Jonathan Richard papers

Jonathan Richard (ca. 1812­-1882) born in Darby (?), Pennsylvania, was educated at Westtown School and married Margaret Caley (d. 1877). He was the principal and superintendent of the Haverford School from 1853 to 1857. Richard was appointed an "Indian Agent" for the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes at Wichita, Kansas in 1870, and served until 1876. Richard was appointed under the Peace Policy adopted by President Grant, which officially turned over the management of the Central Superintendency to the care of the Orthodox branch of the Society of Friends. The Central Superintendency included the entire area of Kansas and the "Indian Territory." The area was under the care of nine Agents, all members of the Society of Friends, who were under the supervision of Superintendent Enoch Hoag and the "Commissioner of Indian Affairs" in Washington, D.C. The Agents were responsible for distributing rations, teaching agriculture, counseling, and establishing government schools. President Hayes, Grant's successor, appointed a new commissioner in 1877, who considered many of the Friends inefficient and in some cases, dishonest. As a result of this change in policy and administration, the office of the Central Superintendent and some of the Agencies were abolished.