Omaha Mission School

Indian Schools, Seminaries, and Asylums

Beginning in 1878 the goal was to assimilate Indian people into the general population of the United States.  By placing the Indian children in first day schools and boarding schools it was thought this would be accomplished. Federal policy sanctioned the removal of children from their families and placed in government run boarding schools.  It was thought they would become Americanized while being kept away from their traditional families.

In 1928, a report entitled “The Problem of the Indian Administration”, otherwise known as the Meriam Report, was produced at the direction of the Indian Commission. The Meriam report was highly critical of government Indian policy with regard to education. The poor quality of personnel, inadequate salaries, unqualified teachers and almost non-existent health care were some of the criticisms leveled by the report.

The students, upon their arrival, were required to have their hair cut short, an act that produced much resentment among the new students. Tribal dress or clothing was not permitted as school uniforms were provided and required to be worn. Their children’s names were another connection to their home and family and so they too were changed and new “pronounceable” names were assigned to each. No effort was spared when it came to breaking the Native cultural ties.

We are providing pages that we have found which will help the reader find more information on Indian Schools, Seminaries, and Asylums. Lists of students names, tribal affiliation, residence and age in hopes that by searching these records you will find your native ancestor.

You will also find a list of schools and their address (as much as known) for further research of a particular tribe.


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4 thoughts on “Indian Schools, Seminaries, and Asylums”

  1. I am looking for records for something called a “missionary school” in Ross Co., OH on the 1920 census. Actually, a woman identified herself as a teacher at said school. I was wondering if it might have been an Indian school.

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