1890-1899

Captain Richard H. Pratt replies to a letter from the Commission of Indian Affairs questioning the report of irregular employees during October 1891. Pratt explains why some regular employees were submitted as irregular, why irregular employees performed work that regular employees should do, and failure to identify each authorized item. Also,…

Richard Henry Pratt responds to an Office of Indian Affairs letter regarding a request to be returned home by Festus Pelone. Pratt includes a copy of Pelone's disciplinary record while at Carlisle and notes that his punishment of being on "no pay" is deserved. Because of the pattern of bad behavior, Pratt is willing to send Pelone home but…

Richard Henry Pratt responds to a letter from the Office of Indian Affairs regarding a letter from C. R. A. Scobey, U.S. Indian Agent for the Fort Peck Agency. Pratt writes that he was mistaken in his letter to Smoker of the identity of the student who has rarely been in school since her arrival. Pratt details the treatment he has undertaken to…

Richard Henry Pratt responds to an Office of Indian Affairs letter regarding a request from James Bird for the return of his daughter Fanny Bird due to his illness. Pratt notes that Fanny is only 11 but has been at the school three years and both her health and conduct are constantly improving. As a result Pratt notes that if she returns home…

Robert H. Ashley, U.S. Indian Agent for the Omaha and Winnebago Agency, responds to an Office of Indian Affairs letter regarding the return of Fanny Bird. Ashley states that her father has been getting better and that Fanny would be better off at Carlisle.

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.

Festus Pelone responds to letter from Thomas J. Morgan again requesting him to be allowed to return home. Pelone states that he has only ever gotten into trouble while on outing and that he has been at Carlisle eight years and now desires to return home.

Richard Henry Pratt forwards expense voucher of W. P. Campbell incurred in the return of three runaway students.

Richard Henry Pratt provides an update on the health of students for the first half of the year to the Office of Indian Affairs. He notes that there has only been one death during the school year and there have been very few serious illnesses. Pratt notes this is likely due to the improved sanitary conditions through less crowding and better…

Richard Henry Pratt follows up on a conversation with Thomas J. Morgan in regards to placing students who break the law while attending the Carlisle Indian School at the Huntingdon Reformatory. Pratt writes that he has discussed the matter with Pennsylvania Governor Robert E. Pattison and that according to Pattison the laws of Pennsylvania do…

C. R. Dixon, the school physician, compiles the monthly sanitary report for December 1891. Dixon also includes a note about the cases in the "Remarks and Physician's Special Report" section.

David L. Shipley, U.S. Indian Agent for the Navajo Agency, notes that since former student Charles Damon returned home, Damon has visited the Agency a school a number of times discussing the Carlisle Indian School. As a result a number of boys have indicated a desire to enroll at Carlisle.

As a result, Shipley requests permission to take…

Richard Henry Pratt informs the Office of Indian Affairs that in order to have 1000 students for the upcoming academic year that they will need to be brought to Carlisle in the current fiscal year. This will require the students to be selected while the agency schools are in session in order to get the best students. Pratt requests that…

Captain Richard H. Pratt submits a report that lists irregular employees who worked at the school during December 1891. The report includes details on compensation, position titles, race, and the number of days worked during that month.

Estimate of funds for the third quarter of 1892 amounting to $11,792.50 for support of the school and for transportation of Indian supplies.

Richard H. Pratt submits an Estimate of Supplies for the third quarter of fiscal year 1892 amounting to $339.60 and requests to purchase those items in the open market. The form includes the items being requested, the quantity, the estimated cost, and how the item will be used at the school.

George King requests the return of his daughter Louise King from the Carlisle Indian School due to her mother's illness and the length of Louise's term at Carlisle having expired.

Special and Disbursing Indian Agent Charles H. Thompson writes to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs regarding the Board of Survey's report on worn out and unserviceable property at the Carlisle Indian School. Thompson confirms that the property that was designated to be destroyed has been destroyed, and he pleads his case for mercifully…

Major Richard H. Pratt submits a report that lists new employees (T. S. Reighter, W. R. Claudy, Carrie Cory, Catherine Caryl, and Phebe Howell) and those who have left the school (Laura N. Meredith and Maud B. Cummins). These reports include personal information about those being hired as well as reasons for departure for those leaving. Pratt…

C. R. Dixon, the school physician, compiles the monthly sanitary report for January 1892.

Richard Henry Pratt responds to George King's request for the return of Louise King that was forwarded to him by the Office of Indian Affairs. Pratt refers to his letter from August 18, 1891 on the same request in which he noted that he has nothing to add. As a result if Louise is returned he would be forced to return her two younger sisters…

Richard H. Pratt writes to Thomas J. Morgan, Commissioner of Indian Affairs, about plans for having the Carlisle Indian School Band perform in the inaugural parade to open the Chicago World's Fair and Columbian Exposition, planned for October 1892.

Richard Henry Pratt requests permission to transfer Ambrose Guruz, a member of the Apache Nation, to the Pennsylvania Institution for the Instruction of the Blind. Pratt provides a background of Guruz's time at Carlisle and notes that if the Government is willing to pay his tuition he will likely be able to learn a trade that will enable him to…

Richard Henry Pratt informs Thomas J. Morgan that with despite the three outbreaks of measles he is hopeful to hold graduation ceremonies on February 24, 1892. He has arranged for a train from Washington D.C. to Carlisle and its return and hopes that individuals will be able to stay for a full day.

Richard Henry Pratt forwards a letter from an Indian Depredation Claim law firm to the Office of Indian Affairs. Pratt states that this is the fifth letter of this type he has received for a claim he had in 1869 and that was paid out in the early 1870s. He concludes that if other claims against the government are treated in a similar manner…