File:Thomas Wildcat Alford to Alice Mary Longfellow, 12 October 1883 (844f68ac-33a3-4633-b4b6-3323bfadc7c7).jpg

Manuscript letter

Archives Number: 1007.001/002.003-001#013

Shawneetown, Ind. Ter.
Oct. 12” 1883,
Miss A. M. Longfellow:
My Dear Friend:
Your kind letter 21” ult. is at hand and also are the papers and magazines, for which receive my best thanks. They are so entertaining as well as rare, especially in this out-of-the-way country. Your letter was directed to Wagoza where I taught last winter and spring, but it came around this way so that I got it.
My school there closed on the last school day in June, and immediately I accepted a position of Principal teacher at the Shawnee Manual Labor school of this place and took charge - the position I had been wished for - to be among my own Tribe, and which I thought was the right place to work in order to succeed.
[p. 2] I have one assistant, who is a white lady, and have at present 28 scholars- 20 boys and 8 girls. I expect 12 more girls soon. It is harder to get them than boys. The school opened on first Monday in last month. Its capacity being 40 boarding scholars. A new building is soon to be erected which will contain dormatories [sic] for boys, a dinning-room, [sic] and a school-room. Then we can accommodate 100 in all. We have been in hopes to get the building completed before this, but have been disappointed. As there is no rail-road within 100 miles, or more, and the lumber has to be hauled by teams. So I am teaching in an old frame house in which I myself was once taught by a good old Quacker [sic]. Of course I like it and it is very dear to me.
The boys are detailed to do certain work every week- help in the farm of 40 acres or more attached to the School, take care stock or anything that needs to be done [p. 3] in their line; and the girls are the same - in the kitchen or in the dinning-room [sic] and laundry or anything that needs be done in their line.
I think I shall enjoy my work here when the school is filled, and shall like it more and more as I become more acquainted with the whole work. I am sure I enjoyed my work last year among the Pottawatomies, and I shall never lose my interest for the scholars there; for I do think I had some who were as bright as any that may be found anywhere.
We were quite surprised by [crossed out: the] a visit Gen. S. C. Armstrong last month, as we did not in the least expect him. We were all glad to see him, perhaps, I was more so than the rest. He was on his way from Arizona Ter. and Mexico back to Hampton. He remained with us overnight and part of the next day - just time enough for [p. 4] him to visit my school and to give short talk to the scholars. Such a man from such a place is always listened to with attention.
And now thanking you again for your kindness and interest in my welfare even while I was yet in school, I must close my poor letter. I thank God that my future for doing good is bright enough, and that He has helped me through many disappointments and discouragements that awaited me in the work which He has assigned to me.
With best wishes for your safe voyage to Old England.
I am ever yours gratefully
Thos. W. Alford

• Keywords: long archives; document; alice m. longfellow papers (long 16173); hampton institute; organizations; education; correspondence; Manuscripts (1007.001); (LONG-Subcollection); Correspondence (1007.001/002); (LONG-SeriesName); Scholarship Student Correspondence (1007.001/002.003); (LONG-SubseriesName); Letters to Alice Longfellow (1007.001/002.003-001); (LONG-FileUnitName)