Compiled by Edward E. Hill, 1965
The National Archives in Washington, D. C., holds much of the original Bureau of Indian Affairs records for Indians. These original records must be viewed in person at the National Archives.
Introduction ... Table of Contents ... Appendix I-III
... Index: A-Em ... Em-Mo
... Mo-Z
Entries: 1-74 ... 75-120 ... 121-197 ... 198-284 ... 285-355 ... 356-443 ... 444-521 ... 522-576 ... 577-643 ... 644-711 ... 712-784 ... 785-860 ... 861-940 ... 941-998 ... 999-1040 ... 1041-1112 ... 1113-1182 ... 1183-1243 ... 1244-1362 ... 1363-1401
1836-56. 3 vols. 3 in.
Annual estimates of funds needed for the Indian Service. There are also some special estimates, including a few as late as 1866, and some other financial statements. Arranged for the most part chronologically. For earlier estimates, see entry
846. For later estimates, see entries 862 and
863.
1879-80. 1 vol. 1/2 in.
For amounts of different kinds of goods needed. Arranged by type of goods and thereunder alphabetically by name of agency. Estimates for Pacific coast agencies are not included.
1882-83. 1 vol. 1/2 in.
For amounts of different kinds of goods needed at agencies in
California, Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. Arranged by type of goods
and thereunder by name of agency.
1885-86. 1 vol. 1/2 in.
These abstracts give amounts of different kinds of goods for annuity payments at field offices, but there is no indication whether they were goods that were estimated or requested or whether they were goods actually furnished. Arranged alphabetically by name of agency or school.
1831-33. 1/4 in.
Entries for individual sets of accounts give date of transmittal,
name of agent, period covered, appropriation headings, and amounts. Arranged chronologically by date of transmittal.
1833. 1 vol. 1 in.
These schedules contain data concerning the allocation of funds sent to field officials. The data were taken from their accounts. Given are the amounts allotted for purposes such as annuities, contingencies, presents, iron and steel, transportation, provisions, and salaries of employees. Arranged by name of official.
1838-46. 1 vol. 2 in.
Individual entries give date of receipt, name of person submitting accounts or name of claimant, subject, and sometimes file reference, indication of the action taken, and other information. Arranged alphabetically by initial letter of surname or other designation of person concerned and thereunder chronologically by date of receipt. For later registers of accounts and claims, see entries
112 and 873. The records themselves that are still among the records of the Bureau are usually with the general series of letters received (entry
79).
1847-69. 5 vols. 9 in.
Data -- broken down by appropriation item -- taken from accounts submitted by field officials, usually quarterly. Amounts are entered under the following headings: Balances, Receipts, Transfers, Disbursements, Due From, and Due To. Arranged chronologically by date of receipt of accounts. The volumes for the periods July 1851-September 1855 and May
1859-September 1860 have not been found nor have any of the volumes for the years after 1869. In the individual volumes there are alphabetical indexes to names of officials, and in some of the volumes there are marginal references to abstracts of other accounts submitted by the same official. The accounts were usually forwarded to the Second Auditor. Accounts still among the records of the Bureau are usually with the general series of letters received (entry
79) or with the records described in entry 879.
1869-81. 2 vols. 2 in.
Schedules for each quarter giving -- under appropriation headings --the amount received from the Bureau, the amount disbursed, and the amount on hand. There is one volume (1869-78) for the Chippewa, Mackinac, La Pointe, New York, and Green Bay Agencies. The second volume
(1875-81) is for agencies in Washington, Oregon, California, Arizona, and New Mexico. The schedules in each volume are arranged by name of agency. The second volume includes an alphabetical index to names of officials and jurisdictions.
1871-75. 1 vol. 1 in.
Entries for accounts of field officials give period covered, date of referral of accounts to the Board for examination, and date of their return to the Bureau. Entries for individual agents are arranged in chronological order by date of first referral. The later entries, however, have been placed in blank spaces on pages already used. Later referrals of accounts of the same agent are entered in
chronological order on the same page as that on which the first referral is entered. There is an alphabetical index to names of officials. In the back of the volume there are some abstracts concerning the accounts of Special Agent George W. Ingalls (see entry
832).
