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

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|RW_URL_10 =[https://www.floridamemory.com/solr-search/results/index/page/1?q=%28freedmen%27s+bureau+OR+tt%3Afreedmen%27s+bureau%5E10%29&query=freedmen%27s+bureau  Florida Labor Contracts Florida Archives]
|RW_URL_10 =[https://www.floridamemory.com/solr-search/results/index/page/1?q=%28freedmen%27s+bureau+OR+tt%3Afreedmen%27s+bureau%5E10%29&query=freedmen%27s+bureau  Florida Labor Contracts Florida Archives]
}}
}}
== Why Should I Look at This Collection? ==
== Why Should I Look at This Collection? ==
The United States Freedmen's Bureau, records of the Office of the Assistant Commissioner identifies African Americans who sought help from the Bureau at the end of the Civil War. Most supplicants were freed slaves, some of which were military veterans. In addition, a few veterans who were not African Americans also sought help from the Bureau. Freedmen’s Bureau records are usually reliable, because the records were supplied through first-person correspondence or the recording of a marriage.The following link will provide a description of the record types found in this and other Freedmen’s Bureau collections. [[Freedmen's Bureau Record Types]]  
The United States Freedmen's Bureau, records of the Office of the Assistant Commissioner identifies African Americans who sought help from the Bureau at the end of the Civil War. Most supplicants were freed slaves, some of which were military veterans. In addition, a few veterans who were not African Americans also sought help from the Bureau. Freedmen’s Bureau records are usually reliable, because the records were supplied through first-person correspondence or the recording of a marriage.The following link will provide a description of the record types found in this and other Freedmen’s Bureau collections. [[Freedmen's Bureau Record Types]]  
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*[{{RecordSearch|1596147|Virginia, Freedmen's Bureau Field Office Records, 1865-1872}}
*[{{RecordSearch|1596147|Virginia, Freedmen's Bureau Field Office Records, 1865-1872}}
{{Col-end}}
{{Col-end}}
=== Image Visibility ===
=== Image Visibility ===
{{Image Visibility}}
{{Image Visibility}}
== What is in This Collection? ==
== What is in This Collection? ==
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>
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>
The Bureau functioned as an agency of the War Department from approximately June 1865 until December 1868, and assisted over one million African Americans, including many of the nearly four million emancipated slaves, which was over 25% of the population of former slaves in America. In 1872, the functions of the Bureau were transferred to the Freedmen’s Branch of the Adjutant General’s Office.<br><br>
The Bureau functioned as an agency of the War Department from approximately June 1865 until December 1868, and assisted over one million African Americans, including many of the nearly four million emancipated slaves, which was over 25% of the population of former slaves in America. In 1872, the functions of the Bureau were transferred to the Freedmen’s Branch of the Adjutant General’s Office.<br><br>
These records include, letters and registers of letters sent and received, reports, endorsements, telegrams, issuances,  account books, applications for rations, applications for relief, court records, labor contracts, registers of bounty claimants, registers of complaints, registers of contracts, registers of disbursements, registers of freedmen issued rations, registers of patients, reports, rosters of officers and employees, special and general orders and circulars received, special orders and circulars issued, records relating to claims, court trials, property restoration, and homesteads.
These records include, letters and registers of letters sent and received, reports, endorsements, telegrams, issuances,  account books, applications for rations, applications for relief, court records, labor contracts, registers of bounty claimants, registers of complaints, registers of contracts, registers of disbursements, registers of freedmen issued rations, registers of patients, reports, rosters of officers and employees, special and general orders and circulars received, special orders and circulars issued, records relating to claims, court trials, property restoration, and homesteads.


