Seneca Indian School facts for kids
The Seneca Indian School was a special type of school called a Native American boarding school. It was located in Wyandotte, Oklahoma. This school was first started for children from the Seneca, Shawnee, and Wyandotte tribes. Later on, many Cherokee students also attended. The school was open for a long time, from 1872 until 1980.
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What Was the Seneca Indian School?
The Seneca Indian School was a boarding school. This means students lived at the school, not just went there for classes. It was created to educate Native American children.
How the School Started
The Wyandotte tribe moved to the area where the school was built in 1867. A group called the Society of Friends, also known as Quakers, started a mission there in 1869. The Wyandotte Tribal Council gave land to the Quakers. They wanted a boarding school for Seneca, Shawnee, and Wyandotte children. Building the school began in 1871, and the first classes started in 1872.
Other Names for the School
Over the years, the school was known by a few different names. Some of these names included:
- Wyandotte Mission
- Seneca, Shawnee, and Wyandotte Industrial Boarding School
- Seneca Boarding School
By the 1920s, most of the students at the school were from the Cherokee tribe.
Important Changes and Events
In 1927, the school had a serious health problem. There was an outbreak of measles and typhoid. Sadly, many children became very sick during this time.
A new principal, Joe Kagey, started working at the school in 1928. He made an important change to who could attend. The school began to accept children from all tribes. It also became a place for children who were going through difficult times at home. In 1952, there were 173 Cherokee students, along with many students from other tribes. Principal Kagey retired in 1956.
The Seneca Indian School officially closed on June 15, 1980. After it closed, the 189 acres of land that the school was on were given back to the Wyandotte Tribe.
Some of the school's old records, from 1916 to 1970, are kept at the National Archives. These records can help people learn more about the school's history.
