Thomas Asylum for Orphan and Destitute Indian Children (Cattaraugus Indian Reservation, N.Y.)

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The Thomas Asylum for Orphan and Destitute Indian Children was incorporated as a private institution receiving some state aid in 1855 (Chapter 233).

The asylum was located within the Cattaraugus Indian Reservation in Erie County and was charged to receive destitute and orphaned children from all Indian reservations in the state. It was named for Philip E. Thomas, a benefactor of New York's Indians and early financial backer of the asylum.

In 1875 ownership of the asylum was transferred to the State of New York and it was made subject to visitation, supervision and control of the State Board of Charities (Ch. 162). As a state institution, its purpose was to furnish resident Indian children with "such care, moral training and education, and such instruction in husbandry and the arts of civilization, as they shall prescribe in their rules and by-laws." To reflect its emphasis on education the asylum's name was changed in 1905 to Thomas Indian School (Chapter 67). The school first offered Regents Examinations (through grade 6) in 1898, and by 1905 eight grades were available. In 1930 with the addition of one more grade the school was graded a Junior High School.

The Thomas Indian School was placed under the supervision of the recently created Department of Charities in 1927 (Chapter 585). The Department of Charities was renamed Department of Social Welfare in 1929 (Ch. 654).

Orphaned, destitute, or neglected Indian children were usually referred to the school from one of three sources: 1) parent or guardian unable to care for the child; 2) county welfare agency seeking to place a child under foster care; or 3) Children's Court. Final determinations on admissions were made by the superintendent. In 1942 a social worker was assigned to the school to provide counselling for residents and advice to the superintendent on intakes and outplacement.

The state closed the Thomas Indian School in 1957. Its records were transferred to the Department of Social Services in 1967 and to the Division for Youth in 1971.

From the description of Thomas Indian School Agency History Record. (New York State Archives). WorldCat record id: 83164571

The Thomas Asylum for Orphan and Destitute Indian Children was incorporated as a private institution receiving some state aid in 1855 (Chapter 233).

The asylum was located within the Cattaraugus Indian Reservation in Erie County and was charged to receive destitute and orphaned children from all Indian reservations in the state. It was named for Philip E. Thomas, a benefactor of New York's Indians and early financial backer of the asylum.

In 1875 ownership of the asylum was transferred to the State of New York and it was made subject to visitation, supervision and control of the State Board of Charities (Ch. 162). As a state institution, its purpose was to furnish resident Indian children with "such care, moral training and education, and such instruction in husbandry and the arts of civilization, as they shall prescribe in their rules and by-laws." To reflect its emphasis on education the asylum's name was changed in 1905 to Thomas Indian School (Chapter 67). The school first offered Regents Examinations (through grade 6) in 1898, and by 1905 eight grades were available. In 1930 with the addition of one more grade the school was graded a Junior High School.

The Thomas Indian School was placed under the supervision of the recently created Department of Charities in 1927 (Chapter 585). The Department of Charities was renamed Department of Social Welfare in 1929 (Ch. 654).

Orphaned, destitute, or neglected Indian children were usually referred to the school from one of three sources: 1) parent or guardian unable to care for the child; 2) county welfare agency seeking to place a child under foster care; or 3) Children's Court. Final determinations on admissions were made by the superintendent. In 1942 a social worker was assigned to the school to provide counselling for residents and advice to the superintendent on intakes and outplacement.

The state closed the Thomas Indian School in 1957. Its records were transferred to the Department of Social Services in 1967 and to the Division for Youth in 1971.

From the New York State Archives, Cultural Education Center, Albany, NY. Agency record NYSV86-A1018

