National Museum of the American Indian

Thomas Indian School glass plate negatives, 1900-1945

Summary

Collection ID:
NMAI.AC.061
Creators:
Thomas Indian School (Iroquois, N.Y.)
Dates:
1900-1945
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
85 Glass plate negatives
N49022-N49106
Repository:
This collection contains 85 glass plate negatives depicting Iroquois students and student life at the Thomas Indian School on the Cattaraugus Indian Reservation in New York state, circa 1900-1945.

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
This collection contains 85 glass plate negatives depicting Iroquois students and student life at the Thomas Indian School circa 1900-1945. The images depict student and class portraits; school activities such as school plays or performances, basketball, football, and Girl Scouts; classes such as woodworking, cooking, and agriculture; and campus buildings and grounds. The photographer is unknown, but was probably affiliated with the school. Iroquois children from Seneca [Cattaraugus], Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, and Tuscarora communities attended the school.

Arrangement

Arrangement
This collection is intellectually arranged in 3 series. Series 1: Student and class portraits, Series 2: School activities and classes, Series 3: School buildings and grounds. The collection is physically organized by negative number.

Biographical / Historical

Biographical / Historical
Located on the Cattaraugus Indian Reservation in New York State, the Thomas Asylum for Orphaned and Destitute Indian Children was established as a private institution in 1855 and named after benefactor Philip E. Thomas. Orphaned and poor American Indian children from the Seneca [Cattaraugus], Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, and Tuscarora communities were sent to the asylum for boarding and care. In 1875 the institution was transferred to the State of New York and run under the New York State Board of Charities. It was charged with the education and vocational training of American Indian children in their care, which is reported to have included acculturation and assimilation of Native students by means of prohibiting use of Native languages and traditional cultural practices. In 1905 the institution was renamed the Thomas Indian School. By this time, eight grades were offered at the school, which had a half-day system with students attending classes for part of the day and working the other half. By 1930, the School was classified as a junior high school, but it was eventually closed in 1957 by the State.

Administration

Author
Emily Moazami
Immediate Source of Acquisition
This collection was donated by the grandchildren of Victor and Ethel Bissell Seneca.
Processing Information
Processed by Emily Moazami, Assistant Head Archivist in 2017.

Using the Collection

Conditions Governing Access
Access to NMAI Archive Center collections is by appointment only, Monday - Thursday, 9:30 am - 4:30 pm. Please contact the archives to make an appointment (phone: 301-238-1400, email: nmaiarchives@si.edu).
Preferred Citation
Identification of specific item; Date (if known); Thomas Indian School glass plate negatives, Box and Folder Number; National Museum of the American Indian Archive Center, Smithsonian Institution.
Conditions Governing Use
Single photocopies may be made for research purposes. Permission to publish materials from the collection must be requested from National Museum of the American Indian Archive Center. Please submit a written request to nmaiarchives@si.edu.

Related Materials
The New York State Archives in Albany, NY holds the Thomas Indian School Agency History Records and a collection of photographs.

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Cattaraugus Indian Reservation (N.Y.) Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Indians of North America -- Education Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Education -- school buildings Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Indians of North America -- Cultural assimilation Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
New York (State) Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Seneca [Cattaraugus] Cultural Context Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Schools -- Exercises and recreations Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Cayuga Cultural Context Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Oneida Cultural Context Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Onondaga Cultural Context Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Mohawk Cultural Context Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Iroquois Cultural Context Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Indians of North America -- New York (State) Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Glass negatives Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Thomas Indian School (Iroquois, N.Y.) Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

National Museum of the American Indian
4220 Silver Hill Rd
Suitland, Maryland 20746-2863
nmaiarchives@si.edu