American Indian Census Rolls

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United States

U.S. Census

American Indian Research

Census Rolls

Native American Online Genealogy Records Links to online databases and indexes that may include vital records, biographies, cemeteries, censuses, histories, immigration records, land records, maps, military records, naturalizations, newspapers, obituaries, or probate records. (Not to be confused with United States Census Indian Schedules.) An Act of Congress of July 4, 1884 (23 Stat. L, 98) required the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) to begin recording an annual census on most Indian reservations in the United States. Beginning in 1885, therefore, BIA agents began doing so on special forms. Not all reservations were included as some tribes were exempted from this law. A few agents were inconsistent in creating the records annually. Agents were requied to take a census once a year, and correct and certify the roll for each annuity payment, by adding the births and subtracting the deaths. Content The earlier attempts at Indian census recording, under this law, took place on columnar forms, ruled by the agents, which included the Indian and English names of all family members, relationships to the head of the family, and the age of each family member. Later forms were printed and included additional information. 1885-1912: The census forms contained the individual’s Indian name, English name, sex, age, relationship, tribe, and reservation. After 1885, the roll would most likely have two numbers assigned: one is the order number in which the name appeared on the current census; the other is the order number in which the name appeared on the last census. A few of the censuses show the names of persons who were born or died during the year, along with date of birth and death. The information on the form could be either typed or hand-written. 1913-1928: This includes the census roll numbers (both past and present), the English and Indian name, relationship to family, date of birth, sex, reservation, and tribe. 1929: These forms included the name of the tribe, reservation, past and present census roll numbers, Indian and English names, annuity or allotment number, sex, date of birth, degree of blood, marital status, and relationships in the family. In this census, if a man had a plural wife, the oldest wife was listed first, with her unmarried children. The other wives and their children are listed in order of their ages. 1930-1940: The forms for these census years contained the roll number, surname, given name, sex, age at last birthday, tribe, degree of blood, marital status, relationship to head of the family, jurisdiction where enrolled, name of the post office, county, state, ward of the state, and allotment or annuity identification number. In the later censuses, the form also contains information on how many live or still births a woman had. Census rolls taken after 1924 by the Bureau of Indian Affairs included supplements which included birth and death information. Some earlier Indian census rolls were compiled, particularly of the Five Civilized Tribes. However, there was no consistency nor regularity in these early censuses. Census-like information is also included in annuity rolls, enrollment records, removal records, and claims records. Often these records are called census records when, in fact, they are not and were compiled for other purposes.

Where to Find the Records

These annual Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940, were gathered into a collection by the Commissioner's Office of the Bureau of Indian Affairs and are now located at the National Archives in Washington, D.C. They have been microfilmed and are also available on the internet.

Online

• United States, Native American, Census Rolls, 1885-1940 at FamilySearch — free index (incomplete) and images
• Indian census rolls, 1885-1940 at FamilySearch — browse the individual microfilms; some indexes
• U.S., Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 (Ancestry) ($)
• Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 (Fold3) ($)
• Indian Census of the United States - 1885-1940 (Internet Archive - free; no index)
• Washington, Native American, Census Records, 1880-1952 at FamilySearch — index
• United States, Native American, Census of the Ute Tribe, 1944 at FamilySearch — index

Libraries

Many libraries have the full set of Indian Census Rolls and many others have part of the microfilm collection that is relevant to their area.

• Locate these records at a library using Worldcat.

FamilySearch Library

Record	Record Group	NARA #	FHL First Film	Rolls
Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 including some Vital Records	75	M595	573847	692

Websites

• National Archives:http://www.archives.gov/research/microfilm/m595.pdf
• Access Genealogy: http://www.accessgenealogy.com/native/census/index.htm
• Indian Census Rolls at Ancestry.com [requires a subscription to access images] -- content.ancestry.com/iexec/(unless you are at a FamilySearch Center)
• The USGenWeb Indian Census Rolls Project -- http://www.us-census.org/native/m595/

References

Byers, Paula K., Ed. Native American Genealogical Handbook. "Agency Census Records" Pages 35-36. (Detroit: Gale publishing, 1995). FS Library Book 970.1 B991n.

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This website requires a paid subscription for full access. Some subscription websites are available for free at your local FamilySearch Center or Affiliate Library.

National Archives and Records Administration in Washington, D.C.

Family History Library (FHL); now called, FamilySearch Library (FSL)