Medical Examinations of Potential Students

An excerpt from the Annual Report of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs to the Secretary of the Interior for the fiscal year ending 1879, containing the Commissioner's report on Indian education. That report discusses the founding of the Carlisle Indian School under the command of Richard Henry Pratt, the school's location and campus, and…

George Kellogg of the Medical Division of the Bureau of Indian Affairs provides a sanitary report on the buildings, appliances, and children at the Carlisle Indian School. He recommends replacing some old brick drains with terra cotta pipes. He finds the buildings to be of a satisfactory condition, particularly commending the hospital - though…

Richard Henry Pratt informs Commissioner of Indian Affairs R. E. Trowbridge that the Cheyenne & Arapaho Agent John D. Miles would like to send 25 students from his agency to the Carlisle Indian School. Miles added that he'd like several chiefs, including Northern Cheyenne Chief Little Chief, to accompany the party of students and that the…

Richard Henry Pratt states that the Carlisle Indian School currently has 196 students with 20 Navajos and 10 Pueblos on the way, increasing enrollment to 226. He believes that they have room for 300 total students and requests that Major Berry and Colonel Page try to convince the Utes to send 50 students if the Ute Commission continues to stall…

Richard Henry Pratt indicates that the delegation of students recruited by the Rev. Sheldon Jackson are not acceptable and that the matter should be should be left to the Indian agents. Pratt states that if there is difficulty in finding girls to attend Carlisle that there should only be the same number of boys sent in order to keep the gender…

Carlisle Indian School physician O. G. Given provides a report on the recently arrived Crow students from Carlisle, several of whom should be sent back. As a result of the report Pratt recommends including additional agency health examinations.

J. George Wright, U.S. Indian Agent for the Rosebud Agency, responds to an Office of Indian Affairs letter regarding obtaining students for the Carlisle Indian School. Wright indicates that he has difficultly obtaining students with almost all students failing physicals due to influenza. He further states the past history of students having…

Richard Henry Pratt informs the Office of Indian Affairs that he will be sending Alfred John Standing to escort students from the Nez Perce Agency to Carlisle. He notes that Standing will be instructed to reject any students who are not in good health and advanced.

Richard Henry Pratt provides a report responding to questions from the Office of Indian Affairs on the needs of the Carlisle Indian School. Included are discussions on the need for more land, additional educational needs, and industrial training including the limitations of the industrial instruction received at Carlisle.

Pratt also…

C. R. A. Scobey, U.S. Indian Agent for the Fort Peck Agency, writes to the Office of Indian Affairs letter objecting to a letter from Richard Henry Pratt to Smoker. Scobey claims that the agency has sent sixty students to Carlisle and that all of the students were selected with care by the agency physician and superintendent and that is not the…

Richard Henry Pratt provides an update on the enrollment for the 1894 school year. He further states that the Carlisle Indian School often receives students who should not have been sent and that an employee of the school should be sent to obtain students rather than have them sent by the agencies.

Richard Henry Pratt responds to the Office of Indian Affairs regarding correspondence between himself and U.S. Indian Agent Scobey. Pratt notes that they have been in communication regarding a party of students from the Fort Peck Agency.

Alfred John Standing responds to an Office of Indian Affairs letter regarding correspondence on the health of Jennie Redwing and other students from the Santee Agency who had eye trouble upon arriving at Carlisle.

Richard Henry Pratt forwards correspondence related to a request to return Roger Jamison to his home.

J. R. Wise submits voucher for services of C. McConnel in examining applicants for the Carlisle Indian School in Hogansburg, New York.

William A. Mercer submits voucher for the application medical examination of five students to be admitted to the Carlisle Indian School.

William A. Mercer forwards voucher for payment of examination fees of candidates for admission to the Carlisle Indian School.