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For additional information about the Freedman's Bureau and the microfilm publications included in this collection visit the [https://www.archives.gov/research/african-americans/freedmens-bureau African American Records: Freedmen's Bureau] page of the NARA African American Heritage Collection.
For additional information about the Freedman's Bureau and the microfilm publications included in this collection visit the [https://www.archives.gov/research/african-americans/freedmens-bureau African American Records: Freedmen's Bureau] page of the NARA African American Heritage Collection.
=== To Browse This Collection ===
=== To Browse This Collection ===
{{Collection_Browse_Link
{{Collection_Browse_Link
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|title=United States, Freedmen's Bureau, Records of the Assistant Commissioner, 1865-1872
|title=United States, Freedmen's Bureau, Records of the Assistant Commissioner, 1865-1872
}}  
}}  
{{Collection_Browse_Link
{{Collection_Browse_Link
|CID=CID1803698
|CID=CID1803698
|title=North Carolina, Freedmen's Bureau Assistant Commissioner Records, 1862-1870
|title=North Carolina, Freedmen's Bureau Assistant Commissioner Records, 1862-1870
}}
}}
== What Can These Records Tell Me? ==  
== What Can These Records Tell Me? ==  
The records usually include:  
The records usually include:  
{{columns-list|2|
*Name of the freedman  
*Name of the freedman  
*Name of the freedman’s former owner  
*Name of the freedman’s former owner  
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*Age  
*Age  
*Document dates
*Document dates
 
