Thomas Indian School Superintendent's Daily Diaries

Chronological by year.

These diaries provide a summary record of activities of the staff and students at the school. Entries are in manuscript, and were apparently written by the school superintendent and kept as a record of the school's administration over time. Two of the volumes (1908, 1909) are signed by Superintendent Emily P. Lincoln, but the remainder are unsigned. With some exceptions, diary entries cover the twelve months of each year. The tone of the diaries is institutional; they are not the personal diaries of the superintendents. As such they do not contain personal opinions, reflections, references to world events, or any non-work related entries.

Brief daily entries typically mention weather conditions; farm work in progress; maintenance and repair work in progress; entertainment provided to children (such as movies, visits to fairs); team sporting events; incidents pertaining to specific children (such as death, illness, injury, failure to return from vacation); religious activities; correspondence sent by superintendent; and trips by superintendent and staff.

Microfilm is available for use at the New York State Archives.

Volume list is available at the repository.

There are no restrictions regarding access to or use of this material.