1914 Congressional Investigation

Materials related to the disposition of funds of the Carlisle Indian School Athletic Association following an investigation by E. B. Linnen. Contains the Constitution and By-Laws of the Association for the year 1908, correspondence regarding how to handle money moving forward, a resolution updating the by-laws, as well as other financial…

This folder consists of material compiled by Office of Indian Affairs staff in Washington, DC as related to Carlisle Superintendent Moses Friedman's employment with the Indian Service. 

The four PDFs are in roughly chronological order, working from Friedman's early career as a government employee and early days as Superintendent at…

The personnel folder compiled by Washington, DC staff of the Office of Indian Affairs as related to John Whitwell's employment in the Indian Service. At Carlisle Whitwell worked as the principal teacher at Carlisle from 1907-1914. 

The folder has been split into four PDFs. "PDF One" covers a range of correspondence and reports…

Including documents from Siceni J. Nori's time employed as a clerk at Carlisle, this service file was compiled at the Office of Indian Affairs in Washington, D.C. It comprises mostly of correspondence and official evaluations like efficiency reports. 

The folder has been split into two PDFs. The first PDF primarily covers the…

This folder includes documents related to Stauffer's time working at Carlisle as the school musical director or band leader. Two thirds of the material relate to how Stauffer left the school. Having been suspended after the 1914 investigation into the school, Stauffer was not formally fired, but his job position was abolished. The other third…

Anna H. Ridenour worked as matron at Carlisle from January of 1913 until her resignation in late May of 1914. She started work in the Indian Service in 1897.

This folder includes document related to her time employed at Carlisle. Arranged in reverse chronological order, the documents cover her resignation, the charges levelled against her…

Edward McKean served briefly as disciplinarian at Carlisle from April 16, 1913 until June 17, 1914. This post includes selections from his employee paperwork collected by the Bureau of Indian Affairs while he worked in the Indian Service. 

These selections include paperwork about McKean's transfer to and from Carlisle and his job…

Oscar H. Lipps forwards a number of questions for the disbursement of the Athletic Fund following the investigation into Moses Friedman including paying for a lacrosse coach as well as building a new grandstand.

These materials include legal documents and correspondence regarding charges filed against Superintendent Moses Friedman after an inspection and investigation of the Carlisle Indian School. Included in the documents are the official charges against Friedman, his answers to those charges, correspondence regarding the charges, and the…

These documents include a letter from Richard Henry Pratt to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs Cato Sells about an article published in The Public Ledger in January of 1914. Titled "General Pratt Alleged to be Seeking Revenge on Moses Friedman," the article is deemed a "malicious, false and slanderous accusation" by Pratt who blames…

This affidavit summarizes information supplied by Clara Spotted Horse Yellowtail who attended Carlisle as Clara Spotted Horse. Yellowtail swears that she only saw alcohol in the Superintendent's house one time, when Mary Friedman broke her hip.

In Inspector Linnen's main report for the 1914 Congressional investigation at Carlisle, this…

In this affidavit, Julia Hardin answers questions from Indian Inspector Linnen about an incident where she was beaten by the music teacher at the school Claude Stauffer. She explains that the conflict started when she signed-up to go on outing but was expected to leave before she had her belongings prepared.

In Inspector Linnen's main…

This document consists of a letter from the school dairyman W. J. Ryan and two reports for the collection and distribution of dairy at the school.

Addressed to Inspector Linnen, Ryan's letter expresses dismay about the kind and number of male students who are assigned to help him with the work. He says that his request for supplies are…

In this affidavit Claude Stauffer answers questions about whether he has any agricultural training, a 1913 incident wherein he beat a student, and the practice of having musical accompaniment for lowering the flag. After the affidavit itself is a document signed by the stenographer who took down the conversation, Beatrice Herman.

In…

George W. Shuler bills the Carlisle Indian School $53.75 for "services rendered to discover illegal furnishing liquor to Indians."

In Inspector Linnen's main report for the 1914 Congressional investigation at Carlisle, this document is labelled Exhibit A-1.

Principal teacher at Carlisle John Whitwell recounts his perspective on an incident of corporal punishment at the school. 

In Inspector Linnen's main report for the 1914 Congressional investigation at Carlisle, this document is labelled Exhibit E-1.

Note: This content contains information about an incident of corporal…

Will H. Miller, financial clerk at Carlisle, answers questions about the conversation he overheard between Inspector Edward B. Linnen and music teacher Claude M. Stauffer regarding an affidavit Stauffer refused to sign. 

In Inspector Linnen's main report for the 1914 Congressional investigation at Carlisle, this document is labelled…

The typed transcript of Alvis Morrin's testimony before the Joint Commission to Investigate Indian Affairs. At the time Morrin was a student at Carlisle.

In his testimony Morrin discusses the poor quality of the food served to the students and the lack of silverware.

In the published version of this testimony Morrin's testimony…

A typed transcript of Edward Bracklin's testimony before the Joint Commission to Investigate Indian Affairs. At the time Bracklin was a student at Carlisle.

Bracklin first discusses the tension between the student body and Superintendent Friedman then testifies to the poor health and safety conditions of the school (lack of towels, lack…

The typed transcript of Ella Fox's testimony before the Joint Commission to Investigate Indian Affairs. At the time Fox was a student at Carlisle.

Fox declares that no female student likes the matron Anna Ridenour and expresses her distaste for Superintendent Friedman's use of the word "savage."

In the published form of this…

A typed transcript of Henry Broker's testimony before the Joint Commission to Investigate Indian Affairs. At the time Broker was a student at Carlisle.

Broker testifies about unfair expulsion during Superintendent Friedman's administration especially as it related to complaints about school staff reading student correspondence.

In…

The typed transcript of Hiram Chase's testimony before the Joint Commission to Investigate Indian Affairs. At the time Chase was a student at Carlisle.

In his testimony Chase critiques Superintendent Friedman's arbitrary expulsion of students. He also answers questions regarding student acts of insubordination and alcohol consumption at…

The typed transcript of Jeanette Pappin's testimony before the Joint Commission to Investigate Indian Affairs. At the time Pappin was a student at Carlisle. In this document she is referred to as Jeannette Patten.

Pappin discusses the harsh demeanour of the Matron Anna Ridenour and friction between the students and Superintendent Friedman…

A typed transcript of John Gibson's testimony before the Joint Commission to Investigate Indian Affairs. At the time Gibson was a student at Carlisle.

Gibson discusses the faulty advertising and management of the school's trade programs, the removal of Dr. James W. W. Walker as Y.M.C.A. advisor, and the poor quality food provisions.

A typed transcript of Louis Brown's testimony before the Joint Commission to Investigate Indian Affairs. At the time Brown was a student at Carlisle.

Brown discusses the use of force by the disciplinarians of the school and the biased way punishment is given. He claims that students receive punishments disproportionate to the offence they…