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Register of trustees, Indian children, and visitors New York State Archives
creatorOf Monthly farm production reports New York State Archives
creatorOf Thomas Indian School children's daily diet logs New York State Archives
referencedIn Department of Social Welfare Division of State Institutions population reports of institutions New York State Archives
referencedIn Thomas Asylum for Orphan and Destitute Indian Children statistical and financial reports New York State Archives
creatorOf Thomas Indian School glass plate negatives National Museum of the American Indian (U.S.) Archive Center
referencedIn Memorandum of the contents of the corner stone box, 1902 Jan. 14. Buffalo History Museum, Research Library
creatorOf Photographs of activities and facilities New York State Archives
creatorOf Thomas Indian School Superintendent's daily diaries New York State Archives
referencedIn Child commitment contracts New York State Archives
creatorOf Thomas Indian School ledger accounts New York State Archives
creatorOf Thomas Indian School Correspondence and Subject Files New York State Archives
referencedIn 150th anniversary pageant, Town of Collins, N.Y., 1971. Buffalo History Museum, Research Library
creatorOf Child commitment contracts New York State Archives
creatorOf Thomas Indian School farm expenditure and production journals New York State Archives
creatorOf Thomas Indian School children's case files New York State Archives
creatorOf Thomas Indian School. Thomas Indian School Agency History Record. New York State Archives
referencedIn Child commitment contracts 1855-1881. [microform]. SUNY College at Fredonia, Daniel A. Reed Library
creatorOf Thomas Indian School Register of Visitors New York State Archives
creatorOf Thomas Indian School treasurer's monthly reports New York State Archives
referencedIn Letter : to the Buffalo Historical Society, 1888 Sept. 24. Buffalo History Museum, Research Library
referencedIn Register of trustees, Indian children, and visitors 1855-1881. [microform]. SUNY College at Fredonia, Daniel A. Reed Library
creatorOf Thomas Indian School journal accounts New York State Archives
referencedIn Correspondence, 1816-1903, 1861-1863 (bulk). New York State Historical Documents Inventory
creatorOf Register of trustees, Indian children, and visitors New York State Archives
referencedIn Minutes of meetings of boards of visitors and monthly reports of institutions New York State Archives
creatorOf Thomas Asylum for Orphan and Destitute Indian Children statistical and financial reports New York State Archives
referencedIn Monthly reports and minutes of meetings of boards of managers of state institutions New York State Archives
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Beauvais, Frank. person
associatedWith Blueye, Clarence. person
associatedWith Brennan, J.C. person
associatedWith Ferris, Martha H. person
associatedWith Lincoln, Emily P. person
associatedWith Lincoln, George I. person
associatedWith New York (State). Dept. of Charities. corporateBody
associatedWith New York (State). Dept. of Charities. corporateBody
associatedWith New York (State). Dept. of Charities. corporateBody
associatedWith New York (State). Dept. of Charities. corporateBody
associatedWith New York (State). Dept. of Charities. corporateBody
associatedWith New York (State). Dept. of Charities. corporateBody
associatedWith New York (State). Dept. of Charities. corporateBody
associatedWith New York (State). Dept. of Charities. corporateBody
associatedWith New York (State). Dept. of Charities. corporateBody
associatedWith New York (State). Dept. of Social Welfare. corporateBody
associatedWith New York (State). Dept. of Social Welfare. corporateBody
associatedWith New York (State). Dept. of Social Welfare. corporateBody
associatedWith New York (State). Dept. of Social Welfare. corporateBody
associatedWith New York (State). Dept. of Social Welfare. corporateBody
associatedWith New York (State). Dept. of Social Welfare. corporateBody
associatedWith New York (State). Dept. of Social Welfare. corporateBody
associatedWith New York (State). Dept. of Social Welfare. corporateBody
associatedWith New York (State). Dept. of Social Welfare. corporateBody
associatedWith New York (State). Dept. of Social Welfare. corporateBody
associatedWith New York (State). Dept. of Social Welfare. Division of State Institutions. corporateBody
associatedWith New York (State). Dept. of Social Welfare. Division of State Institutions. corporateBody
associatedWith New York (State). Governor. corporateBody
associatedWith New York (State). State Board of Charities. corporateBody
associatedWith New York (State). State Board of Charities. corporateBody
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associatedWith New York (State). State Board of Charities. corporateBody
associatedWith New York (State). State Board of Charities. corporateBody
associatedWith New York (State). State Board of Charities. corporateBody
associatedWith Painter, Levinus K. person
associatedWith Pettit, E.M. person
associatedWith Pettit, James M. person
associatedWith Pierce, Ely. person
associatedWith Thomas Asylum for Orphan and Desititute Indian Children. corporateBody
associatedWith Thomas Asylum for Orphan and Destitute Indian Children. corporateBody
associatedWith Thomas Asylum for Orphan and Destitute Indian Children. corporateBody
associatedWith Thomas Asylum for Orphan and Destitute Indian Children. corporateBody
associatedWith Thomas Asylum for Orphan and Destitute Indian Children. corporateBody
associatedWith Thomas Asylum for Orphan and Destitute Indian Children. corporateBody
associatedWith Thomas Asylum for Orphan and Destitute Indian Children. corporateBody
associatedWith Thomas Asylum for Orphan and Destitute Indian Children. corporateBody
associatedWith Thomas Asylum for Orphan and Destitute Indian Children. corporateBody
associatedWith Thomas Asylum for Orphan and Destitute Indian Children. corporateBody
associatedWith Thomas Asylum for Orphan and Destitute Indian Children. corporateBody
associatedWith Thomas Asylum for Orphan and Destitute Indian Children (Cattaraugus Indian Reservation, N.Y.). Board of Managers. corporateBody
associatedWith Thomas Indian School. corporateBody
associatedWith Thomas Indian School. corporateBody
associatedWith Thomas Indian School. corporateBody
associatedWith Thomas Indian School. corporateBody
associatedWith Thomas Indian School. corporateBody
associatedWith Thomas Indian School. corporateBody
associatedWith Thomas Indian School. corporateBody
associatedWith Thomas Indian School. corporateBody
associatedWith Thomas Indian School. corporateBody
associatedWith Thomas Indian School. corporateBody
associatedWith Thomas Indian School. corporateBody
associatedWith Thomas, Philip E. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Cattaraugus Indian Reservation (N.Y.)
Allegany Indian Reservation (N.Y.)
Erie County (N.Y.)
Onondaga Indian Reservation (N.Y.)
New York (State)
Cattaraugus Reservation (N.Y.)
Iroquois (N.Y.)
Erie County (N.Y
Subject
Education
Education
Agriculture
Diet
Farm management
Farm produce
Indian agents
Indian of North America
Indian reservations
Indians
Indians of North America
Indians of North America
Indians of North America
Nutrition
Onondaga Indians
Orphanages
School buildings
School children
School reports
Schools
School sports
Scouts and scouting
Seneca Indians
Occupation
Activity
Accounting
Administering schools
Admitting
Admitting children
Education
Assisting children
Constructing schools
Educating Native American children
Maintaining schools
Managing accounts
Managing farms
Monitoring
Monitoring children
Monitoring schools
Publicizing
Public welfare
Reporting
Supervising children

Corporate Body

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Active 1955

Active 1889

Active 1944

Active 1855

Active 1881

Active 1881

Active 1896

Active 1855

Active 1963

Active 1892

Active 1957

Active 1881

Active 1906

Active 1918

Active 1947

Active 1908

Active 1944

Active 1918

Active 1949

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