Recruitment of Students

Richard H. Pratt writes to Commissioner of Indian Affairs Ezra Hayt regarding a board to appraise property at the Carlisle Barracks. Pratt notes that, because of the timing of this visit, he will be unable to meet a group of recruited students in the West as planned, and instead suggests sending teachers Alfred J. Standing and Sarah Mather.…

Richard Henry Pratt telegrams the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, noting that no tickets were on deposit for recruited Cheyenne and Kiowa students met in Wichita, Kansas. Pratt also notes that the Osage did not receive enough information about the request for students, and that the Pawnee and Ponca agents had not heard about the request. Pratt…

Captain Richard Henry Pratt writes to Ezra H. Hayt, Commissioner of Indian Affairs, regarding the first groups of Sioux, Menominee Ponca, Pawnee, Kiowa, Comanche, Wichita, Seminole, Cheyenne, and Arapaho children and young adults brought to the Carlisle Indian School. Pratt offers a detailed description of the journey, and then lists each…

Richard Henry Pratt suggests to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs that Alfred J. Standing's experience and reputation at the Kiowa and Comanche Agency will help him select suitable students there. Pratt also suggests that this recruitment should be done according to his recent suggestions regarding enrollment.

Richard Henry Pratt recommends George LeRoy Brown as a recruiter for the Carlisle Indian School among the agencies in Colorado and New Mexico. Pratt suggests that the assignment is difficult, and that Brown is the only person he trusts for the job.

Secretary of War Alexander Ramsey informs Secretary of the Interior Carl Schurz that he is declining the Commissioner of Indian Affairs' request to allow Lieutenant George LeRoy Brown to recruit Indian students from nations in Colorado and New Mexico and transport them to the Carlisle Indian School because it is not a military duty. Schurz…

Richard Henry Pratt continues correspondence with Sheldon Jackson about obtaining permission to recruit Navajo, Pueblo, and Moqui students. He regrets that they are only permitted 15 Navaho students out of a total of 50 from these peoples. Pratt notes that the detail of Lt. Brown for recruiting is encountering difficulties and that he may have…

Richard Henry Pratt forwards to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs A. J. Standing's report on his trip to Indian Territory in March 1880. Standing left on March 2nd accompanied by Pauskie (Comanche), White Bear and Cohoe (Cheyenne and Arapaho Agency), and Tonekeuh (Kiowa and Comanche Agency). Standing learned that Pauskie had already been…

Richard Henry Pratt approves the Commissioner of Indian Affairs' suggestion that General Agent for the Presbyterian Board of Missions, Sheldon Jackson, should recruit and send students from Colorado and New Mexico to the Carlisle Indian School. Pratt states that Jackson recently visited Carlisle and is familiar with what types of students the…

Rev. Sheldon Jackson continues correspondence with Pratt regarding bringing Navajo and Pueblo students to Carlisle. He notes that "the Navajoes are very restless just now & we may have difficulty in security their consent." 

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 requests funds to recruit students from the Sisseton, Green Bay, and La Pointe agencies and to install steam heating in the buildings at the school.

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…

Richard Henry Pratt informs the Commissioner of Indian Affairs that he will be absent from the school from October 14 to November 6, 1880 to recruit students from the Sisseton, Green Bay, and La Pointe agencies. While absent, Alfred John Standing will serve as Acting Superintendent.

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

Sheldon Jackson informs the Commissioner of Indian Affairs that he's glad that the Carlisle Indian School accepted 10 more Pueblos, one Pima, and one student from the Mescalero Agency. Because the school cannot secure 50 Utes this season, Jackson asks if he can take 6 from the Mescalero Agency, 6 Pimas, and 5 Moquis to the school. He describes…

Richard Henry Pratt provides a report on his trip to Wisconsin and Dakota to recruit new students. Pratt notes that he first went to the Green Bay Agency and secured five students, but the enthusiasm among the parents was so strong that he could have easily recruited 25. Second, he visited the La Pointe Agency and instructed Green Bay Agent…

Second Auditor O. Ferriss allows Sheldon Jackson's claims for $197.97 and $23.90 for travel expenses incurred while transporting Indian students from New Mexico to the Carlisle Indian School in the Summer of 1880. Jackson encloses the claim to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs and asks him to send the money as soon as possible because he needs…

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.

Richard Henry Pratt requests that Sheldon Jackson be allowed to go to the Navajo Agency to recruit a delegation of students for the Carlisle Indian School along with an assistant.

Richard Henry Pratt comments on a letter he has received from Alice C. Fletcher regarding student recruitment in the Rosebud and Pine Ridge Agencies. Fletcher recommends taking more students from Pine Ridge due to the actions of Agent V. T. McGillycuddy which allow returned students to succeed.

Richard Henry Pratt replies to a letter from the Office of Indian Affairs concerning a delegation of Omaha students being brought east by Alice C. Fletcher.

Richard Henry Pratt informs the Commissioner of Indian Affairs that he has received a letter from Alice C. Fletcher that the military officer in charge of the Sitting Bull prisoners at Fort Randell does not have permission to turn children over to her to take to Carlisle. Fletcher also notes that Charlotte Four Horns is anxious to come to…

Richard Henry Pratt forwards a request from Anna Ely to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs to instruct the Pawnee Agency to send Pawnee children to Carlisle.

Correspondence regarding the enrollment of children from the Sitting Bull band of Sioux being held as prisoners at Fort Randall. The officer in charge of Fort Randall indicates that the parents of the eligible children do not wish to see their children to be enrolled at Carlisle. Pratt notes that he would prefer to speak to these parents to…

Richard Henry Pratt reports that he returned from his trip to recruit Navajo students. He notes that he only brought back 12 Navajo students rather than the allotted 20.