Carlisle Indian School Established by Congress, July 31, 1882

The first non-reservation school established by the Government was at Carlisle, Pennsylvania, and was only recently discontinued.

This school had its inception in the untiring efforts of General R. H. Pratt, U. S. A., when a lieutenant in charge of Indian prisoners of war at old Fort San Marco, St. Augustine, Florida, from May 11, 1875, to April 14, 1878.

When the release of these prisoners was ordered twenty-two of the young men were led to ask for further education, agreeing to remain in the east three years longer if they could attend school. These were sent to Hampton, Virginia, and several other places where they could attend a government school.

On September 6, 1879, an order was issued transferring the Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania, comprising 27 acres, from the War Department to the Department of the Interior for Indian school purposes, pending action by Congress on a bill to establish such an institution. This bill became a law July 31, 1882.

Lieutenant Pratt was, on September 6, 1879, ordered to report to the Secretary of the Interior, and by him was directed to proceed to Carlisle and there establish an Indian school. He was ordered to then proceed to Dakota and Indian territory for the purpose of obtaining pupils for the new school. So successful was the young officer that by the end of October, he had gathered together one hundred and thirty-six Indians from the Rosebud, Pine Ridge, and other agencies, and with eleven of the former Florida prisoners, then at school at Hampton, the new institution was opened at Carlisle Barracks, November 1, 1879, with an enrollment of one hundred and fifty-seven original Americans.

The school steadily progressed until more than a thousand pupils were enrolled and during its existence nearly every tribe in the United States had representatives on its rolls and at one period one hundred Alaskan Indians were in attendance.

The aim of the school was to teach English and give a primary education; and a knowledge of some common and practical industry, and means of self-support among civilized people.

To this end regular shops and farms were provided, the principal mechanical arts and farming were taught the boys, and the girls, cooking, sewing, laundry and housework. The instruction was made interesting so that the young Indians would not desire to return to reservation 523life, but would prefer to make for themselves a place among the people of the East.

During the summer vacation months, the young Indians would be placed in the homes of prosperous citizens, where they could do certain work and at the same time learn by direct example and association the ways of higher civilization. This was known as the “outing system,” and was a distinct feature not only of the Carlisle school, but of the Indian school service generally.

The literary curriculum of Carlisle stopped at that point where the student might enter the higher grades of the public schools. The pupil was left to his own resources for any further development of his intellectual faculties.

Many of the graduates of the Carlisle school are today filling responsible positions in the business world, and especially in the Indian service, in which they are employed as teachers, clerks and all the way to laborers.

Many of the Indians are musical and the school band was one of the features. The late Joel B. Ettinger, of Seattle, Wash., but formerly of Chester, Pa., where he conducted the famous old Sixth Regiment Band, organized the first band from among the various tribes represented in the school and soon developed a band which won the acclaim of the people wherever it played. Dennison and James Wheelock, Oneida Indians, became great leaders and succeeded Ettinger as instructors. The former was a successful composer of band music.

The Carlisle school produced the first paper printed by Indian boys. The printery was early established and became a potent factor in the industrial development of the students. The Indian Helper, a small leaflet, was first produced, and afterwards a larger magazine, The Red Man, was published, these being merged into Red Man and Helper, and creditably reflected the life and policies of the school.

Many prominent writers and educators frequently contributed to this magazine, thus helping the deserving wards of our government to make their effort a representative publication. Among those who sent valuable contributions to this paper was Reverend George P. Donehoo, then secretary of the Pennsylvania State Historical Society, late State Librarian, and one of the most eminent authorities on Indian history in the United States. The doctor is the proud possessor of a complete file of this valuable and interesting publication, which has become a very rare possession.

The physical training, both indoors and out, was a most important part of the life of the school. Indians take naturally to many of our popular sports, and many athletes of national and even international reputation have been developed at the school. Most conspicuous of these is Jim Thorpe, the world’s champion all-around athlete, winner of the pentathlon event in the Olympic games; Chief Charles A. Bender, 524the celebrated pitcher, a close second to Thorpe, while mention may also be made of Hudson, the Pierce brothers, Johnson, Metoxen and many others who have excelled above the average.

General Pratt remained in charge of the school from its organization until his retirement from the superintendency, June 30, 1904, when he was succeeded by Major (then Captain) William A. Mercer, U. S. A.

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