FamilySearch Wiki

United States, Freedmen's Bureau Records of Persons and Articles Hired - FamilySearch Historical Records

Revision as of 10:25, 25 June 2018 by NelsonKC (talk | contribs) (added links to related browse collections)

United States

Access the Records
United States, Freedmen's Bureau Records of Persons and Articles Hired, 1865-1872
CID2515868
{{{CID2}}}
{{{CID3}}}
{{{CID4}}}
{{{CID5}}}
{{{CID6}}}
{{{CID7}}}
{{{CID8}}}
{{{CID9}}}
This article describes a collection of records at FamilySearch.org.

United States
United States flag.png
Flag of the United States of America
NARA logo circular black on white.jpg
National Archives and Records Administration Logo
Record Description
Record Type Freedmen and Refugee Records
Record Group RG 105: Records of the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen and Abandoned Lands, 1865-1872
Collection years 1865-1872
National Archives Identifier 434
FamilySearch Resources
Related Websites
Archive
National Archives and Records Administration


What is in This Collection?

This collection consists of index and images of field office monthly reports of articles and persons hired by the Bureau's field office for the years 1865 to 1872. The principal name in the index is either of the person employed or the person who owned the article.

"The Receiving and Disbursing Officer of each District will make a consolidated Monthly Report [Form 2] of all employees of this Bureau in their respective Districts, giving the name of each officer employing the persons whose services are reported. These names will be entered in the column headed "By whom owned," the words "or employed" being entered in said heading. The several officers under whose direction employees are hired will make their Reports (Form 2) to the Assistant Commissioners of their respective Districts as heretofore . These reports when approved by the Assistant Commissioners, will be by them referred to the Receiving and Disbursing Office reporting to them respectively, for consolidation." Source: Officers' Manual, p. 28.

The records and roll numbers are from the field office records of the following states:

The Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands (often called the Freedmen’s Bureau) was created in 1865 at the end of the American Civil War to supervise relief efforts including education, health care, food and clothing, refugee camps, legalization of marriages, employment, labor contracts, and securing back pay, bounty payments and pensions.

What Can This Collection Tell Me?

The information found in the records varies by document and locality. You may find any of the following:

  • Full name
  • Residence
  • Document dates
  • Age
  • Occupation
  • Names of family members
  • Relationships

Collection Content

Sample Images

  • United States, Freedmen's Bureau Records of Persons and Articles Hired Examples
  • Bill of Lading

    Bill of Lading

  • Employment Record (sample 1)

    Employment Record (sample 1)

  • Employment Record (sample 2)

    Employment Record (sample 2)

  • Labor Contract (page 1)

    Labor Contract (page 1)

  • Labor Contract (page 2)

    Labor Contract (page 2)

  • Labor Contract (page 3)

    Labor Contract (page 3)

  • Labor Contract (page 4)

    Labor Contract (page 4)

  • Record of Leins on Crops

    Record of Leins on Crops

  • Register of Sick and Wounded

    Register of Sick and Wounded

Digital Folder Number List

This collection was published as a DGS browse collection. A table listing each DGS number and its contents can be found at United States, Freedmen's Bureau Records of Persons and Articles Hired Digital Folder Number List.

The table can be sorted by DGS number, GS number (microfilm number), the state where the registration took place, the title of the collection as it appears in the FamilySearch Catalog, the FHL Catalog Title Number is a link to the catalog entry, and the Film Note describing the contents of the DGS image folder.

How Do I Search This Collection?

To begin your search 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

Search by name on the Collection Details Page.
  1. Fill in the search boxes in the Search Collection section with the information you know
  2. Click Search to show possible matches

View the Images

To view images in this collection:
  1. Look at the United States, Freedmen's Bureau Records of Persons and Articles Hired Digital Folder Number List article to determine the folder/film number for the images you want to see
  2. Go to the Browse Page
  3. Select the Film number to view the images

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 research log.

What Do I Do Next?

I Found the Person I Was Looking For, What Now?

  • Use the information found to search for the family in census records
  • Use the information found to search for the family in church records
  • Use the information found to search for the family in land and probate records
  • Use the information found to search for the family in additional state and county records

I Can't Find the Person I'm Looking For, What Now?

  • There may be more than one person in the records with the same name
  • Look for variant spellings of the names. You should also look for nicknames and abbreviated names
  • Look for another index. Local genealogical and historical societies often have indexes to local records
  • Search the indexes and records of nearby counties
  • Try alternative search methods such as only filling in the surname search box (or the given name search box) on the landing page leaving the other box empty and then click on search. This should return a list of everyone with that particular name. You could then browse the list for individuals that may be your ancestor
  • 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

Record Finder

Consult the United States Record Finder to search other records.

General Information About Freedmen's Bureau Records

The Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands 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 temporal, legal and financial matters, with the intent of helping people to become self-sufficient. Matters handled included the distributing of food and clothing; operating temporary medical facilities; acquiring 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 Bureau functioned as an agency of the War Department from approximately June 1865 until December 1868. In 1872, the functions of the Bureau were transferred to the Freedmen’s Branch of the Adjutant General’s Office.

The Bureau 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.

The records identify those 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.

Related FamilySearch Historical Records Collection Articles

Citing This Collection

Citing your sources makes it easy for others to find and evaluate the records you used. When you copy information from a record, list where you found that information. Here you can find citations already created for the entire collection and for each individual record or image.

Collection Citation
"United States, Freedmen's Bureau Records of Persons and Articles Hired." Database with images. FamilySearch. http://FamilySearch.org : 2018. Citing various NARA microfilm publications. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration.
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.

Top of Page

How Can I Contribute to the FamilySearch Wiki?

Template:Contributor invite

Retrieved from "https://integration-ru.familysearch.org/en/wiki/index.php?title=United_States,_Freedmen%27s_Bureau_Records_of_Persons_and_Articles_Hired_-_FamilySearch_Historical_Records&oldid=3254167"