Report-1856, April 1

Transcribed report on the activities of the Indian Manual Labor School Thomas Johnson, Superintendent Manual Labor School to Geo W. Manypenny, Commissioner of Indian Affairs dated Apr 1, 1856

Shawnee M.L. School
Apr 1st 1856

Sir,

   As the contract of the 5th of Mar. 1855 requires that we should “Report half yearly, the number of scholars, their progress; and the condition of the school generally.” I deem this the proper time to make a statement of the condition of the school for the last six months.

   We have had in school during that time forty-nine (49) Shawnee children, thirteen (13) Ottawas; three (3) Wyandottes; one (1) Cheyenne, + one (1) Arapaho, making in all (67) six seven. [sic]

   The Ottawas would have sent more, if they had been informed in due time that they could have the priveledge of doing so. The Shawnees have fallen far short of the number they sent last year, for which failure several reasons have had their influence.

   They have had a good deal of sickness among their children at home; + there has been also a considerable amount of sickness in the school.

   And in the second place, our Quaker friends sent out a strong committee last fall, who made a general visit through the Shawnee nation, + tried to persuade the Shawnees to send to their school, + although they did not succeed to any great extent, yet they confused the minds of the Indians so that they have not sent as much as usual to any school.

   The same persons who were engaged in trying to defeat the late treaty, are still at work trying to prevent, if possible, the provisions of the treaty being carried out.

   The scholars who have attended school have made reasonable progress in their studies+ there now appears to be a disposition to send in more children. Our new agent, Maj. Gay, has recently been around among the Shawnees taking the census, + he tells me that quite a number of the Shawnees have promised him that they will send in their children soon.

   We have had the misfortune to lose our old Physician Doctor Dummer who had served the Institution faithfully for many years – he died in Nov. last.

   We now have a physician from WestPort whenever we need medical attention.

   I think of nothing more worth communicating.

Respectfully submitted
Tho Johnson Supt.
Shawnee M.L.School

Hon G.W. Manypenny
Com. Ind. Affrs.
Washington City

[Transcribed from National Archives microfilm series M234, roll 789, frames 470-472 by Roger Berg Jr., Jan. 1993]