1879

Displaying 1 - 25 of 160 records
Need for Pratt to Choose Between Hampton Institute and his Military Service
January 9, 1879

Secretary of War George W. McCrary forwards and endorses a letter from the General of the Army in response to a request to grant Richard Henry Pratt the authority to remain at the Hampton Institute for three months. The note states that Pratt is supposed to be a cavalry officer in Texas, where he is needed, but has been absent for four or five…

Format:
Letters/Correspondence
Repository:
National Archives and Records Administration
Sending "Florida Boys" at Hampton on Outings
January 14, 1879

Richard H. Pratt states that he currently has 57 male students at Hampton and is looking to recruit 20 female students. He goes on to say that he plans to send most of the former Ft. Marion prisoners currently enrolled at Hamtpon on outings, believing that placing Indian students in white families where they will learn a trade will help give…

Format:
Letters/Correspondence
Repository:
National Archives and Records Administration
Recommendation of Carlisle Barracks as Location for Indian School
February 14, 1879

Spencer Fullteron Baird, Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, writes to Secretary of the Interior Carl Schurz to endorse Captain Richard H. Pratt's request to establish an Indian School at the Carlisle Barracks. Baird contends that there is "no better spot" to open an Indian School because the buildings at the barracks would be well-suited…

Format:
Letters/Correspondence
Repository:
National Archives and Records Administration
Placing Hampton Students on Outing on Farms in Massachusetts
May 29, 1879

Richard H. Pratt informs Commissioner of Indian Affairs E. A. Hayt that it will take a week to place the male students from Hampton on farms in Massachusetts and then he will travel to Florida. Pratt expects to place a dozen male students on farms in Berkshire County as well.

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

Format:
Letters/Correspondence
Repository:
National Archives and Records Administration
Problem with Finding Outing Hosts in Massachusetts
June 2, 1879

Richard H. Pratt informs Commissioner of Indian Affairs E. A. Hayt that there are problems "persuading these Yankee farmers" in Massachusetts to be outing hosts for Hampton students. While seven farmers are interested in hosting a student, Pratt would like fifteen more.

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

Format:
Letters/Correspondence
Repository:
National Archives and Records Administration
Request to Recruit Dakota Students for Hampton
June 2, 1879

Hampton Institute Principal Samuel C. Armstrong states that they are currently educating 38 Indian boys and only 9 Indian girls, so he requests that they recruit 20 Dakota female Indian students. He requests that, if his wish is granted, Captain Richard H. Pratt be sent to secure the students and that he be allowed to bring back no more than…

Format:
Letters/Correspondence
Repository:
National Archives and Records Administration
Request to Engage in Indian Education in Oregon
July 18 - July 19, 1879

Lieutenant Melville C. Wilkinson requests to temporarily engage in "Indian educational work" in Oregon, and Acting Secretary of the Interior A. Bell forwards and endorses Wilkinson's request to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs and the Secretary of War. In his telegraph to the Secretary of War, Bell states that Wilkinson's work will be similar…

Format:
Letters/Correspondence
Repository:
National Archives and Records Administration
Denial of Authority to Engage in Indian Education in Oregon
July 23, 1879 - August 1, 1879

Secretary of War George W. McCrary informs Assistant Secretary of the Interior A. Bell that he does not have authority to allow Lieutenant Melville C. Wilkinson to engage in Indian education as Richard Henry Pratt is already in that line of work. Instead, Wilkinson will be sent to a college in Oregon where certain Indian youth can be sent.…

Format:
Letters/Correspondence
Repository:
National Archives and Records Administration
Per-Student Funding and Establishment of School at Carlisle
August 4, 1879

Letter from Richard Henry Pratt to Commissioner of Indian Affairs Ezra A. Hayt suggesting an increase in the per-student funding afforded by the government to Indian schools. Pratt also encourages the Commissioner to continue pursuing Congressional approval for the opening of an Indian school at the Carlisle Barracks.

Format:
Letters/Correspondence
Repository:
National Archives and Records Administration
Hand-written letter on onion-skin paper
August 8, 1879

A letter wherein Commissioner of Indian Affairs Ezra A. Hayt writes to Secretary of the Interior Carl Schurz to recommend expanding the kind of educational program pursued at Hampton for "the civilization of Indian youth of both sexes… far away from their homes". Hayt requests that the Secretary of War approve the use of Carlisle Barracks in…

Format:
Letters/Correspondence
Repository:
National Archives and Records Administration
Order to Recruit Sioux, Kiowa, Comanche, Cheyenne, and Arapaho Students
August 22, 1879

Commissioner of Indian Affairs E. A. Hayt instructs the Acting Commissioner to allow Richard Henry Pratt to select 70 students from Sioux Nations and 30 from the Kiowa, Comanche, Cheyenne, and Arapaho Nations.

