Overview of American Indian Records

and Resources on Archives.gov

Instructor: Jessica Hopkins, Archives Specialist
Presentation: Tuesday, October 28, 2014

Slide 2 – Course Description: Explore our new and improved American Indian web pages! A
team of National Archives staff from across the country has created well-organized web pages to
help researchers understand and utilize the wealth of Federal records relating to American
Indians. These Federal documents, produced through government administration and interactions
with American Indians over many decades, cover a wide variety of topics and time periods,
ranging from births and deaths to allotments and heirship to land and property. Take a guided
tour through these new resource pages on archives.gov, led by a member of the creating team.
Visit the American Indian portion of the website at: www.archives.gov/research/native-
americans/index.html.
Slide 4 – Course Objectives
 Identify possible resources and records
 Understand what you may find
 Know how and who to contact for additional information
 Navigate resource pages

Slide 5 – Project Background

 Team of National Archives staff from across the country
 Multi-year project
 Developed collaborative innovative methods to write content and design pages

Slide 6 – Project Goals

 Short term goals
o Create, write, and improve pages specifically related to researching an individual
or family member
o Highlight multiple records and record types that may be useful in research
 Long term goals
o Create, write, and improve pages specifically related to American Indian tribes,
bands, or communities as well as treaties and geography
o Tackle more complex topics in American Indian Research
 Overarching goal
o Provide easier access to records related to American Indians

Slide 7 – Challenges
 Content
 Day-to-day tasks
 Time
 Other large-scale projects

National Archives – Virtual Genealogy Fair 2014, Page 1

Slide 8 – Misconceptions
 Availability of name index for individuals or employees
 Everything is available online, in one location

Slide 9 – Researching American Indians and Alaska Natives

http://www.archives.gov/research/native-americans/index.html
 An individual or family
 Under development:
o A geography place or time period
o An American Indian tribe, band, or community
o Treaties or past laws

Slide 10 – Researching an Individual or Family

http://www.archives.gov/research/native-americans/research-individual.html
Consider these key questions:
 Do you know their name(s)?
 Do you know the tribe of the individual or family?
 Do you know roughly where and when the individual or family lived?

Slide 11 – Five Main Portals for Researching via Individual or Family

http://www.archives.gov/research/native-americans/research-individual-more.html
 Census Records
 Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Records
 School Records
 Employment Records
 Military Service Records

National Archives – Virtual Genealogy Fair 2014, Page 2

Slide 12 – Census Records (Navigation Portal)
http://www.archives.gov/research/native-americans/research-census.html
 Indian Census Rolls
 Federal Population Census

Slide 13 – Indian Census Rolls and Federal Population Census

 Federal Population Census:
http://www.archives.gov/research/native-americans/research-decennial-census.html
 Indian Census:
http://www.archives.gov/research/native-americans/research-indian-census.html

Slide 14 – Bureau of Indian Affairs, BIA (Navigation Portal)

http://www.archives.gov/research/native-americans/bia.html

Slide 15 – Allotment Records

http://www.archives.gov/research/native-americans/allotment-records.html
 Financial and property allotments
 Land allotments

Slide 16 – Application and Case Files

http://www.archives.gov/research/native-americans/bia-applications.html

Slide 17 – Rolls
http://www.archives.gov/research/native-americans/bia-rolls.html
Research Tips
 Know the tribe, and understand how the tribe’s name and geographic location may have
changed
 Understand the historical context in which these rolls were created
 Recognize that the rolls may include information about Freedmen and/or slaves
 Not all rolls are available online

Slide 18 – Five Civilized Tribes: Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole
Tribes in Oklahoma – Dawes Records
http://www.archives.gov/research/native-americans/dawes-records.html

Slide 19 - Census Cards Pertaining to Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Creek, and

Seminole Tribes in Oklahoma – Dawes Records
http://www.archives.gov/research/native-americans/dawes-census.html
 Also known as Enrollment Cards

Slide 20 – Sample Approved Dawes Census Card with Annotations

Slide 21 – Dawes Records

http://www.archives.gov/research/native-americans/dawes-enrollment.html
 Enrollment Jackets (Also known as Dawes Applications or Testimonial Packets)
 Land Allotment Jackets
 Dawes Allotment Maps for the Five Civilized Tribes
National Archives – Virtual Genealogy Fair 2014, Page 3
Slide 22 – Baker Roll
http://www.archives.gov/research/native-americans/baker-roll.html

