Research

• Full Finding Aid
• Overview
• Arrangement
• Scope and Contents
• Related Material
• Other Finding Aids
• Access Restrictions
• Access Terms

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Scope and Content Note

The series consists of case files of children enrolled in the Thomas Indian School (formerly the Thomas Asylum for Orphan and Destitute Indian Children) located at Iroquois on the Cattaraugus Reservation. Files contain information on admission, discharge, medical and family hisory, and occasionally on post-release activities of former students. Children's enrollment was requested by parents or guardians, local welfare agencies, or the courts due to orphan status, inability of family members to provide adequate care, or neglect.

Case files vary considerably in their contents and may contain any or all of the following: summary giving child's name, reservation, tribe, parents' or guardians' names, age or birthdate, and dates entered and discharged from school; application for enrollment, including brief family and medical history; narrative summary of case (for child enrolled on recommendation of a local welfare agency); Admission of Child to Foster Care Form (for child enrolled on recommendation of a local welfare agency); medical records (present for some cases 1930 or later), including treatments, vaccinations, and occasionally psychiatric evaluations; educational records such as report cards, record of Regents examinations passed, and IQ test results; birth certificate; baptism certificate; social security card; and correspondence.

Included is correspondence of superintendent or social worker with parent or guardian concerning enrollment, vacations, and discharge; of officials of welfare agencies concerning enrollment, discharge, or verification of age of child; of State Probation Department concerning past history of former students; of Children's Court concerning placement of children in the school; and of former students (some students sent letters for many years after they left the school).

Researchers should note that the case files vary greatly in the amount of documentation present on each student; in some cases only the admission form and a few other documents are included in the file. In addition, case files are not present for some children who were admitted to the Thomas Indian School. A typewritten list of children admitted and discharged, 1855-1955, is found in Box 2, Folder 10. The list is titled: "Thomas Indian School - Names of Children Received and Discharged Since the Founding of the Institution, 1855-1955."