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Mrs. Russell Sage. America

1883-05-11: Flagler, Henry M., to Margaret Olivia Slocum Sage

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1883-05-11: Flagler, Henry M., to Margaret Olivia Slocum Sage

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Title	1883-05-11: Flagler, Henry M., to Margaret Olivia Slocum Sage
Creator	Flagler, Henry M.
Date Created	1883-05-11
Decade	1880s
Index Terms	Philanthropy, history "Indian Reform", funding, ironies of William Henry Pratt, career Carlisle Indian School, Penn., history Margaret Olivia Sage, and Indian Reform
Commentary	Marriage to financier Russell Sage in 1869 meant that Olivia Sage was now a socially-prominent New York matron, but she seems to have had little money at her discretion even for causes she believed in passionately. Although both Olivia and Russell Sage were enthusiastic about the Carlisle Indian School, an institution to "Americanize" Indian children at Carlisle, Pennsylvania, they provided almost no financial support to Carlisle, despite energetic fund-raising by its principal, Richard H. Pratt. This letter shows that in the 1880s Olivia Sage served as a conduit for donations to Carlisle from other wealthy individuals. Here railroad speculator Henry Flagler follows up his check to Sage and affirms his faith in Pratt's work of "removing the Indian children and youth from their tribal influences and associations." The letter illustrates how a network of wealthy north-eastern elites supported Pratt's work at Carlisle, and suggests that they saw it as a worthy outlet for their benevolence and philanthropy. [Commentary written by Dr. Ruth Crocker]
Item Description	This image is a handwritten letter from Henry M. Flagler to Margaret Olivia Slocum Sage. The writer sends a donation to Mrs. Sage to be passed on to the Carlisle Indian School and praises its work. [Item Description created by Auburn University Libraries]
Transcription	May 11th/83 Dear Mrs. Sage Yours of yesterday’s date is duly received, and I have read with interest Captain Pratt’s letter of Jan’y 23d to Gen’l. Eaton. My judgment long since approved the work being done by Cap’t Pratt, and I fully endorse his view; namely that better results may be anticipated by removing the Indian children and youth from their tribal influences and associations to the east, rather than to undertake to educate them on their reservations. Please do not longer delay to use the small check I sent you. I shall take pleasure in rendering such further assistance to Cap’t Pratt’s work as circumstances and my means seem to warrant. Yours very truly H M Flagler
Language	eng
File Name	4.jpg
Original Document ID	Box 13, Folder 452
Collection	Richard Henry Pratt Papers
Repository	Yale University, Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, New Haven, Connecticut
Rights	This image is not the property of the Auburn University Libraries. Anyone wishing to use this image must contact the repository listed above for permission.
Digital Publisher	Auburn University Libraries
Mini-Collections	"Indian reform" Carlisle School, Pennsylvania Marriage