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At some point in the research, the researcher will have identified the tribal affiliation of one's ancestor(s). Now is the time to begin research in records about American Indians. The Native American collection at the National Archives includes special censuses, school records, and allotment records. | At some point in the research, the researcher will have identified the tribal affiliation of one's ancestor(s). Now is the time to begin research in records about American Indians. The Native American collection at the National Archives includes special censuses, school records, and allotment records. | ||
If you know what tribe your ancestor belonged to, and if your ancestor stayed with the tribe, and if they were recognized by that tribe as a member, and if the agent kept good records, and if those records were not destroyed by a fire or some other calamity, you shold start your research with National Archives Microfilm Publication M595 ( | If you know what tribe your ancestor belonged to, and if your ancestor stayed with the tribe, and if they were recognized by that tribe as a member, and if the agent kept good records, and if those records were not destroyed by a fire or some other calamity, you shold start your research with National Archives Microfilm Publication M595 (FS Library book 973 J53m No. 595), which reproduces the "Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940." Agents were required by an act of Congress of 4 July 1884 to submit these census rolls annually. They generally contain each Native American's Indian name ("English" and/or "Indian"), age or date of birth, sex, and relationship to the head of the family. | ||
Beginning in 1930, most rolls include degree of blood and marital status. The Select Catalog (''American Indians: a select catalog of National Archives microfilm publications''<nowiki>: FS Library book 970.1 A3a) provides a list of the contents of each of the 92 rolls of microfilm. Unfortunately, M595 does not include any rolls of the Five Civilized Tribes (Choctaw, Chickasaw, Cherokee, Creek, and Seminole) except for an 1885 Choctaw census (which is on roll 623).</nowiki><br><br> | Beginning in 1930, most rolls include degree of blood and marital status. The Select Catalog (''American Indians: a select catalog of National Archives microfilm publications''<nowiki>: FS Library book 970.1 A3a) provides a list of the contents of each of the 92 rolls of microfilm. Unfortunately, M595 does not include any rolls of the Five Civilized Tribes (Choctaw, Chickasaw, Cherokee, Creek, and Seminole) except for an 1885 Choctaw census (which is on roll 623).</nowiki><br><br> | ||
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The M595 publication will only take you back to 1885. Depending on the tribe you are researching, there are probably earlier census or annuity rolls and the Field Branch that has the agent's records that can probably give you information about them. In general, the earlier the roll the less data it contains. In many cases, the agent only listed the Indian's name and perhaps the amount of money he or she received. Unfortunately, the "roll numbers" from one list seldom have any relation to earlier or later rolls and will not help you make positive identifications. | The M595 publication will only take you back to 1885. Depending on the tribe you are researching, there are probably earlier census or annuity rolls and the Field Branch that has the agent's records that can probably give you information about them. In general, the earlier the roll the less data it contains. In many cases, the agent only listed the Indian's name and perhaps the amount of money he or she received. Unfortunately, the "roll numbers" from one list seldom have any relation to earlier or later rolls and will not help you make positive identifications. | ||
One source of lists of names that is often overlooked is the Congressional Serial Set, which contains documents received by Congress from various sources (primarily agencies of the Executive Branch) and reports published by Congressional committees. Many of these documents relate to claims against the government for Indian depredations or claims by Indians for rights under treaties. Some documents include lists of Indians but seldom provide much genealogical information. See Angela McComas, ''[http://broadcast.lds.org/elearning/fhd/Community/Mid_Continent_Library/Congress_and_My_Family_History/Player.html Congress and My Family History]'' (12 minute online video) [https://www.familysearch.org/help/helpcenter/learning-center FamilySearch Research Classes Online, and Mid-Continent Public Library Midwest Genealogy Center], 2010. Steven L. Johnson's ''Guide to American Indian Documents in the Congressional Serial Set: 1817-1899'' ( | One source of lists of