Report-1849, July 2

Transcribed report on the activities of the Indian Manual Labor School by Thomas Johnson, Superintendent Manual Labor School to Wm. Medill, Commissioner of Indian Affairs, Washington City, D. C. dated Jul 2, 1849

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[July 2, 1849]

Dear sir

   In compliance with the regulations of the Indian Department I now make my second quarterly report for the current year ending June 30th 1849 of the condition of the Indian Manual Labor School under my care.

   The number of Delaware children attending school this quarter is twenty eight, fourteen males and fourteen females from other tribes fifty five, thirty six males and nineteen females making a total for this quarter of eighty three.

   During the first month of this quarter we had about as many children in school as we could accommodate, but the cholera making its appearance in the country just at the time of our spring vacation, many have been kept at home, and probably can not be got back till this epidemic has entirely disappeared. Some whole tribes of Indians have left their homes and moved back many miles from the settlements hoping in this way to escape the ravages of this alarming disease. The Indians however have had much less of the cholera among them than the white population in the state. I have heard of a few cases only among the Shawnees and Delawares. We cannot help but feel truly grateful to God for that protective care exercised over us at this institution during the prevalence of the cholera as we have not yet had one case in our large family of nearly 150 persons.

   The progress made by the scholars in their studies is much the same as mentioned in my former communications to the department, but which I shall dwell upon more at length in my report for third quarter.

   Accompanying this report you will also receive my accounts of disbursements with vouchers.

I have the honor to be dear sir
Your Obt Servt
Ths. Johnson
Supt. F.L.M.L. School

Hon William Medill
Comr Indian Affairs
Washington D.C.

Fort Leavenworth Ind M.L. School
July 2nd 1849

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[Transcribed from microfilm roll number MS980 frames 1051-1052 in the collections of the Kansas State Historical Society, (National Archives Microfilm Series M234, roll 784) by Roger Berg Jr. June, 1991]