Before visiting Carlisle School, we stopped by the Cumberland County Historical Society, which had a photo exhibit on the “contrast photos” from the school. Essentially, these were “before and after” marketing photos showing how much the Native Americans had been “Americanized” during their stay.

A museum exhibit displays information about contrast photos from the Carlisle Indian Industrial School, featuring historical photographs and descriptive text on a blue wall.A display features a booklet titled Souvenir of the Carlisle Indian School and a photograph of Tom Torlino, Navajo, depicting his appearance upon entering the school in 1882 and three years later.Two historical sepia-toned photographs depict Indigenous children in traditional attire, posed formally for the portraits.A wall display features a newspaper clipping titled The Morning Star and two sepia-toned historical photographs, each depicting formal portraits of Native American individuals and children.Two portraits are displayed, one of a man in formal attire from 1914 and another of Chauncey Yellow Robe in traditional indigenous clothing, accompanied by historical text about the photographs.