Resources

Resources

Indexes:  The CCHS has been fortunate to have a number of devoted researchers, volunteers, and friends who have graced our collection with donations of indexes and extensive lists to aid in researching the Indian School history.

  • Volunteers meticulously noted the appearance of individual names, entities and events in our newspaper archives, cataloging a nearly complete index of the CIIS periodical publications to 1890. 
  • The manuscript files and newspapers were indexed, resulting in an extensive card catalog of the student and staff names. 
  • Finally, Genevieve Bell shared her nine months of research at the National Archives by contributing the list she compiled of the Carlisle Indian School Student folders housed at the National Archives in Washington D.C.

These priceless contributions enhance the efficiency of research at the CCHS, allowing the unique stories of the individual students at the Carlisle Indian School to emerge from the chronicles of a faceless history. 

Student drawings and pictographs:  The artwork of over forty students is preserved in the historical society archives.  These colorful, intricate images depict galloping horses, tee-pees, and Indians in plains regalia.  The context in which these artistic renditions of traditional Native American scenes were produced is unknown, but they illustrate the imagination and fortitude that the students possessed.  This collection is also indexed with the names of the artist, their nation, and background information when available. 

Oral histories:  In 1980, the CCHS received a grant to preserve the stories and memories of the remaining students, employees, and local townspeople of the Carlisle Indian School.  Interviewer Helen F. Norton, recorded and transcribed the following 12 interviews, which captured the memories, anecdotes and impact of the school, which can often fall through the cracks of documented history. 

1900 and 1901 Carlisle Indian School Census: These lists contain names, tribes, dates and place of birth of Indian School students as well as some information about parentage. 

Papers of the Society of American Indian on microfilm: As the first Pan-Indian organization, the Society of American Indian sought to inform the general American public of Native American needs, abilities, and aspirations.  Tackling issues such as Native American involvement in the W.W.I draft and American citizenship, the SAI was unique in that it was instigated by, directed by, and composed of Native American men and women, some of whom had connections to the CIIS.  The papers of the SAI include publications, memos, financial records, press releases, correspondence and newspaper articles from the first meeting of SAI on Columbus Day in Columbus Ohio in 1911, until it was dissolved in 1923.  This compilation includes over 5, 600 documents, gathered from 45 repositories from across the U.S. (Compiled by Scholarly Resources Inc.) 

The Papers of Carlos Montezuma, M.D. on microfilm:  Known as Wassaja in his native Yavapai tongue, Carlos Montezuma led an extraordinary life.  His success in the white educational system led him to a career in medicine and Indian activism.  He was a founding member of the SAI and a proponent of assimilation, counting Richard Pratt as a close friend and strong influence.  This collection includes his correspondence including letters from Zitkala Sa, speeches, essays, medical notes, financial materials, as well as an almost complete set of Dr. Montezuma’s newsletter, Wassaja.  The papers draw on over 40 repositories and span from the 1890s to the 1920s. (Compiled by Scholarly Resources Inc.)

©2017 Cumberland County Historical Society | Adapted from the Carlisle Indian Industrial School Research Pages of Barbara Landis