United States, Freedmen's Bureau, Records of the Assistant Commissioner - FamilySearch Historical Records: Difference between revisions

The collection consists of images of records of the Assistant Commissioner of the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands (often called the Freedmen’s Bureau) which was established in the War Department in March of 1865. It was commonly called the Freedman’s Bureau and was responsible for the management and supervision of matters relating to refuges, freedmen, and abandoned lands. The Bureau assisted disenfranchised Americans, primarily African Americans,  with legal and financial matters including the distributing of food and clothing; operating temporary medical facilities; acquiring  military benefits such as back pay, bounty payments, and pensions; facilitating the creation of schools, including the founding of Howard University; reuniting family members; handling marriages; and providing banking services. Banking services were provided by the establishment of the Freedman’s Saving and Trust Company, or Freedman’s Bank.  The intent of the Bureau was to help people to become self-sufficient.<br><br>

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*[https://archive.org/stream/annualreportofas00howa#page/n1/mode/2up Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen and Abandoned Lands. ''Annual Report of the Assistant Commissioner. For the District of Columbia and West Virginia. For the Year Ending October 22, 1867.'' (Washington, 1867)]