Student Living Conditions

View of a corner of a room of a female student. A table or desk is covered with many framed photographs. There is a framed photograph of the school band hanging above the desk and there's another photograph, probably also of Carlisle students, sitting on a chair. 

List of supplies requested by Richard Henry Pratt for the school he is preparing to establish at Carlisle Barracks. Requested supplies include clothing, fabric, sewing supplies, tableware, cooking supplies, and firefighting equipment.

Pratt refers to this request list in a letter sent to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs the following…

Richard Henry Pratt writes to Commissioner of Indian Affairs Ezra A. Hayt requesting authority to purchase personal supplies for students, including clothing and toiletries for both males and females.

Richard H. Pratt provides updates on the progress he's made since Sunday. Most notably, Pratt has organized the male students into companies, and they now occupy eight rooms instead of five, the bedding has arrived, and they've started building the foundation for the chapel and assembly room.

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

Richard Henry Pratt asks the Commissioner of Indian Affairs to send Dr. Kellogg to inspect the sanitary conditions at the Carlisle Indian School and to inspect and consult with him on the precautions that they should be taking.

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

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 requests $800 from the Commissioner of Affairs to supplement funds he has raised from donors in order to install a heating apparatus in the boys quarters. Pratt states that last winter, the male students were very cold at night and suffered from illnesses due to their current heating system, which relies on coal stoves.…

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 notes that the school will have additional children than in previous years necessitating additional beds and pillows. In addition the previous bed stands are not as durable as hoped.

Richard Henry Pratt provides a copy of blueprints for building a small house for the disciplinarian of the Carlisle Indian School. Pratt notes that the house will allow room for additional pupils.

Dennison Wheelock requests permission from the Bureau of Indian Affairs to return to his home at the Green Bay Agency. Wheelock cites his cold room and the general ill health of many students at Carlisle. In reply, Obadiah G. Given, the school physician, claims that as a percentage there are no more sick students than at any other time. Richard…

Superintendent Richard Henry Pratt writes to Doctor Cornelius Rea Agnew regarding plans for new and renovated buildings at Carlisle.  Pratt states that he does not intend to take on more students, but rather to create a more individualized training environment.  He compares Carlisle's Congressional funding to Congressional funding for…

Correspondence discussing the appropriation of $37,500 for improvements to the Carlisle Indian School including the acquisition of the neighboring Parker farm, a new large boys’ dormitory, a school barn, and some other improvements.  A letter from Pratt explaining the need for the new facilities is included as part of the document.

Richard Henry Pratt responds to a letter from Secretary of the Interior Lucius Q. C. Lamar regarding sending children and young adults at Fort Marion, St. Augustine, Florida to the Carlisle Indian School. Pratt provides details on the number of students that can be accommodated at Carlisle through temporary shelters and through sending students…

Richard Henry Pratt requests that Congress provide an appropriation for building a new school building through the Office of Indian Affairs. Pratt notes that the school can accommodate 600 students except for its school rooms which are overcrowded at 440 students. He provides the history of the current building and the reasons for his request…

Richard Henry Pratt provides a list of property which has become unserviceable and requests authority from the Office of Indian Affairs to drop them from his property returns.

Richard Henry Pratt proposes amending his previous authority to abandon the Smead Willis system for the girls quarters due to its failures in the Public Schools of Cleveland as well as other difficulties raised by their employees and engineers. In addition, Pratt asks for 12 new closet fixtures, the changing of 10 sets of old fixtures to the…

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…

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 responds to an Office of Indian Affairs letter regarding the rations used at the Carlisle Indian School and a comparison between the Indian School rations and Army rations. Pratt notes the differences mainly in what the school can produce on its own as well as the need for more soap to properly clean buildings and people. He…

Richard Henry Pratt informs the Office of Indian Affairs that has a found a cheaper grade of goods satisfactory from J. L. Mott in New York City. These goods include bath tubs, compression bibbs, enameled washstands, and waterclosets.

Richard Henry Pratt requests authority to install electric lighting at the Carlisle Indian School and pay an annual cost for the use of electric lights. Pratt notes that the use of coal-oil lamps has been a great anxiety due to the threat of fire and the use of electric lights would be of a great advantage in the care and safety of the school…

A printed document providing the daily schedule for the various bells announcing times for school activities. Pratt provides an explanation for the different bells.

Richard Henry Pratt provides an overview of the Carlisle Indian School's switch to electricity from oil lamps at the request of the Office of Indian Affairs.