Pacific University Trustees 1880 meeting minutes on the state of the Indian Training School

Title

Pacific University Trustees 1880 meeting minutes on the state of the Indian Training School

Description

Minutes taken at a meeting of the Pacific University Board of Trustees in 1880. The trustees accepted the report of a committee formed by Alanson Hinman and George H. Atkinson, who had inspected the grounds and buildings of the school soon after it opened. They found that Superintendent Wilkinson 'has wrought a better work with the funds - $5,000 - & the means in hand than we dared to expect in the short time of about 8 months.' It goes on to describe the buildings, several of the staff members and the gardens. They describe the students as 'orderly & neatly clad', 'attentive & able to understand preaching & singing in English' and making progress in religious instruction as well as industrial skills.

Creator

Pacific University. Board of Trustees

Is Part Of

Pacific University Board of Trustees Minutes (RG.2)

Subject

Off-reservation boarding schools
Native American Studies
Chemawa Indian School

Place

Forest Grove, Oregon

Identifier

PUA_RG2_2.pdf

Rights

http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/CNE/1.0/

Source

Forest Grove Indian School Collection, Pacific University Archives

Type

Text

Other Media

Having heard report of Com. on Indian School, on motion of O. Dickinson & H. Lyman:

Resolved to accept & adopt a synopsis to Sec'y of the Interior, U.S.:

Report of the Committee to Complete the Plan of a Prof. of Military Tactics in T.A. & P.U. [Tualatin Academy and Pacific University] & to supervise the Indian School established by Capt. M.C.W. [Wilkinson] under U.S.A.

Your committee have had in view the condition & needs of the Indian School & have made several visits to the grounds & buildings. They have examined all the Departments of the boarding house - dormitories, dining room, kitchen, sitting room - school room - & also the work shop & the new building for boys. The work done is begun in fencing & clearing the block.

They are glad to report:

1st That Capt. M.C. Wilkinson has wrought a better work with the funds - $5000 - & the means in hand than we dared to expect in the short time of about 8 months.

2. We find a building 30x60 - rough lumber - two stores 12 & 10 feet high - strongly built - well floored - partitioned into seven rooms below & 16 bed rooms, with good foundation & roof.

3. We find order & neatness in all departments.

4. We find the matron - Mrs. Huff - well fitted for her office & we hope she will continue in it.

5th We find that Mr. Boynton seems to do good service in training the children mentally & industrially.

6th We find a new building for boys 32x60 feet of two stories, built wholly by the Indian boys.

7th We find a good & convenient carpenters' shop & store room built by the Indian boys under the care of their teacher Mr. Boynton.

8. We find a well & drain begun.

9th We find two gardens planted & tilled by the Indian boys.

10. We find these boys & girls orderly, & neatly clad, at church & in their Sabbath school classes, & attentive & able to understand preaching & singing in English.

11. We learn that by their good conduct, intelligence and skill they command the respect of the community.

12th We learn that they show much religious interest in prayer meetings with their teachers.

13th We think well of their industrial progess, & its hope of increase & of special value, in cultivating in them respect for their own rights & duties.

14. We see the need of continued care & watchfulness over them.

15. We judge that [even?] 100 more can find room & work & good ease in this industrial school. The present number is 26: 16 boys & 10 girls.

Respectfully submitted,
A. Hinman, G.H. Atkinson } Committee