Student Wages

An excerpt from the Annual Report of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs to the Secretary of the Interior for the fiscal year ending 1881, containing the second annual report of the Carlisle Indian School. The lengthy report includes discussions of curriculum, student recruitment, the school's campus, the success of the sending students on…

An excerpt from the Annual Report of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs to the Secretary of the Interior for the fiscal year ending 1882, containing the annual report of the Carlisle Indian School. The report includes discussions of school enrollment, experiences of students on outing and outing patrons, curriculum, wages for students,…

An excerpt from the Annual Report of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs to the Secretary of the Interior for the fiscal year ending 1884, containing the annual report of the Carlisle Indian School. The report includes discussions of enrollment statistics, transfers, educational and industrial progress, student health, the school farm, donations…

Richard Henry Pratt discusses the appropriation of $20,000 for employees at the Carlisle Indian School and his incorrect interpretation for applying the funds. Pratt indicates that he believed the funds only covered regular employees and not irregular employees and Indian apprentices. As a result, Pratt requests that he be allowed to make…

Frank Ensminger writes the Bureau of Indian Affairs regarding a civil dispute between him and Richard Henry Pratt over payment for training George Walker in harness making. Pratt claims that he was only to pay Ensminger if Walker was not a good worker and he never heard a complaint from him and so therefore refused to pay.

Pratt also…

Richard Henry Pratt writes to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs and Superintendent of Indian Schools regarding the pay of Indian apprentices. Pratt notes that he is in favor of the system of increasing pay over the years which would allow students to develop financial literacy.

Richard Henry Pratt responds to an Office of Indian Affairs letter regarding the pay of students for apprentice work. Pratt provides the history of paying students at Carlisle and the justification for such payments. Also included is a copy of a letter written to a previous Commissioner of Indian Affairs in 1886.

T. S. Childs makes a report to the Office of Indian Affairs on Carlisle Indian School and the Indian Training School at the Hampton Institute. Childs report was prompted by complaints made against the Hampton Institute related to the health and discipline of students. Childs report focuses mostly on Hampton while examining Carlisle in order to…

Richard Henry Pratt responds to an Office of Indian Affairs letter which enclosed a letter from W. B. Backus, Superintendent of the Genoa School, in reference to a system of savings for students. Pratt notes that he believes he fills the place of a parent for the students at the Carlisle Indian School, that he considered teaching students about…

Richard Henry Pratt responds to an Office of Indian Affairs letter as well as returns a letter from Lawrence Smith to the Office. Pratt notes that in his judgement it would be better to leave Smith's money in the Treasury until the end of the schooling. Further stating that Smith can earn all the money he needs under the school's system.

Festus Pelone requests permission from Thomas J. Morgan to be returned to his home during the winter. Pelone writes that he has no money in the bank due to being unfairly punished by Richard Henry Pratt for leaving his outing.

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…

Thomas A. Mextoxen inquires from Thomas J. Morgan why he is being forced to remain at the Carlisle Indian School despite graduating in February. Metoxen has discussed this with Pratt and is under the impression Pratt means to keep him there in order to perform with the band in Chicago. Metoxen states he is working full time now but for little…

Richard Henry Pratt responds to Thomas Metoxen's request to either be sent home or receive additional pay to remain at Carlisle. Pratt notes that Metoxen choose to stay as part of the band when asked (in order to travel to and perform in Chicago) and that the possibility for increased pay depending on the appropriation. However, at the moment…

Richard Henry Pratt informs the Office of Indian Affairs that Louis Caswell was employed at farming for 25 days in May 1893.

Captain Richard H. Pratt explains to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs the many benefits of paying student employees for their labor at the school and setting up savings accounts for each student. Pratt provides statistics on how much the school paid students and how many students were paid; he then compares to this to the amount that students…

Captain Richard H. Pratt provides the Commissioner of Indian Affairs with a list of irregular labor required for July and August 1897. Pratt also includes details on compensation, position title, and the number of workdays required for the month, and he notes that all the irregular employees will be student workers.

Richard Henry Pratt requests authority to pay students for various tasks as well as purchasing supplies.

Richard Henry Pratt requests increases in pay for the students serving in his office, as Outing Clerk, and Library Assistant.

Richard Henry Pratt requests changes in the salaries of the Band Manager, Assistant Printer, and to add two students as Assistant Printers.

Richard Henry Pratt requests authority to pay student Fred Hare for caring for three smallpox patients at the school farm house.

Richard Henry Pratt requests authority to pay for repairs as well as student labor on the school farm. Pratt notes that the farm is three miles away from the school and serves as an outing experience for the students.

Richard Henry Pratt requests an additional $200 to pay students over the summer for work at the Carlisle Indian School.

Richard Henry Pratt informs the Office of Indian Affairs that there is a large amount of work to be done on the campus and requests authority to pay $2,000 to student workers.