Report-1846, July 8

Transcribed report on the activities of the Indian Manual Labor School from J.C. Berryman, Superintendent Manual Labor School to Wm. Medill, Commissioner of Indian Affairs, Washington City dated Jul 8, 1846

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Ind. Man. Lab. School
July 8th 1846

Dear Sir,

    In compliance with instructions I herewith make my second quarterly report for the current year of the Indian Manual Labor School under my superintendence. Tie school for this quarter consists of 37 Delaware children: 18 males and 19 females. Other children 66, 47 males and 19 females. Total number for the quarter June 30th 1846 one hundred and three.

    The children, as usual, study six hours each day and are employed the balance of the day in manual labor. The girls, under the direction of a matron, spin, weave, sew, wash, cook, and do other work suitable for their sex: the boys work in the shop and on the farm under the care and instruction of suitable teachers. They are generally improving, but slowly, as must necessarily be the case with children who have everything to learn in relation to civilized life. The general health of the school is good. Our farm is in good condition. We have raised and saved this season about 175 acres of good wheat, averaging probably from 20 to 25 bushels per acre. We have a growing crop of corn of from 250 to 260 acres, apparently as good as it could be. Our crop of oats this year is small, about 12 acres. Our meadow of timothy grass of about 40 acres is tolerably good and all saved in sacks. A large portion of the labor necessary to produce this crop has been performed by our Indian boys and hired adult Shawnees. Our mills and shops continue to afford much assistance to the neighboring Indians. Indeed they could get along but poorly without them, especially at the mills. Our fine new brick building for the accomodation of the female branch of the school is nearly completed and the girls are occupying it, greatly to their increased comfort and encouragement.

    Accompanying this you will also receive my account of disbursements for the two quarters ending June 30th 1846 with their vouchers. It is likely you may think our bills for goods and groceries are large and contain some things not directly required in the school, and that you may fully understand this, it may be necessary for me to state here, what perhaps I have stated before, that we have found it, not only convenient, but necessary to keep a small store in connection with the institution and belonging exclusively to it, not only for the accomodation of the school itself, but for the purpose of paying off, in part, the Indians who work for us in such things as they need and by doing this we often prevent their going to town and getting drunk, as some of them would do if we paid them money. All this is well understood and approved of by Major Cummins, your agent, who lives in our neighborhood.

    It has been found necessary, on account of affliction in my family, and also in view of my more general connection with the work in the Indian Mission Conference, to change my relation to this Institution, and the Rev. William Patton has taken my place here by regular appointment of the church authorities and will in future report to you.

I have the honor to be, Dear Sir,
Your Obt Servt.
Jerome C. Berryman
Supt. Ind. M.L. School+
Supt. Ind, Mission Conference

Hon Wm. Medill
Comr Indian Affs.
Washington City

P.S. I had intended not to bring into my account for this year any balance due us on last year’s accounts; but I have not been notified of the destiny of our accounts for the year 1845 and it therefore appeared to me proper to keep up in this connection the balance in our favor.

J.C. Berryman

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[Transcribed from National Archives microfilm series M234, roll 783, frame 119, by Roger Berg Jr., March, 1992]