Collective Biography of Indian Dickinson Students
Conway Students
Dickinson College operated a preparatory school at various times during its history. At the time of the opening of the Indian School, Conway was a boarding school for boys and a few girls who were interested in attending a college after high school. There were a few Carlisle Indian School students who were allowed to attend so that they could gain an entrance into a reputable college. One main focus in what follows will be on an Indian Conway Hall student, Franklin J. Mt. Pleasant, and the life of a Conway Hall student.
Learn more about Student Life at Conway Hall
Dickinson College
The presence of native peoples on campus generated interest among the students about the Native Americans and their school, which was less then two miles from the college. Indeed, the October 24, 1896 Dickinsonian "On the Campus" section tells of the new volunteer Sunday School teachers from the college chapter of the YMCA. It further declares that those who have Indian boys “enjoy a rare privilege. The work is doubly interesting because one can be studying the characteristics of his scholars, at the same time learning many valuable lessons in methods of teaching.” In addition, at the time of the Indian School commencement, it was traditional for a half day holiday to be given so Dickinson students could attend the “very interesting exercises.” The Native Americans were of great interest to the students of Dickinson, who, through their interactions with the native students, served to further Anglicize and assimilate the once proud people into the newly dominant culture.
Go to Insitute to Institute: Dickinson College and Carlisle Indian School to learn more about Dickinson College as an institution.
Learn more about Thomas Marshall, one of the first Native American students at Dickinson.
Students from the Carlisle Indian Industrial School Who Attended Dickinson College
Dickinson Law School
The Dickinson Law School was established in 1836 by Judge Reed. Since the day Reed became a judge in 1820, he was thinking about creating a law school. On June 3, 1833 he presented a letter to the Trustees of Dickinson that proposed integrating a law school with Dickinson College. His two main objectives listed in his letter were: to prepare students of law to practice the profession and to allow others to learn general instruction of law. In order to approve his request, Dickinson required that there be a connection between the college, the Law Professor and the Law School.
Learn more about the History of the Law School
Students from the Carlisle Indian Industrial School Who Attended Dickinson Law School
Indian Women at Dickinson
Female Indian school students rarely chose to continue their education at Dickinson. In fact, only two girls from the Indian School chose to attend Dickinson, and only one was Native American. Life for women at Dickinson during the turn of the century was wrought with discrimination. Female students from the Indian school coming to Dickinson, as well as female Dickinson students going to teach at the Indian School, would have undoubtly experianced this discrimination.
Learn more about life for women at Dickinson
List of Female Students from the Carlisle Indian Industrial School who Attended Conway Hall
