View source for The YMCA

Among the various methods used to convert Indians into civilized white citizens at the Carlisle Indian School (CIS) was “Christianizing” the Indian students by instilling traditional Christian values into all students in the program.  A good deal of the student’s religious training was spent attempting to give the students an understanding of the Bible’s stories and messages and to emphasize the value of virtue to the students.  Many students seemingly took these messages and values to heart and changed their lives to live in accordance with the Christian values they had learned at the Indian School.

At the CIS, the YMCA’s influence was lauded by school Superintendent Friedman, who desired that the YMCA’s activities could be expanded.  As evidence of the YMCA’s positive influence on the students of the CIS, Friedman highlights a number of successful graduates of the school that were active members in the YMCA during there time at the CIS.  These graduates include prominent business individuals as well as important government officials.  These facts demonstrate that the YMCA at the school was able to positively shape the future of almost three hundred graduates of the CIS by 1910.  

[[Photos of the Carlisle Indian School YMCA]]