Letter-1850, August 12

Transcribed report on the activities of the Indian Manual Labor School Thomas Johnson, Superintendent Manual Labor School to L. Lea, Commissioner of Indian Affairs, Washington City, D. C. dated Aug 12, 1850

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F.[ort] L.[eavenworth] Ind. M.L. School
Aug 12th 1850

Sir –

   I have had the honor to receive two communications from you calling for the number of Delaware children at this school for the quarter ending 30th Sept. 1849 + also for the quarter ending June 30th 1850 which information I hasten to give.

   I find by reference to our books that for the quarter ending Sept. 30th 1849 there were in this school 14 Delaware children and for the quarter ending June 30th 1850 there were in this school 11 Delaware children_

   Some explanation may not be improper. We find much difficulty in securing a regular attendance at school in the summer time, consequently we do not divide the time of teaching into quarters, but into two sessions of unequal length, one session begins on the 1st day of Sept. closes on the last day of April,+ the other commences on the first day of June+ closes on the last day of July. During the last summer the Cholera was prevailing in this country extensively+ the Delawares were afraid to send their children, but the expense was nearly as much to us as it would have been had they sent, for they got their outfit of summer clothes before they left+ returned in time to be supplied for the winter,+ our regular number of Teachers were here under pay all the time.

   In reference to the contract between the Revd Mr. Berryman+ the Delaware Indians I have only to say I was not fully informed as to all its details for I could find no copy at this Institution, but I would respectfully submit a few facts for consideration in connection with this subject for I have no doubt the only object the Department has in view is to do justice to all parties concerned.

   1st In June 1838 when the contract for building this Institution was made the government promised to “Induce the Indian Tribes who had school funds+ living contiguous to this school to employ them at this Institution”, consequently the Missionary Society expended more than twenty thousand dollars in addition to what was appropriated by the government in making preparations for a very large school. But the Department has since that time made arrangements to employ the school funds of the Kanzas, Pottawatomies, Miamis in those respective Tribes, thereby rendering a portion of our buildings here useless, but I have not introduced this by way of complaint but only as a reason why too rigid an adherence to the restriction of the Dept in the present case should not be exacted at the present time, for such an adherence would prove very injurious to this Institution+ would require a large number of students to be sent home who are now at school.

   2nd  The Missionary Society built a mill for the Delaware Indians which cost four thousand dollars, with the understanding that their school fund was to be employed at this Institution for ten years, they having the privilege of sending their own children etc; this privilege they still have, + when they do not choose to avail themselves of it their funds are employed in educating the children of other Tribes who have no funds+ are willing to send,+ we think no injustice is done to the Delawares in this for they have contracted their funds away for ten years for a mill, together with the privilege of sending to this school if they choose. And we think should the Delawares not send another child to this school until the ten years shall have expired that they will have lost nothing by the Missionary Society, for ever since the contract was made we have always educated all they have sent, some years amounting to forty or fifty, + before the contract was made the Society kept up a respectable school for their children at our own expense for twelve years.

   3rd  Should the Department insist on a rigid adherence to the restriction alluded to, it will certainly be fair to allow for all that have been taught over thirty in any year+ I think that justice to the Society would require that some allowance be made for those taught during the twelve years preceeding the contract. But certainly the easiest plan. ( + we think it is strictly just) will be to continue to pay over until the ten years expire, according to their own contract the whole of their funds, + should the Delawares continue to listen to men of Selfish purposes who are trying to prevent them from sending their children etc. to this school, enough of others are ready to take their places. But should the government not encourage such interference I have no doubt after a few months a considerable portion of the Delaware children will return to school.

   We are willing to be held to a strict accountability for the use of all funds placed in our hands, and to educate at least eighty students annually while the same amount is paid by the government as heretofore but should the Delaware funds bs alienated from us we shall be reduced to a very scant allowance for fifty+ of course will have to send some away that we have already under instruction_ This we should regret_ But we are persuaded that the Hon. Commissioner will not so decide, consequently we shall at the beginning of the next month admit the usual number if they apply+ wait for further instructions_

I have the honor to be dear Sir
Your Obt Svt Thomas Johnson Supt
F. L. Ind. M. L. School

Hon L. Lea
Comr Ind. Aff.
Washington
D.C

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[Transcribed from microfilm roll MS981 frames 655-658 in the collections of the Kansas State Historical Society, (National Archives Microfilm Series M234, roll 785) by Reger Berg Jr., May, 1991.]