1873-78. 5 in.
Forms that were submitted by superintendents and agents, usually weekly but sometimes monthly. They show amount of funds on deposit and of those on hand. The forms are endorsed by the Commissioner of Indian Affairs and the Treasurer of the United States. Arranged for the most part chronologically. In some cases, however, statements submitted for one agency have been brought together.
1877-83. 1/4 in.
A schedule for accounts of agents, superintendents, Commissioners of Indian Affairs, and other officials, which were considered or acted upon during the period
1877-83. The accounts themselves are for periods as early as 1831. Individual entries give name of official, title, period covered, amount not accounted for, and balance due the United States. Sometimes there is other information, often concerning the institution of suits. Arranged alphabetically by initial letter of surname of official for the period 1877-81, with the entries for 1882 and 1883 appended at the end of the schedule.
1878-1902. 3 vols. 9 in.
Individual entries give date of receipt, type of account (cash or property), period covered, data concerning examination and referral to the Second Auditor (and to the Board of Indian Commissioners until 1882), notations concerning exceptions and explanations to them, and sometimes other information. The entries for each officer are arranged chronologically by date of receipt of account. When all the space available for entries for an individual officer had been used, a new entry was begun in the next available space. When an officer was replaced, entries for the accounts of his successor were sometimes placed immediately after those of his predecessor; and sometimes they were entered on a new page. In the individual volumes there are alphabetical indexes to names of officers and jurisdictions. Accounts still among the records of the Bureau now in the National Archives are with the general series of letters received (entries
79 and 91), and occasionally they are also with the superintendency and agency accounts described in entry
879. In most cases, however, the only permanently retained copies of accounts are those in the General Accounting Office. For an earlier register, see entry
867.
n.d.1 vol. 3/4 in.
An index giving names of officials and page references to a volume like the one described in entry
875. The volume itself has not
been found. The names are those of officials in the office during the 1850's. Arranged alphabetically by initial letter of surname of official.
1869-76. 1 vol. 2 in.
In this ledger the receipts of superintendents, agents, and other disbursing officers are balanced against their accounts for expenditures. Entries are made under appropriation item headings for such subjects as fulfilling treaties, trust funds, salaries, school support, and civilization of Indians. Arranged by name of disbursing officer and thereunder chronologically. The year 1873 is the latest date for the opening of an account, but many of the accounts were used until 1876 and, in a few cases, even later.
ca. 1885-1908. 8 vols. 2 in.
Given are names of officials and/or jurisdictions and page references to volumes of the type described in entry
875 or of the type described in entry 877, although in most cases the indexes are for volumes that have not been found among the records of the Bureau now in the National Archives. There is one index volume for one or two volumes of statements. The index in each volume is arranged alphabetically by name of jurisdiction or surname of official.
1900-1908. 5 vols. 1 ft.
These statements balance receipts and disbursements of individual agents, school superintendents, and other disbursing officers under appropriation item headings for such subjects as pay of different classes of employees, fulfilling treaties, interest on trust funds, school support, surveying and allotting, transportation, and buildings and repairs. Statements for agency officials are kept in separate volumes from accounts for school and other officials. Entries in the agency volumes are arranged alphabetically by name of agency and thereunder chronologically. Entries in the school volumes are arranged alphabetically by name of school -- with "other accounts at the back of the volume -- and thereunder chronologically. There are some missing volumes. For indexes, see entry
876.
July-Dec. 1907. 1 vol. 2 in.
A ledger for funds received from private persons and companies for rights-of-way, taxes, payments for land, and other purposes and credited to accounting headings, chiefly Indian Moneys and Proceeds of Labor. Arranged by account and thereunder chronologically. There is an alphabetical index to names of persons and companies.
1827-82. 7 ft.
