Carlisle Indian Industrial School

(1879 - 1918)


 "The common schools
are the stomachs of the country
in which all people that come to us
are assimilated within a generation.
When a lion eats an ox,
the lion does not become an ox
but the ox becomes a lion."
...Henry Ward Beecher*
"If the Great Spirit had desired me
to be a white man 
he would have made me so 
in the first place. 
He put in your heart 
certain wishes and plans; 
in my heart he put
other and different desires. 
Each man is good 
in the sight of the Great Spirit. 

It is not necessary, 
that eagles should be crows."
..Sitting Bull (Teton Sioux)




Tom Torlino, 1883, on arrival to Carlisle
                          Indian Industrial School Tom Torlino,
                          Navajo. Carlisle Indian School 1886 - 3 years
                          after arrival

 
 

INTRODUCTION

These pages are designed, written and executed with the purpose of offering glimpses  into the Carlisle Indian School and its history. 

The Carlisle Indian School's mission was to shape identity. 

In its infancy, that shaping meant to transform American Indian children to resemble their so-called "civilized"
American brothers and sisters. 
As the experiment progressed, that purpose shifted to one of "influence"
rather than "transformation,"  according to Francis Leupp,  U.S. Indian Commissioner, 1904.

It is our purpose to respectfully
honor
those students
and their descendants who lived the experiment, 
celebrate with those who prospered from it,  and
grieve
with those whose lives were diminished by it.

This is a history that belongs to all Americans. 
 The identities of all Americans  are shaped by the Carlisle experiment. 

Much of the text on these pages reflect the collaborative efforts of 
Barbara Landis and Genevieve Bell, and none of this work
is associated
with the Cumberland County Historical Society. 

Our express purpose in keeping this history alive is
to
  encourage historians to invigorate a troubling conversation
and to deliver the Carlisle Indian School student names
to their respective nations.

- Barbara Landis



 
 

I am grateful for the generous support 
of these pages by the 

VIOLA WHITE WATER FOUNDATION

Please consider donating toward the continued work of these pages:

Viola White Water Foundation
PO Box 126128
Harrisburg PA 17112



 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

*THE RED MAN, VolumeX, No. 6, July and August, 1890.
 
 

Schmoop Best
                        of Web Award for Native American History
 
 



 
 
Carlisle Journeys: Celebrating American Indians in Sports
Conference
Oct. 7-8, 2016

Carlisle 
Indian 
School 
Digital Resource Center 


Carlisle 
Indian 
School 
Blog 


Descendants' group on Facebook



St. Patrick's Church
& the Carlisle Indian School



Search 
information.


Nations/Number 
of Students Enrolled


Bibliography- 
Primary Sources


Bibliography- 
Secondary Sources


Jim Thorpe


Related links


 

Days Inn Logo
Lodging in Carlisle 
Ask for the 
Indian School discount!



Ft. Marion POW 
descendants


Biographies


Lucy Pretty Eagle


The Indian Helper


Carlisle's Nurses


Historic Marker 
Dedication Aug 31, 2003


Christmas
Special


Saint 
  Katherine
Drexel
at Carlisle



In Memoriam:

Andrew Cuellar, 103, 
last known CIIS alumnus.
 

Wellington Jimerson.


Barbara
Landis
Bio
 
 

email 
Barbara 
Landis



























































































































 

 

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