Letter-1854, September 5

Transcribed letter from Geo W. Manypenny, Commissioner of Indian Affairs to R. McClelland Secretary of the Interior dated Sep 5, 1854 forwarding transcribed comments on conditions for the continuation of the Indian Manual Labor School by Thomas Johnson, Superintendent Manual Labor School to Geo W. Manypenny, Commissioner of Indian Affairs dated Aug 25, 1854

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D.I.O.I.A. Sep 5, 1854

Report

Sir:

   I have the honor to submit to you a copy of a letter received here yesterday, from Rev. Thomas Johnson, Supt. of the Fort Leavenworth Indian Manual Labor School (M. E. Church South) making propositions in relation to the education of the Shawnees.

   By the recent treaties with various Indian Tribes in Kansas and Nebraska, ample provision is or can be made, from the funds stipulated to be paid to them, for clothing, boarding, and educating all the Indian youth, and if it be determined to employ the Missionary establishments now in existence in this country to educate at Manual Labor Boarding Schools the Indian children, a distribution can be made that will give to the various Religious Denominations, a proper proportion of it.

   The explanatory remarks of Mr Johnson, a copy of which I also transmit, will give you an approximate view of the funds of the different tribes for educational purposes, as well as the location of the different mission schools and the religious denominations having charge of them. The Presbyterians have mission schools among the Omahas, Ottoes, Missourias, the Sacs and Foxes of Mo and the Ioways; and the Kickapoos could perhaps have their children educated at the Nemaha (Presbyterian) School.

   The Baptists and Methodists both have missions among the Delawares, but Mr. Johnson (who represents the Methodists) thinks the Baptists should have all the Delaware funds.

   The Methodists, Quakers and Baptists have schools among the Shawnees, and here Mr. Johnson applies for all the school fund, and desires to relinquish· the Delaware fund now employed at the Methodist Manual Labor School in the Shawnee country; and also to relinquish the fund that the Methodists have employed at the Kansas School.

   The Baptists are now located among the Weas etc. and these people desire that society to continue to educate their children.

   The Miamis also desire that the Baptists shall educate their children, and have their school fund.

   My opinion is that the school fund should in no case be divided. It is in my judgement better that one society should manage it, and that one efficient school will be more valuable to the Indians than two or three rival establishments, in the same tribe, with the funds so divided as to render each school to some extent inefficient and useless.

   Mr. Johnson informs me that it is now the time of vacation at their Manual Labor School, and that it is desirable that arrangements be made if possible to commence the fall term, under the new order of things if a favorable decision be had in his application.

   The Shawnee delegates who were here, were favorable to the Fort Leavenworth Indian Manual Labor School, and as I understood them expressed a wish that the Shawnee School fund should be appropriated to it. The Institution is one of deservedly high character, and the facilities for teaching the Indian Youth to labor excel those of any other establishment in the Indian Country.

   The subject is respectfully submitted to you for such decision and instruction in the premises as in your judgement may be proper.

Very Respectfully
Your obt. Servt
Geo Manypenny. Com

Hon R McClelland
Secy of the Interior

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[Enclosure: Comments on conditions for the continuation of the Indian Manual Labor School by Thomas Johnson, Superintendent Manual Labor School to Geo W. Manypenny, Commissioner of Indian Affairs dated Aug 25, 1854.]

[Transcribed from National Archives microfilm series M234, roll 787, frames 349-352 by Roger Berg Jr., Jan 1993]