File:Thomas Wildcat Alford to S. C. (Samuel Chapman) Armstrong, 4 July 1887 (1f335974-3d30-4964-8749-22ab15ecefa5).jpg

Manuscript letter

Archives Number: 1007.001/002.003-001#017

Shawneetown, I.T.
July 4th 1887.
Gen. S.C Armstrong,
Dear friend,
I have just heard from my brother-in-law who, whilest he endorses my plan, left the whole matter on me to decide.
Now while I long prepare myself for this useful profession which is much needed among my people, I cannot reconcile myself to the fact of leaving my family so long in this wild country and unprovided for. Under these circumstances I think it’s best for me to remain where I am - hoping something may turn up in which I may engage beside my farming; and for the present I decided, if my health permits it, to continue to teach in my old place although it is very unpleasant.
In this as well as in other schools that new comers in the service are usually prejudiced against the Indians or at least have no sympathy with them and that they often prefer to have their own friends associated with them in the work in [p.2 ] place of the natives and that for these reasons the position of an Indian employe [sic] is made very uncomfortable - so much so that one after the course of time finds the lack of encouragement and sympathy so very oppressive that he loses all spirit-
Yours very [Sincerely]
T. 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)