John Butler Testimonial

1899.45029 p. 79 of NARA record (#97 in top right corner)

December 1898

John Butler, who came from the Stockbridge Reservation, Wisconsin, stated that some times the food was good, but generally it was of a very poor quality; that the clothing he received was not of a proper kind and if he wanted decent clothes he had to buy them. When asked about the suit he had on, he stated that the School had supplied him with trousers, but the coat and vest he had borrowed. He stated that they seldom had good enough food and that it was not properly cooked and some times had a bad smell. For breakfast they received coffee, without sugar or milk, and bread and butter – sometimes meat. It was hardly ever warm when served, and had a disagreeable taste. For dinner, some times meat, potatoes, gravy and water. For supper they were given tea, bread and butter.

He was asked if he made complaint to any one in the School of the condition of affairs. He said no. He stated when they did complain nothing was done. He was asked about the kind of punishment administered in the School, and stated that boys had been hand-cuffed and marched around the yard with chains on their legs. Butler stated that on one occasion when he had gone into the City to the Lincoln Institution, upon his return chains were put on his legs and kept there for three days.

He stated that he would rather be away from the School than at it; that he had attended a Reservation School at home. He also stated than an Inspector had been at the School about two month ago, and that Col. Given assembled the boys for inspection and drill. This was all that was done.

Speaking of the condition of the School he said there was tobacco spit on the floor, and the boys’ quarters were not properly cleaned. The officers’ room and Colonel Given’s apartments were cleaned, but the boys quarters were dirty.

He was asked what other kind of punishment was administered but chains, and stated that they boxed the boys’ ears and hit them in the face. They were also struck with a club if they did not get up early enough, and also lashed with a whip quite severely. He said that the Colonel had no regular way for whipping them; that the whip used at times had lead on one end of it; that Mrs. Coxe [sic] visits the School once in a while, but stays in Colonel Given’s office.

Butler stated that he had only been at the School a few times: that the teachers did not seem to be competent; that he learned nothing. One teacher, Captain Leonard, gets excited and does not give the boys a fair chance. He also stated the teachers were constantly being changed and that the cooks were changed nearly every other week.

Document History

• Transcribed by HS 2025-07-27