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

Format:
Letters/Correspondence
Repository:
National Archives and Records Administration
Transfer of Carlisle Barracks from War Department to Interior Department
August 22, 1879

Adjutant General E. D. Townsend states that the Secretary of War has approved the Secretary of the Interior's request to transfer the Carlisle Barracks from the War Department to the Interior. The Barracks will be used as a school for Indian children and will be under the charge of Richard Henry Pratt. The War Department retains the right to…

Format:
Letters/Correspondence
Repository:
National Archives and Records Administration
Plans to Transfer Carlisle Barracks to the Interior Department
August 23, 1879

Secretary of War George W. McCrary informs the Secretary of the Interior that he has issued orders to transfer the Carlisle Barracks to the Interior Department to use as an Indian 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,…

Format:
Letters/Correspondence
Repository:
National Archives and Records Administration
Special Order to Appraise Property Transferred from Department of War to Interior
August 23, 1879 - October 14, 1879

The Chief Clerk for the Secretary of War forwards a series of documents to the Secretary of the Interior regarding the transfer of the Carlisle Barracks from the War Department to the Interior Department. First, Adjutant General E. D. Townsend issues Special Orders No. 194 stating that Richard Henry Pratt now officially works in Indian…

Format:
Legal and Government Documents, Letters/Correspondence
Repository:
National Archives and Records Administration
Authority for Pratt to Bring Hampton Students to Carlisle
August 25, 1879

Acting Secretary of the Interior A. Bell informs the Commissioner of Indian Affairs that he is giving permission to Lieutenant Richard Henry Pratt to proceed to Lee, Massachusetts. Bell notes that Pratt will secure current Hampton Institute students who are on outing and take them to the Carlisle Barracks. These Hampton students will become…

Format:
Letters/Correspondence
Repository:
National Archives and Records Administration
Documents Relating to the Transfer of the Carlisle Barracks to the Interior Department
August 25, 1879 - January 7, 1880

Secretary of War Alex Ramsey transmits to Secretary of the Interior Carl Schurz a report from Lieutenant E. T. C. Richmond indicating that the transfer of the Carlisle Barracks from the War Department to the Interior was completed on January 6, 1880 and correspondence regarding said transfer. Also attached is an official order from Major…

Format:
Legal and Government Documents, Letters/Correspondence
Repository:
National Archives and Records Administration
Special Order for the Transfer of Carlisle Barracks to the Interior Department
August 25, 1879 - August 29, 1879

Captain William G. Mitchell issues Special Orders No. 52 ordering the transfer of the Carlisle Barracks from the War Department to the Interior Department, with the Barracks' commanding officer Lieutenant E. T. C. Richmond overseeing the transfer and taking inventory of the value of the transferred goods and buildings. Major General Winfield S…

Format:
Legal and Government Documents, Letters/Correspondence
Repository:
National Archives and Records Administration
Order to Transfer all "Movable Property" at Carlisle Barracks to the Bureau of Indian Affairs
August 30, 1879 - September 9, 1879

Adjutant General E. D. Townsend informs the Commanding General of the Atlantic that the Secretary of War George W. McCrary has ordered that all "movable property" at the Carlisle Barracks be turned over to the Indian Bureau as part of the transfer of the Barracks from the War to Interior Department. McCray encloses the letter to the Secretary…

Format:
Letters/Correspondence
Repository:
National Archives and Records Administration
Estimate of Cost for Repairing Buildings at Carlisle Barracks for Indian School
September 2, 1879

Richard H. Pratt forwards an estimate of cost for necessary repairs to the buildings at the Carlisle Barracks. These repairs, which are needed to prepare the buildings for use by the Carlisle Indian School, are estimated to cost $1,399.00.

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

Format:
Financial Documents, Letters/Correspondence
Repository:
National Archives and Records Administration
Pratt Authorized to Recruit Students for Carlisle and Take Charge of the Barracks for the School
September 6, 1879

Acting Secretary of the Interior A. Bell informs the Commissioner of Indian Affairs that the War Department has transferred the buildings at the Carlisle Barracks to the Interior Department and that Special Agent Richard Henry Pratt is authorized to create an Indian school at the Barracks using the buildings. He also grants authority for Pratt…

Format:
Letters/Correspondence
Repository:
National Archives and Records Administration
Account for Transit Expenses from Florida
September 8, 1879

Letter from Richard Henry Pratt to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, transferring his account of travel expenses from Florida. Immediately before this time, Pratt had been sent to Florida to locate, enumerate, and report on the condition of the Native Americans there. 

Format:
Financial Documents, Letters/Correspondence
Repository:
National Archives and Records Administration
Request for Personal and School Supplies for Carlisle Indian School
September 9, 1879

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…

Format:
Letters/Correspondence
Standard Forms & Transactions:
Repository:
National Archives and Records Administration
Forwarding Supplementary Property Return Forms
September 10, 1879

Richard Henry Pratt forwards his Supplementary Property Return forms to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs.

Format:
Letters/Correspondence
Repository:
National Archives and Records Administration
Letter About Drawings of Carlisle Barracks
September 10, 1879

Letter from Superintendent Richard Henry Pratt to Commissioner of Indian Affairs Ezra Hayt, forwarding drawings of the Carlisle Barracks and a copy of the transfer order. Those enclosures are not included here.

Format:
Letters/Correspondence
Repository:
National Archives and Records Administration
Notice Regarding Need for Supplies
September 10, 1879

Correspondence from Superintendent Pratt to Commissioner of Indian Affairs Ezra Hayt noting that any communication regarding supplies will receive immediate attention.

Other documents from this same time period attest to Pratt's desperate need for supplies at Carlisle Barracks, before the arrival of the first group of students.

Format:
Letters/Correspondence
Repository:
National Archives and Records Administration