Lucy’s Compassion Touched the Lives of Many

First Lady Lucy Webb Hayes

Hayes Presidential Library and Museums

  

Lucy Webb Hayes’ compassion and kindness extended well beyond her family, friends, and the communities in which she lived. Becoming first lady broadened her horizons even further. Now her concerns were for veterans, the impoverished, and the chronically ill around Washington, D. C. She also became well aware of the challenges Indians confined to reservations faced. Her concerns drew her to Hampton Normal and Industrial School located at Hampton, Virginia. Created in 1868, by the Freedmen’s Bureau, it was managed by General Samuel Armstrong, a son of missionaries and commander of African American regiments during the Civil War. Hampton was devoted to the education of the children of freed slaves.

 General Samuel Armstrong

Courtesy of Library of Congress

But Armstrong was given a new challenge when President Hayes released the Plains warriors from Fort Marion in St. Augustine, Florida. Under the care of Colonel Richard Pratt, the Native Americans could choose to return to the plains or remain in the east for education at the old cavalry barracks in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. But until it was repaired, Pratt asked Armstrong to house the Native Americans at Hampton. Armstrong immediately agreed and made plans to build a structure at Hampton to house his new students.

                                        Hunkpaka Girls on Arrival at Hampton

Courtesy of Library of Congress

Like most Americans, the president, first lady, and his administration believed that through education in the English language, the trades, patriotism, Christianity and citizenship, the native peoples would soon find their place in mainstream American society. Today, this attitude is clearly seen as paternalistic and destructive of their culture, but in 1878, it was an extraordinarily enlightened Indian policy. 

 

Booker T. Washington 

Their teacher at the newly built Wigwam (which still exists today on campus) was none other than Booker T. Washington. He was Hampton’s most successful graduate who returned to take a teaching position before creating the Tuskegee Institute.

Wigwam at Hampton

Courtesy of National Historic Places

The arrival of the Native Americans from Fort Marion created publicity across the nation. President Hayes became the first prominent individual to support Hampton’s efforts. During Lucy’s frequent visits to Hampton, Armstrong showed her photographs, ledger art, and pottery designed by the Native American students. It was his way of demonstrating to Lucy that these dispossessed children could succeed in American society. Lucy’s influence attracted wealthy individuals and reformers. A new wave of funding from Christian reformers helped shore up the school’s finances. President Garfield, Grant, and Secretary of War Robert Lincoln visited and advocated Indian education so strongly that the federal government paid $16,000 for 100 students to attend Hampton the next year. While the Native American program never matched that for African American students, the federal funding attracted nearly double the number of private contributions.

Pottery Compote by Bears Heart

Hayes Presidential Library and Museums

Many of the Fort Marion Indians joined Pratt when the Carlisle Barracks was completed, but some remained at Hampton. Among them was Bears Heart, a Cheyenne warrior who Lucy knew well.

Bears Heart at Ft. Marion

Courtesy of National Archives

 Nearby is one of the pottery pieces created by him and given to Lucy. Bears Heart traveled with Armstrong to reservations and encouraged children to gain skills and education at the school. Eventually, between the years 1877 to 1923, nearly 1400 students came to Hampton from 62 different tribal groups.