Property returns, accounts current, abstracts of disbursements, other statements and abstracts, certificates of issue, vouchers, muster
and payrolls, bills of lading, bids, correspondence, affidavits, memoranda, and other records concerning accounts submitted chiefly by agents and superintendents. Arranged in rough alphabetical order by name of superintendency, agency, or State and thereunder for the most part chronologically by quarter. There are other accounts with the field office records.
1840-46. 1 vol.2 in.
Compiled from property returns submitted by agents and other field officials. Given is information concerning receipts and issuances of different kinds of goods. Arranged by name of official and thereunder for the most part chronologically. There are sometimes subdivisions according to the nature of the use of the goods. There are few of the original property returns for this period among the records of the Bureau of Indian Affairs. For later property returns, see entry
879.
Aug.-Oct. 1879, 1881-84, July-Oct. 1897,
1898-99. 5 vols. 5 in.
Press copies of letters sent by the Commissioner of Indian Affairs and other officials from the San Francisco, Chicago, and New York warehouses relating to bids, awarding of contracts, open market purchases, inspection and shipping of goods, and other subjects. The 1879, 1881-84, and 1897 letters were sent from San Francisco; the 1898-99 letters were sent from Chicago and New York. Arranged chronologically. The last volume includes an alphabetical index to names of addressees.
1881-82. 1 vol. 1/2 in.
A schedule for goods contracted to be supplied during fiscal year 1882. Entries for individual contracts give kind of goods, amount, price, name of contractor, date of contract, and often the delivery point. Arranged alphabetically by initial letter of kind of goods. For the contracts, see entry
889.
1898-1901. 1 vol. 1 in.
The volume is divided into two sections. In one section the prices of different goods in 1901 are compared with those during the years 1898-1900. Arranged by type of goods. In the second section there are comparative prices for goods for the years 1903-6. This section is in two parts:
(1) for subsistence goods and (2) for other goods; thereunder arranged alphabetically by name of individual item.
1906-8. 18 vols. 1 ft.
Gives information relating primarily to individual shipments of
purchases during fiscal years 1907 and 1908, including exact amounts
of articles. Arranged by fiscal year; thereunder alphabetically by name of agency or other jurisdiction; and thereunder roughly by claim number, which was assigned in chronological order by date of receipt of claim for payment. The records for 1907 are incomplete.
1836-77. 14 vols. 3 ft.
Handwritten copies of contracts with persons supplying goods and services (including certain employees) and bonds of contractors, agents and other officials, and traders (1865-72 only). Arranged in rough chronological order. In the individual volumes there are alphabetical indexes to names of contractors and persons bonded and sometimes to names of contracting officers, jurisdictions, and kinds of goods or services. Beginning in 1867, bonds of employees were copied in separate books now among the records of the Employees Section (entry
969). Beginning in 1872, bonds of traders were copied in volumes now among the records of the Miscellaneous Division (entry
946). For later contract books, see entry 889.
1876-78. 4 vols. 7 in.
Serve as registers for the earliest contract books described in entry 889 and for the latest contracts in the last of the volumes described in entry
885. These stub books are predecessors to the main series of registers of contracts (entry
887). Given for individual contracts are name of contractor, name or position of contracting officer, date of contract, goods or services to be furnished, jurisdiction for which to be furnished, information concerning processing, and file references to related records -- including the record copy of the contract. Arranged by contract number. There are alphabetical indexes to names of contractors in each volume and also to names of jurisdictions in the last volume.
1878-1926. 11 vols. 2 ft.
Registers for most of the contracts described in entry 889 and also for later contracts. For the period after 1910 these registers are the main source of information concerning contracts, since there are no record copies of the contracts themselves among the records of the Bureau now in the National Archives. The information concerning individual contracts varies over the years, but it usually includes contract number, name of contractor, name or position of contracting officer, date of contract, date of its termination, articles or services to be furnished, agency or other jurisdiction from which articles or services were to be furnished, amount of contract, dates of approval by officials, dates of referrals, notifications and other actions, and volume and page references for the record copy of the contract. The entries are arranged by contract number, which was assigned in rough chronological order. In the first five volumes there are alphabetical indexes to names of contractors. There are separate indexes
for the remaining volumes (entry 888). For earlier contract stub books (1877-78), which served as registers, see entry
886.
