulty recruiting students for the Carlisle Indian School and the Hampton Normal and Agriculture School.

Samuel Chapman Armstrong of the Hampton Institute writes to Richard Henry Pratt requesting his involvement in lobbying for higher per capita funding for Indian students, and discusses recruitment for other schools.