Letter book

Condition: book in in good shape, no loose pages

Subject tags: Algoma Missionary News, Anishinaabemowin, apprenticeship, assimilation, blacksmithing, bootmaking, building activities, carpentry, church societies, compulsory education, curriculum, Department of Indian Affairs, Diocese of Algoma activities, donations, farming, finances, funding, funding problems, fundraising, government contacts, government funding, government policy, Indian Agents, Indigenous languages, industries, inspections, missionary work, Ojibwe language, printing, religion, religious rivalries, runaway students, school governance, school reports, school rules, school supplies, sewing staffing, student activities, student clothing, student death, student families, student health, student occupation, student progress, student recruitment, student retention, student support, student work, tailoring, teaching, tinsmithing, trades, Wawanosh Home for Indian Girls

The letters in this book are from Edward F. Wilson to a number of different people, including church staff and officials, Indian Agents, Government officials such as the Superintendent General of Indian Affairs (Sir John A. Macdonald) and the Minister of the Interior (David Mills and then Sir John A. Macdonald), donors, Shingwauk and Wawanosh staff, his family, and Indigenous community members. The information is mostly focused on finances for the two Homes, especially funding towards student support. Wilson was in the process of building Wawanosh during these two years, so many of the letters deal with the building, funding, and staffing activities required to get the school set up. Information about individual students is also prominent, as Wilson includes information about their health, families, and activities inside and outside school when writing to student supporters. Student recruitment and retention i.e. agreement forms and consequences for running away or not returning after holidays are discussed often as Wilson was setting up the process for receiving students and keeping them at the institutions. There are a few letters in the book written by students which Wilson forwarded onto the recipients. Missionary work and funding tours feature in many letters, and students were often involved in these activities. 

Sketch of uniforms on page 116

Page 110 missing, likely removed during creation.

To view a PDF flipbook version of the book on the Internet Archive, click here, or scroll down for a downloadable version.