Slide 23 – Guion Miller Roll

http://www.archives.gov/research/native-americans/guion-miller-rolls.html

Slide 24 – Navigating Record Group 75, Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)

http://www.archives.gov/research/native-americans/bia-guide/
 Direct researchers to the appropriate NARA facility or affiliated archives where records
are stored
 Arranged geographically by state and thereunder by tribe or band.
 Under each entry for a tribe or band is a list of the BIA offices which had a jurisdictional
relationship with that tribe, and which NARA office holds records.
 Reflects who created and/or maintained the records

Slide 25 – Navigating Record Group 75, Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) – State Samples
http://www.archives.gov/research/native-americans/bia-guide/kansas.html
*Keep in mind, the hyperlinks found on this page will take you to the Online Catalog that has
counted all the descriptions and series that include the Bureau of Indian Affairs Agency, Field
Office, and/or Superintendencies.

Slides 26 – List of Agencies and Descriptions in Online Public Access – Sample

Online Public Access (OPA): http://www.archives.gov/research/search/

Slide 27 – Series Description from Online Public Access – Sample

Birth and Death Records, 1916-1942 from the Potawatomi Agency
http://research.archives.gov/description/2737810
 Read scope and content notes
 Note record arrangement and description
 Identify which archival facility to contact for additional information

Slide 28 – Navigating Record Group 75, Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) – Schools
http://www.archives.gov/research/native-americans/bia-guide/

Slide 29 – Navigating Record Group 75, Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) – Schools Sample
http://www.archives.gov/research/native-americans/bia-guide/schools.html

Slide 30 – School Records (Navigation Portal)

http://www.archives.gov/research/native-americans/school-records.html
 Student Case Files – General information
 Requesting records: http://www.archives.gov/research/native-americans/school-
requests.html
 Administrative Records

Slide 31 – School Records, Administrative

http://www.archives.gov/research/native-americans/school-records-more.html
National Archives – Virtual Genealogy Fair 2014, Page 4
Slide 32 – Employment Records (Navigation Portal)
http://www.archives.gov/research/native-americans/employment-records.html
 Official Register of the United States, 1817-1925
 Employee Appointments, 1849-1907
 Rosters of Employees, 1848-1963
 Official Personnel Folders (OPFs), 1850-191

Slide 33 – Employment Records, Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC)

(Same link as above)
 Two types of CCC records to explore

Slide 34 – Rosters of Indian Affairs Employees

http://www.archives.gov/research/native-americans/indian-affairs-rosters.html

Slide 35 – Military (Navigation Portal)

http://www.archives.gov/research/native-americans/military.html
 Service Records
o Pre-WWI:
http://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/pre-ww-1-records.html
o WWI and Beyond - Official Military Personnel Files (OMPF)
http://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/

Slide 36 – Indian Scouts, Companies, and Code Talkers

http://www.archives.gov/research/native-americans/scouts.html

Slide 37 – Enlisted Indian Scouts

http://www.archives.gov/research/native-americans/scouts-enlisted.html

Slide 38 – Hired Indian Scouts

http://www.archives.gov/research/native-americans/scouts-hired.html

Slide 40 - Indian Companies

http://www.archives.gov/research/native-americans/indian-companies.html

Slide 39 – Code Talkers

http://www.archives.gov/research/native-americans/code-talkers.html

Slide 41 – Code Talkers, Subject Files and Photographs

http://www.archives.gov/research/native-americans/code-talkers-files.html

National Archives – Virtual Genealogy Fair 2014, Page 5

Slide 42 – Submitting a National Archives Request
 Include:
o Name
o Contact information (phone and email address)
o Reference from the Online Catalog
 Be clear, be concise.
 Copy charges are assessed for reproductions
 Allow adequate time for staff to research and respond
 Note: some requests may need to be submitted in writing.

Slide 43 – Resource Pages

 Selected National Archives Record Groups Related to American Indians:
http://www.archives.gov/research/native-americans/record-groups.html
 Tips for Successful Searches, Navigating Record Group 75 and Online Catalog:
http://www.archives.gov/research/native-americans/tips.html
 Tips and Tools for K-12 Teachers and Students:
http://www.archives.gov/research/native-americans/tips-for-k-12.html
 Tips and Tools for Undergraduate, Graduate, and Postgraduate Researchers:
http://www.archives.gov/research/native-americans/tips-for-students.html

Slide 44 – Questions
 Ask using the Twitter tag: #genfair2014
 Email questions and comments about the web site: [email protected].
 Email questions about American Indians to: [email protected].

Slide 45 – Presenter didn’t get to your questions?

 Ask using the Twitter tag: #genfair2014
 Email questions and comments about the web site: [email protected].
 Email questions about American Indians to: [email protected].

National Archives – Virtual Genealogy Fair 2014, Page 6