}}
== Collection Contents  ==
== Collection Contents  ==
=== Sample Images ===
=== Sample Images ===
<gallery caption="United States, Freedmen's Bureau Records of Assistant Commissioner" widths="160px" heights="120px" perrow="3">
<gallery caption="United States, Freedmen's Bureau Records of Assistant Commissioner" widths="160px" heights="120px" perrow="3">
Image:United States, Freedmen's Bureau Records of Assistant Commissioner (14-1398) Will (page 1) DGS 7677396_410.jpg|Will (page 1)
Image:United States, Freedmen's Bureau Records of Assistant Commissioner (14-1398) Will (page 1) DGS 7677396_410.jpg|Will (page 1)
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Image:United States, Freedmen's Bureau Records of Assistant Commissioner (14-1398) Account Statement DGS 7677396_573.jpg|Account Statement
Image:United States, Freedmen's Bureau Records of Assistant Commissioner (14-1398) Account Statement DGS 7677396_573.jpg|Account Statement
</gallery>
</gallery>
== How Do I Search This Collection?  ==
== How Do I Search This Collection?  ==
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
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=== How Do I Analyze the Results? ===  
=== How Do I Analyze the Results? ===  
Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images. Keep track of your research in a [[Use_Appropriate_Forms#Prepare_a_Research_Log |research log]].
Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images. Keep track of your research in a [[Use_Appropriate_Forms#Prepare_a_Research_Log |research log]].
== What Do I Do Next? ==
== What Do I Do Next? ==
=== I Found the Person I Was Looking For, What Now? ===
=== I Found the Person I Was Looking For, What Now? ===
*Add any new information to your records
*Add any new information to your records
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*Repeat this process with additional family members found, to find more generations of the family
*Repeat this process with additional family members found, to find more generations of the family
*[[United States Church Records| Church Records]] often were kept years before government records were required and are a good source for finding ancestors before 1900
*[[United States Church Records| Church Records]] often were kept years before government records were required and are a good source for finding ancestors before 1900
=== I Can’t Find the Person I’m Looking For, What Now? ===   
=== I Can’t Find the Person I’m Looking For, What Now? ===   
*Try viewing the original record to see if there were errors in the transcription of the name, age, residence, etc  
*Try viewing the original record to see if there were errors in the transcription of the name, age, residence, etc  
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*Search the indexes and records of [[United States Genealogy]]
*Search the indexes and records of [[United States Genealogy]]
*Search in the [[United States Archives and Libraries]]
*Search in the [[United States Archives and Libraries]]
=== Research Helps ===
=== Research Helps ===
The following articles will help you in your research for your family in [[United States Genealogy|the United States]].
The following articles will help you in your research for your family in [[United States Genealogy|the United States]].
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* [[Beginning Research in United States Military Records]]
* [[Beginning Research in United States Military Records]]
* [[US Military Basic Search Strategies]]
* [[US Military Basic Search Strategies]]
=== Related Family History Library Holdings ===
=== Related Family History Library Holdings ===
*[https://familysearch.org/search/catalog/537206 Florida Voter Registrations, 1867-1868]
*[https://familysearch.org/search/catalog/537206 Florida Voter Registrations, 1867-1868]
=== Related FamilySearch Historical Records Collection Articles  ===
=== Related FamilySearch Historical Records Collection Articles  ===
'''Field Offices'''
'''Field Offices'''
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*[[Texas, Freedmen's Bureau Field Office Records - FamilySearch Historical Records]]  
*[[Texas, Freedmen's Bureau Field Office Records - FamilySearch Historical Records]]  
*[[Virginia, Freedmen's Bureau Records - FamilySearch Historical Records]]
*[[Virginia, Freedmen's Bureau Records - FamilySearch Historical Records]]
*[[United States Freedmen’s Branch Records - FamilySearch Historical Records]]  
*[[United States Freedmen’s Branch Records - FamilySearch Historical Records]]  
*[[United States, Freedmen's Bureau, Records of the Commissioner - FamilySearch Historical Records]]  
*[[United States, Freedmen's Bureau, Records of the Commissioner - FamilySearch Historical Records]]  
*[[United States, Records of the Superintendent of Education and of the Division of Education - FamilySearch Historical Records]]
*[[United States, Records of the Superintendent of Education and of the Division of Education - FamilySearch Historical Records]]
=== Related Digital Books ===
=== Related Digital Books ===
*[https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/702586?  Elaine Everly, Willna Pacheli, comp. ''Preliminary inventory of the records of the field offices of the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands : record group 105.''Washington, D.C. : National Archives and Records Service, 1973.]
*[https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/702586?  Elaine Everly, Willna Pacheli, comp. ''Preliminary inventory of the records of the field offices of the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands : record group 105.''Washington, D.C. : National Archives and Records Service, 1973.]
== Citing This Collection ==
== Citing This Collection ==
=== United States, Freedmen's Bureau, Records of the Assistant Commissioner, 1865-1872 ===
=== United States, Freedmen's Bureau, Records of the Assistant Commissioner, 1865-1872 ===
Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used.
Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used.
{{Collection_Published}}
{{Collection_Published}}
{{Image_Citation}}
{{Image_Citation}}
=== North Carolina, Freedmen's Bureau Assistant Commissioner Records, 1862-1870 ===
=== North Carolina, Freedmen's Bureau Assistant Commissioner Records, 1862-1870 ===
Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used.
Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used.
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{{Record_Citation}}
{{Record_Citation}}
{{Image_Citation}}
{{Image_Citation}}
[[Category:NARA_Freedmen's_Bureau Records]]
[[Category:NARA_Freedmen's_Bureau Records]]
[[pt:Estados Unidos, Agência de Libertos, Registros do Comissário Assistente (Registros Históricos do FamilySearch)]]
[[pt:Estados Unidos, Agência de Libertos, Registros do Comissário Assistente (Registros Históricos do FamilySearch)]]

Revision as of 13:30, 14 July 2021

United States

Access the Records
United States, Freedmen's Bureau, Records of the Assistant Commissioner, 1865-1872 and North Carolina, Freedmen's Bureau Assistant Commissioner Records, 1862-1870
CID2427901
CID1803698
{{{CID3}}}
{{{CID4}}}
{{{CID5}}}
{{{CID6}}}
{{{CID7}}}
{{{CID8}}}
{{{CID9}}}
This article describes a collection of records at FamilySearch.org.

