Minutes taken at a meeting of the Pacific University Board of Trustees on June 4, 1879. This was the first time when the Indian Training School was noted in the Trustees' records. The board voted to request Lieutenant Wilkinson, who would become the first superintendent of the Forest Grove Indian Training School, to serve as a professor of military science at Pacific. It also notes: 'Lieut. Wilkinson has placed before the Board of Trustees the purpose and plan of the Interior Department to educate at some institution, upon this coast a certain number of Indian youth of both sexes, and the Board of Trustees make this application for the detail of Lieut. Wilkinson, with the understanding that this Board of Trustees incur no pecuniary liability thereby, and that the government pay all the necessary expenses attending the same.' Furthermore, they noted the passage of a motion: 'Resolved that the President and Secretary of this institution be and hereby are authorized to negotiate with the proper officers of the government for carrying into effect the proposition to supervise the education of Indian youth ...'
A table of enrollment data by tribe of students enrolled at the Forest Grove Indian Training School.This list includes total number of students from each tribe as well as how many from each sex. This table was probably created by Richard Read, former archivist for Pacific University, based on the school's roster.
Lecture notes about the Forest Grove Indian Training School by Pacific University's former curator, Richard Read. The notes include key points in the school's history, demographics of the school by tribe and gender, as well as a list of people who were key contributors to its founding.
An article about the history of Chemawa School, written by the editor of the Grande Ronde tribes' newsletter. It mentions Pacific University's history but mainly focuses on the students' history, closing with the school's contemporary curriculum. The article appeared in 'Smoke Signals' (Feb. 15, 2000), a publication of the Confederated Tribes of Grande Ronde.
Fact sheet by former Pacific University archivisit Rick Read about the Forest Grove Indian Training School. It includes basic facts about the school, such as its location, important dates, and enrollment figures.
A newspaper article published in the Salem 'Oregon Statesman' about the decision to move the Forest Grove Indian Training School to Salem. It describes the acquisition of land for the school and the benefits of the move.
A newspaper article published in the Salem 'Oregon Statesman' just before the Forest Grove Indian Training School moved to its new location at Chemawa. It includes a reprint of an article published by the students in their school newspaper, the 'Indian Citizen,' about the impending move. The school newspaper article describes feelings at the school about the move, their feelings towards the residents of Forest Grove, and their belief in the success of the school. It is unclear whether this was really written by the students of the school (if so, Henry Sicade was the most likely author, being the most advanced writer), or if it was written by a faculty member.
A from a newspaper article describing the display of twelve children from the Forest Grove Indian Training School at an agricultural fair in Newberg in 1883. The article was transcribed from the Yamhill Reporter; it originally appeared in the Willamette Farmer, according to notes on the page.
A brief news article on 'Mr. and Mrs. L. C. Walker' (Levi C. Walker and Sarah 'Belle' Putnam Walker), who were visiting Chemawa School to see friends and former students. The Walkers had taught at the Forest Grove Indian Training School. The article also mentions a measles epidemic at Chemawa. The article appeared in a local newspaper, the 'Washington County Hatchet.'
A brief news article from the Forest Grove 'News-Times' describes a visit by an alumnus of the Forest Grove Indian Training School, Albert Minthorn, to Samuel A. Walker, who was a former teacher at the school. Minthorn is described as a 'wealthy farmer living on the Umatilla reservation.'
A news article from the Salem 'Oregon Statesman' newspaper announcing that the third and fourth grade students of the Forest Grove Indian Training School were moving to the school's new site in Salem. It states that other students would remain in Forest Grove until construction is finished. The article also notes the death from tuberculosis of one student, Charles Thompson, age 19.
A news article from the Salem 'Oregon Statesman' newspaper about Chief Peo of the Umatilla tribe, who was visiting two tribe members in prison. The article mentions that the house Chief Peo lived in was built by four students from the Forest Grove Indian Training School who had learned carpentry.
Short article from a local newspaper, the 'Washington Independent,' about Mr. Hudson, who was the blacksmithing teacher at the Forest Grove Indian Training School and Chemawa in the 1880s. Hudson states that 'the present location of the school at Chemawa is very unhealthy, and there is now so much prejudice against the place on account of this among the Indian trives, that new scholars are secured with great difficulty.'
A senior thesis paper written by Pacific University student Cynthia Straughan on the history of the Forest Grove Indian Training School. She discusses the creation of the first off-reservation Indian boarding school, the Carlisle School, and its relationship to the founding of the school in Forest Grove. She draws on primary sources from the Pacific University Archives to describe the aims and activities of the school.
Short note in an article from local newspaper, the 'Washington Independent,' about the newly ornamented buildings and the painted fences outside of the Indian Training School in Forest Grove.
An article written in 1959 on the history of the Chemawa Indian School beginning with its founding in Forest Grove. The article, which provides a positive view of the aims of the school, includes names and information about its early staff and students. The article is based on records from the Bureau of Indian Affairs held in the National Archives and Records Administration as well as popular press accounts. This article appeared in the journal of the the Marion County Historical Society, 'Marion County History' (1959).
An opinion article by Professor Michael Steel of Pacific University on the legacy of the Forest Grove Training School. Steele describes the destruction of native culture and the loss of children's lives that occurred at the school. He advocates for a healing ceremony to be held on campus in order to acknowledged and address Pacific University's part in supporting the Indian School. This article appeared in 'Pacific: the magazine of Pacific University' (Spring 2009).
A magazine article on the Forest Grove Indian Training School written by a Pacific University student majoring in history who also worked as an assistant in its Archives. He describes the history of the school and its relationship to Pacific University, using records from the Pacific University Archives as sources. This article appeared in 'Pacific: the magazine of Pacific University' (Spring 2009).
A senior thesis paper written by Pacific University student Arie Higgins on the history of Indian boarding schools. She discusses the first Indian Boarding School Carlisle and how it influenced the start of more boarding schools including the Indian Training School in Forest Grove.
A senior thesis paper written by Pacific University student Glenn Kinney addressing the history of the Forest Grove Indian Training School. It includes information about the rise of off-reservation boarding schools, General Oliver Howard's involvement, and the start of the Indian Boarding School in Forest Grove. It also discusses the successes and setbacks that the school faced until its removal to Salem in 1885.
A draft of a letter from trustees of Pacific University in support of keeping the Indian Training School in Forest Grove. This draft is not addressed, but the letter was probably sent to the United States Secretary of the Interior. It describes the accomplishments of the school so far, including the teaching of English (noting 'no other [language] is allowed among them'), Christianization of the students, and vocational training. The draft names five of the eleven members of the Board of Trustees as signatories: Alanson Hinman, Horace Lyman, George H. Atkinson, Obed Dickinson, and G. H. Collier.
Three transcribed letters from Henry Sicade (Puyallup), who was a student at the Forest Grove Indian Training School. They are addressed to Samuel T. Walker, who was a Sunday School superintendent there. The letters include Sicade's memories of the school regarding the teachers, the school superintendent Captain Wilkinson, and Sicade's activities after graduating. An additional transcribed letter from Walker, addressed to Professor Henry Bates of Pacific University, presents Sicade's letters to Bates, but asks for the originals back.
Inventory of records related to the Forest Grove Indian Training School and Chemawa School from the files of the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The inventory was prepared by the Seattle Branch of the National Archives and Records Administration, which holds the collection. Most of the records in the inventory date from after 1900.
