The Carlisle Indian School was founded in 1879 by Colonel RH Pratt. His method was to “drive the Indian” out of them. His motto “Kill the Indian, save the man.”
Here’s two photos of Tom Torlino, a Navaho who arrived at Carlisle a few years after it opened. The second photo shows Tom’s transformation. His lighter skin is most likely the intentional product of the photographer’s lighting.
Before and after “contrast” photos were sent to officials in Washington, to potential charitable donors and to other reservations to recruit new students. Pratt’s photographs showing his "quick results" helped persuade Washington that he was doing vital work.
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I wonder if his cheekbones were intentionally highlighted in the before photo or smoothed over in the after photo?
Edited
Julie Schaul
I wouldn't doubt it. The whole point of the Carlisle "before and after" photos was to give financial backers "proof" that the school was "driving the Indian" out of its students.
Such awful, hard history.
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