United States
Flag of the United States of America
Flag of the United States of America
US Flag 1863-1865 (35 stars)
US Flag 1863-1865 (35 stars)
National Archives and Records Administration Logo
National Archives and Records Administration Logo
Location of the United States of America
Location of the United States of America
Record Description
Record Type Freedmen and Refugee Records
Record Group RG 105: Records of the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen and Abandoned Lands
Collection years 1865-1872
National Archives Identifier 434
FamilySearch Resources
Related Websites
Archive
National Archives and Records Administration


Why Should I Look at This Collection?[edit | edit source]

The United States Freedmen's Bureau, records of the Office of the Assistant Commissioner identifies African Americans who sought help from the Bureau at the end of the Civil War. Most supplicants were freed slaves, some of which were military veterans. In addition, a few veterans who were not African Americans also sought help from the Bureau. Freedmen’s Bureau records are usually reliable, because the records were supplied through first-person correspondence or the recording of a marriage.The following link will provide a description of the record types found in this and other Freedmen’s Bureau collections. Freedmen's Bureau Record Types

Administrative Histories: Office of the Assistant Commissioner

Assistant Commissioner records National Archive microfilm publications' included in this publication

Field Office Records published on FamilySearch.

Image Visibility[edit | edit source]

FamilySearch provides images and indexes subject to contractual limitations and changes. Access to images and indexes may vary. Some collections may only have partial indexes without images. See Restrictions for Viewing Images for details.

What is in This Collection?[edit | edit source]

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.

The Bureau functioned as an agency of the War Department from approximately June 1865 until December 1868, and assisted over one million African Americans, including many of the nearly four million emancipated slaves, which was over 25% of the population of former slaves in America. In 1872, the functions of the Bureau were transferred to the Freedmen’s Branch of the Adjutant General’s Office.

These records include, letters and registers of letters sent and received, reports, endorsements, telegrams, issuances, account books, applications for rations, applications for relief, court records, labor contracts, registers of bounty claimants, registers of complaints, registers of contracts, registers of disbursements, registers of freedmen issued rations, registers of patients, reports, rosters of officers and employees, special and general orders and circulars received, special orders and circulars issued, records relating to claims, court trials, property restoration, and homesteads.

Tennessee Assistant Commissioner

Florida Field Office Records

  • Florida Field Office Records were filmed with the Florida Assistant Commissioner Records:
  • Florida, Field Office Records see Freedman’s Bureau Florida Field Office Personnel Coverage Table
  • Records with Freedmen and Refugee Names:
    • Reports: Roll 9, Monthly Reports of Abandoned or Confiscated Lands
    • Reports: Roll 10, Unregistered Monthly Reports of Homesteads Located by Bureau Agents
    • Other Records, Rolls Records Relating to Restoration of Property
    • Other Records, Roll 11, Applications of Freedmen for Rations, Acre-Owens
    • Other Records, Roll 12, Applications of Freedmen for Rations, Page-Young
    • Claims Agent, Roll 14, Register of Bounty Claimants
    • Jacksonville, Roll 14, Register of Freedmen Issued Rations
    • Quincy, Roll 15, Register of Freedmen Issued Rations
    • Tallahassee, Roll 15, Records Relating to Court Trials; Register of Freedmen Issued Rations

Related Collections

Publication Notes

  • Tennessee: Roll 7, Registers of letters received, H-L, 1865. Images 1-13 is a census of freedmen at Tunnel Hill, dated August 1865 images 1 -13. Includes name, age, residence, former masters name. Click this link to go to the first image of the census.

For additional information about the Freedman's Bureau and the microfilm publications included in this collection visit the African American Records: Freedmen's Bureau page of the NARA African American Heritage Collection.

To Browse This Collection[edit | edit source]

You can browse through images in this collection using the waypoints on the Collection Browse Page for United States, Freedmen's Bureau, Records of the Assistant Commissioner, 1865-1872.
You can browse through images in this collection using the waypoints on the Collection Browse Page for North Carolina, Freedmen's Bureau Assistant Commissioner Records, 1862-1870.

