Richard: According to a booklet in the files of this office, "Indians: The Seneca Way," ed. by Jean R. Streeter, of the Seneca Indian Historical Society, (no date, circa 1971), p. 16: The Thomas Indian School on the Cattaraugus Reservation (Irving, NY) grew out of efforts of the Society of Friends to provide education to Indian children. The Thomas Asylum for Orphan and Destitute Children was incorporated April 10, 1855, with the use of land approved by the Seneca Nation and a NYS legislative appropriation of $2000. It was named after Philip Thomas of the Friends. The first children arrived June 1856. The school became a state institution in 1875. The school was rebuilt in 1900 and renamed the Thomas Indian School. In 1927 the NYS Dept,. of Social Welfare was given responsibility for the school. The school eventually absorbed all of the smaller district schools on the reservation. In 1950 it was placed under the NYS Education Department; and was integrated with the Gowanda Public School System in 1954. Gowanda eventually absorbed all the students into its system, and the Thomas Indian School was phased out and closed its doors in 1958. The buildings still stood as of circa 1971 and were used for social services. Any records are probably with the New York State Archives in Albany (for the State-run institution) and the Gowanda School District (for the school district period). David W. Palmquist Chief, Office of External Services NYS Museum 3096 Cultural Education Center Albany NY 12230 518-473-3131 fax 518-473-8496 [log in to unmask] >>> Richard Cleveland <[log in to unmask]> 08/21/97 05:42pm >>> I had a grandfather who is said to have been adopted from an Indian orphanage, and I did't know how to get information on this. I saw the listing of the THOMAS INDIAN SCHOOL, and I got very excited. PLEASE how do I get information from them and are there any other places in the N.Y. area from the late 1900's that you could tell me about? THANK YOU, KATHY CLEVELAND [log in to unmask]