1913-26. 6 vols. 3 in.
Indexes for the last six volumes of the registers described in entry 887. Individual entries usually give name of contractor, position of contracting officer, date of contract, kinds of goods or services to be furnished, jurisdiction for which they were to be furnished, and contract number. Some of these items have been omitted in the last two volumes. There is one index volume for each register. Index entries are arranged alphabetically by initial letter of surname of contractor or by name of company. Indexes for the earlier registers are bound with the registers.
1875-1911. 139 vols. 27 ft.
Copies of completed forms (sometimes with specifications, advertisements, and other related records inserted). The forms are divided into the following types: Goods and Supplies; Miscellaneous; Transportation; Beef Cattle; Buildings and Plants, Etc. (construction and leases); and Schools (operation of rather than construction). Thereunder they are arranged for the most part chronologically. In the individual volumes there are alphabetical indexes to names of contractors and jurisdictions and sometimes to kinds of goods and services. There are a few missing volumes. For registers, see entries
886 and 887; these registers were continued after the practice of keeping permanent record copies of contracts was discontinued. For earlier contracts and bonds, see entry
885.
1891-1908. 37 vols. 6 ft.
For purchases made for field offices, with the authority of the Secretary of the Interior. Individual entries give file mark of letter received requesting approval of purchase, name of purchaser (usually an agent or school superintendent), character of expenditure, amount recommended, date of referral to Secretary for approval, amount approved, date of letter from the Secretary, date of notification to field official of action taken, authority number (see entry
110), and appropriation to which charged. All of these steps were not followed in every instance. Agency purchases are recorded in other volumes than the ones for school purchases. Warehouses and other special jurisdictions are included with agencies. Entries for each type of jurisdiction are arranged by fiscal year, thereunder alphabetically by name of jurisdiction, and thereunder in rough chronological order by date of receipt of letter from field official. The school volume for fiscal year 1893 is missing. In the individual volumes there are alphabetical indexes to names of jurisdictions.
1876-1907. 250 vols. 48 ft.
Completed forms concerning settlement of accounts for individual transactions. Given are name of claimant, nature of transaction, amount claimed, amount allowed, and appropriations to which charged. There are also notations concerning the processing of the claim. Until 1882 most of the accounts had to be approved by the Board of Indian Commissioners and the Secretary of the Interior. Arranged chronologically, for the most part by date of referral to the Board of Indian Commissioners until 1882 and thereafter by date of referral to the proper Auditor in the Treasury Department. In the individual volumes there are alphabetical indexes to names of claimants. In most of the volumes there are page references -- on the individual forms -- to preceding and succeeding accounts with the same person or firm.
1921-35. 162 ft.
Letters received, copies of letters sent, applications, vouchers, schedules of disbursements, affidavits, and other records concerning claims for compensation for such items as goods furnished, back salaries, expenses, transportation, advertising, other services rendered, back annuity payments, and shares in funds. Arranged by claim number assigned in order of receipt of claim. The individual documents concerning each claim are arranged for the most part chronologically. There are a few documents dated later than 1935; they are, however, for claims submitted in 1935 or earlier. The records concerning claims for the period 1877-1921 were destroyed by authority of Congress while the records were still in the Bureau. There are indexes and registers for the claims for the period 1877-1907 (entries
111 and 112). Entries for the claims since 1907 are in the indexes to the central classified files of the Bureau; these indexes are still in the Bureau. Many of the records concerning claims were referred to the General Accounting Office.
1912-44.