What Can These Records Tell Me?[edit | edit source]

The records usually include:

  • Name of the freedman
  • Name of the freedman’s former owner
  • Date of the record
  • Birthplace
  • Residence
  • Age
  • Document dates

Collection Contents[edit | edit source]

Sample Images[edit | edit source]

  • United States, Freedmen's Bureau Records of Assistant Commissioner
  • Will (page 1)

    Will (page 1)

  • Will (page 2)

    Will (page 2)

  • Oath of Amnesty

    Oath of Amnesty

  • Stores (Supplies) Received

    Stores (Supplies) Received

  • Letter

    Letter

  • Account Statement

    Account Statement

How Do I Search This Collection?[edit | edit source]

Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:

  • The name of your ancestor
  • The approximate age of your ancestor
  • The place where your ancestor lived
  • The name of the former slave owner

Search the Index[edit | edit source]

United States, Freedmen's Bureau, Records of the Assistant Commissioner, 1865-1872

This collection does not have a searchable index. Only images are available. See View the Images to access them.

North Carolina, Freedmen's Bureau Assistant Commissioner Records, 1862-1870

Search by name on the Collection Details Page.
  1. Enter the information in the fields in the Search Collection section or click More Options to see additional fields
  2. Click Search to show possible matches

View the Images[edit | edit source]

United States, Freedmen's Bureau, Records of the Assistant Commissioner, 1865-1872

View images in this collection by visiting the Collection Browse Page:
  1. Select Freedmen's Bureau Office of Location (state)
  2. Select NARA Roll Number - Contents to view the images
Tip: More images are available in the FamilySearch Catalog at United States, Freedmen's Bureau, Records of the Assistant Commissioner, 1865-1872. Some catalog records link to multiple references. In this case, click on a reference to find a camera icon to see images.

North Carolina, Freedmen's Bureau Assistant Commissioner Records, 1862-1870

View images in this collection by visiting the Collection Browse Page:
  1. Select NARA Roll Number-Contents to view the images

How Do I Analyze the Results?[edit | edit source]

Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images. Keep track of your research in a research log.

What Do I Do Next?[edit | edit source]

I Found the Person I Was Looking For, What Now?[edit | edit source]

  • Add any new information to your records
  • Check the image the index was taken from to see if there is additional information that could lead you to additional records or family members (Witnesses or bondsmen were usually relatives)
  • Make sure to fully transcribe and cite the record entry for future reference
  • Use the age to calculate a birth date and to find other records such as birth, christening, census, land and death records
  • Repeat this process with additional family members found, to find more generations of the family
  • Church Records often were kept years before government records were required and are a good source for finding ancestors before 1900

I Can’t Find the Person I’m Looking For, What Now?[edit | edit source]

  • Try viewing the original record to see if there were errors in the transcription of the name, age, residence, etc
  • Remember that there may be more than one person in the records with the same name
  • Collect entries for every person who has the same surname to help you identify possible relations
  • Try searching records of a nearby locality in an area search
  • Try variations of your ancestor’s name while searching the index or browsing through images
  • Former slaves may have had used multiple names or changed their names until they decided upon one particular name; search all possible names along with variations or spellings of their known names
  • Remember that sometimes individuals went by nicknames or alternated between using first and middle names; try searching for these names as well
  • Search the indexes and records of United States Genealogy
  • Search in the United States Archives and Libraries

Research Helps[edit | edit source]

The following articles will help you in your research for your family in the United States.

Related Family History Library Holdings[edit | edit source]

Related FamilySearch Historical Records Collection Articles[edit | edit source]

Field Offices

Related Digital Books[edit | edit source]

Citing This Collection[edit | edit source]

United States, Freedmen's Bureau, Records of the Assistant Commissioner, 1865-1872[edit | edit source]

Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used.

Collection Citation:
The citation for this collection can be found on the Collection Details Page in the section Citing this Collection.
Image Citation:
When looking at an image, the citation is found on the Information tab at the bottom left of the screen.

North Carolina, Freedmen's Bureau Assistant Commissioner Records, 1862-1870[edit | edit source]

Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used.

Collection Citation:
The citation for this collection can be found on the Collection Details Page in the section Citing this Collection.
Record Citation:
When looking at a record, the citation can be viewed by clicking the drop-down arrow next to Document Information.
Image Citation:
When looking at an image, the citation is found on the Information tab at the bottom left of the screen.

To access available information, first log into FamilySearch.

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

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