names that is often overlooked is the Congressional Serial Set, which contains documents received by Congress from various sources (primarily agencies of the Executive Branch) and reports published by Congressional committees. Many of these documents relate to claims against the government for Indian depredations or claims by Indians for rights under treaties. Some documents include lists of Indians but seldom provide much genealogical information. See Angela McComas, ''[http://broadcast.lds.org/elearning/fhd/Community/Mid_Continent_Library/Congress_and_My_Family_History/Player.html Congress and My Family History]'' (12 minute online video) [https://www.familysearch.org/help/helpcenter/learning-center FamilySearch Research Classes Online, and Mid-Continent Public Library Midwest Genealogy Center], 2010. Steven L. Johnson's ''Guide to American Indian Documents in the Congressional Serial Set: 1817-1899'' (FS Library book 970.1 J637g) is an essential tool to using these documents. | ||
=== Pre-Federal Records === | === Pre-Federal Records === | ||
Prior to 1789 there was no Federal government, so there were no Federal Indian agents to make census rolls. From 1774 to 1789 the Continental and Confederation Congresses were in charge of relations with Indians and most of their records have been reproduced on 204 rolls of microfilm as National Archives Microfilm Publication M247 ( | Prior to 1789 there was no Federal government, so there were no Federal Indian agents to make census rolls. From 1774 to 1789 the Continental and Confederation Congresses were in charge of relations with Indians and most of their records have been reproduced on 204 rolls of microfilm as National Archives Microfilm Publication M247 (FS Library book 973 J53m No. 247). Documents about individuals and tribes can be located using the five-volume name and subject Index to the ''Papers of the Continental Congress'' compiled by John Butler and published by the Government Printing Office (FS Library book 973 H2buj; 257 film notes). The single volume ''Index to Journals of the Contental Congress'' compiled by Kenneth E. Harris and Steven D. Tilley (FS Library book 973 H22cc) is also helpful in locating documents relating to Indian afairs. | ||
The British and the various colonial governments controlled Indian affairs before the American Revolution, and State archives are generally the best source of information about what records exist for the pre-Revolutionary period. If you are able to trace your Indian ancestry back this far, you have been extremely lucky. | The British and the various colonial governments controlled Indian affairs before the American Revolution, and State archives are generally the best source of information about what records exist for the pre-Revolutionary period. If you are able to trace your Indian ancestry back this far, you have been extremely lucky. | ||
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The Fort Worth Branch of the national Archives has microfilmed a number of Cherokee census and payment rolls, including those done in 1867, 1880, 1883, 1886, 1890, 1893, 1894, and 1896. Most of these rolls are not indexed, contain only the person's name, and do not include degree of Indian blood. There are also dockets of the Cherokee Citizenship Commission that include the names of persons who applied to the tribal government for admission between 1879 and 1889. These have been microfilmed as 7RA25. | The Fort Worth Branch of the national Archives has microfilmed a number of Cherokee census and payment rolls, including those done in 1867, 1880, 1883, 1886, 1890, 1893, 1894, and 1896. Most of these rolls are not indexed, contain only the person's name, and do not include degree of Indian blood. There are also dockets of the Cherokee Citizenship Commission that include the names of persons who applied to the tribal government for admission between 1879 and 1889. These have been microfilmed as 7RA25. | ||
Prior to the Civil War (1861-1865) there are relatively few rolls of Cherokee citizens. In ''Occupying the Cherokee Country of Oklahoma'' (published by the University of Nebraska in 1978) Leslie Hewes estimates that there may have been as many as 22,000 Cherokees living in the Southeast prior to the arrival of European settlers. Unfortunately for genealogists, no one made lists of their names. As early as 1792, some Cherokees began moving west as the area of European settlement expanded and the national Archives has "emigration rolls" for the period 1817-1838, which contain the names of people who wished to relocate. Many of these rolls have been transcribed by Jack D. Baker and published in 1977 by the Baker Publishing Company in Oklahoma City, ''Cherokee emigration rolls, 1817-1835'' ( | Prior to the Civil War (1861-1865) there are relatively few rolls of Cherokee citizens. In ''Occupying