Thomas Indian School

The Thomas Asylum for Orphan and Destitute Indian Children was incorporated as a private institution receiving some state aid in 1855 (Chapter 233). The asylum was located within the Cattaraugus Indian Reservation in Erie County and was charged to receive destitute and orphaned children from all Indian reservations in the state. It was named for Philip E. Thomas, a benefactor of New York's Indians and early financial backer of the asylum. In 1875 ownership of the asylum was transferred to the State of New York and it was made subject to visitation, supervision and control of the State Board of Charities (Ch. 162). As a state institution, its purpose was to furnish resident Indian children with "such care, moral training and education, and such instruction in husbandry and the arts of civilization, as they shall prescribe in their rules and by-laws." To reflect its emphasis on education the asylum's name was changed in 1905 to Thomas Indian School (Chapter 67). The school first offered Regents Examinations (through grade 6) in 1898, and by 1905 eight grades were available. In 1930 with the addition of one more grade the school was graded a Junior High School. The Thomas Indian School was placed under the supervision of the recently created Department of Charities in 1927 (Chapter 585). The Department of Charities was renamed Department of Social Welfare in 1929 (Ch. 654). Orphaned, destitute, or neglected Indian children were usually referred to the school from one of three sources: 1) parent or guardian unable to care for the child; 2) county welfare agency seeking to place a child under foster care; or 3) Children's Court. Final determinations on admissions were made by the superintendent. In 1942 a social worker was assigned to the school to provide counselling for residents and advice to the superintendent on intakes and outplacement. The state closed the Thomas Indian School in 1957. Its records were transferred to the Department of Social Services in 1967 and to the Division for Youth in 1971.