Dickinson Indian School Public Contacts
The Public Sector
In order to understand the Indian School, it is imperative to that we understand Carlisle at the time. In 1900, Carlisle was a thriving midwestern town, with a population of 9,626 people. (sq. milage, soc-econ). Carlisle was an ideal location for the Indian School for a number of reasons. Firstly, it was west enough of the east coast so that the Indians would not be overwhelmed with urban life. However, it was not so west that the students would be able to run away back to their families. One of the problems with the day schools that existed on the reservations in the years preceeding the Indian School was that at night, the students would return to their families and be reimmersed in their Indian culture, effectively discounting all the work done to Anglicize them that day. Therefore, when Pratt envisioned a boarding school for Indians, he wanted to make sure that they would be far enough away from Indian culture that they would have no choice but to stay and be made like the white man. Additionally, there were vacant army barracks in Carlisle, making the town an ideal location for Pratt's school.
St. Patrick Church and the Indian School
St. Patrick Church and the Indian School
Photo taken by Amanda West. October 17, 2007.
Athletics: Dickinson vs. Carlisle
Athletics: Dickinson vs. Carlisle