the Cherokee Country of Oklahoma'' (published by the University of Nebraska in 1978) Leslie Hewes estimates that there may have been as many as 22,000 Cherokees living in the Southeast prior to the arrival of European settlers. Unfortunately for genealogists, no one made lists of their names. As early as 1792, some Cherokees began moving west as the area of European settlement expanded and the national Archives has "emigration rolls" for the period 1817-1838, which contain the names of people who wished to relocate. Many of these rolls have been transcribed by Jack D. Baker and published in 1977 by the Baker Publishing Company in Oklahoma City, ''Cherokee emigration rolls, 1817-1835'' (FS Library book 970.3 C424e). | ||
The first major census of Cherokees living in North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, and Tennessee was taken by the Federal government, was compiled from June to December 1834, and is generally called the Henderson Roll. The roll only lists the name of the head of each family. An index to it has been reproduced as National Archives Microfilm Publication T496 (Family History Libraryfilm 833322). | The first major census of Cherokees living in North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, and Tennessee was taken by the Federal government, was compiled from June to December 1834, and is generally called the Henderson Roll. The roll only lists the name of the head of each family. An index to it has been reproduced as National Archives Microfilm Publication T496 (Family History Libraryfilm 833322). | ||
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From 1835-1837 the Cherokees living in what is now Arkansas and Oklahoma were joined by thousands of Cherokees who moved under the terms of the treaty of New Echota, signed on 29 December 1835. The Old Settlers Roll of 1851 and the Drennen Payment Roll of 1851 are the best sources of the names of people who voluntarily moved west. They are both reproduced on the Old Setters Roll (FS Library book 970.3 C424wa) and their heirs who received a payment resulting from a decision of the U.S. Court of Claims of 6 June 1893. The payment roll has been microfilmed by the Fort Worth Branch of the National Archives (control number 7RA34) (Family History Library film 830420) and an index to the roll is available as National Archives Microfilm Publication T985 (Family History Library film 830419). | From 1835-1837 the Cherokees living in what is now Arkansas and Oklahoma were joined by thousands of Cherokees who moved under the terms of the treaty of New Echota, signed on 29 December 1835. The Old Settlers Roll of 1851 and the Drennen Payment Roll of 1851 are the best sources of the names of people who voluntarily moved west. They are both reproduced on the Old Setters Roll (FS Library book 970.3 C424wa) and their heirs who received a payment resulting from a decision of the U.S. Court of Claims of 6 June 1893. The payment roll has been microfilmed by the Fort Worth Branch of the National Archives (control number 7RA34) (Family History Library film 830420) and an index to the roll is available as National Archives Microfilm Publication T985 (Family History Library film 830419). | ||
Most Cherokees, however, refused to relocate because to do so would mean the government could confiscate any land in their possession. These Cherokees were forcibly moved by the Federal government in 1838-1839 in what has come to be called the Trail of Tears. There is no consolidated list of all the people on the Trail of Tears (or their descendants), but the national Archives in Washington, D.C. does have numerous muster rolls prepared by the military officers in charge of the removal parties. Robert S. Cotterill's ''The Southern Indians'' ( | Most Cherokees, however, refused to relocate because to do so would mean the government could confiscate any land in their possession. These Cherokees were forcibly moved by the Federal government in 1838-1839 in what has come to be called the Trail of Tears. There is no consolidated list of all the people on the Trail of Tears (or their descendants), but the national Archives in Washington, D.C. does have numerous muster rolls prepared by the military officers in charge of the removal parties. Robert S. Cotterill's ''The Southern Indians'' (FS Library book 970.1 C828s) is an excellent source of information about the Five Civilized Tribes before removal. Also, the numerious footnotes to the various books by Grant Foreman are a source of valuable information about the tribes both before and after removal. One excellent source by Grant Foreman is ''The Five Civilized Tribes: Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Creek, Seminole'' (FS Library book 970.1 F761f). | ||
=== 1900 Census === | === 1900 Census === | ||
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