Arranged in two parts, 1) alphabetically by surname of claimant or Indian tribe; 2) numerically by claim number. This series is composed of slips or paper and index cards that constitute several indexes to the records in Entry 892. These cards are arranged mainly in alphabetical order by person or Indian tribe, although there is one small index in numerical order. Except in the numerical index, each card or paper slip contains a six-digit claim number that refers to a claim in Entry 892. However, this series is dated 1912-44, thus overlapping the records in Entry 892 and including Entry 892B. In addition, many of the cards refer to records that were destroyed at the agency or are otherwise missing from Entry 892. As a result there are many more index cards than records corresponding to them. The numerous indexes within this series make it difficult to use, however, a NARA-prepared box list is available. (new entry)
Aug. 1935-Nov. 1944 and Feb. 1951-Jan. 1962.
Arranged in numerical order which corresponds to rough chronological order. This is an accretion to Entry 892 which ended with claim number #413260. This series starts with claim #413261 from Aug. 1935 and runs through claim #471272 of Nov. 1944. It resumes with claim #493514 from Feb. 1951 and ends with claim #499251 of Jan. 1962. The whereabouts of the claims between Nov. 1944 and Feb. 1951 are unknown. (new entry)
ca. 1819-64. 66 vols. and unbound papers. 8 ft.
Ledgers, daybooks, and other accounts of traders; affidavits; transcripts of testimony; reports and decisions of Commissioners; schedules; and other records concerning the claims of traders against Indians, which were usually submitted under the provisions of treaties. There are records for claims against Chippewa (and Ottawa), Eastern Cherokee, Kansa, Miami, Potawatomi, Sauk and Fox, Winnebago, and some unidentified Indians. Arranged for the most part alphabetically by name of tribe. The records for claims against each tribe are arranged in several ways, but for the most part they are arranged by name of trader or by claim number. Among the Special Files (entry
98) and in Special Series A (entry 126) there are other records concerning the claims of traders. For records concerning traders' licenses, see the records of the Miscellaneous Division (entries
941-947).
1911.1 vol. and unbound papers. 9 in.
Schedules for claims of traders against individual Indians (not including members of the Five Civilized Tribes in Oklahoma) before December 17, 1909. The forms give the amount claimed against individual Indians by each trader and sometimes the amount the Indian admitted to owing and ether information.Included are recapitulations of the amounts claimed by each trader. Arranged alphabetically by name of agency and thereunder alphabetically by name of Indian; the recapitulations are arranged by name of trader. For earlier records concerning traders' claims, see entry
893.
1842-53. 1 in.
Statements of accounts, certificates, affidavits, correspondence, resolutions, petitions, and other kinds of records. Most of the records relate to claims against the Old Settler Cherokee for services rendered, goods furnished, and damages suffered. The claims were adjudicated by commissions and committees appointed by the Indians. There are also some records concerning claims of the Indians. There are some records concerning the compilation of a roll for a per capita payment to the Indians in 1851. The roll, known as the Drennen Roll, is with the annuity payment rolls (entry
906). Other records concerning Old Settler Cherokee claims are among the Special Files (entry
98).
1875-76. 1 vol. 2 in.
For incoming letters transmitting, for settlement, vouchers for purchases of goods.Individual entries give date of purchase, name of seller, file reference, items purchased, and other information. Arranged by name of agency and thereunder chronologically. The incoming letters are with the main series of letters received by the Bureau (entry
79). This volume was succeeded by the first register of claims and contracts (entry
112).
1877-83. 2 ft.
Correspondence, abstracts of issues, vouchers for returns of provisions, other vouchers, and other records concerning claims submitted to the Bureau by the War Department, chiefly for the subsistence of Indian prisoners. Included are some claims from other sources. These records were segregated from the main series of claims, which has not been retained for the years given above (see entry
892). Arranged by claim number, which was assigned in chronological order by date of receipt. The claims are registered in the volumes described in entry
112.
1863. 1/4 in.
For the expenditures of the Commissioners who were appointed to
adjudicate claims for damages suffered during an outbreak of the Sioux Indians in Minnesota in 1862. Most of the expenditures consisted of payments of awards to claimants. Entries for individual disbursements give date of payment, receipt number (voucher number), name of person to whom payment was made, purpose of payment, and amount. Arranged by receipt number.
1863. 4 in.
Chiefly receipts for payments made to claimants by the Commissioners who were appointed to adjudicate claims for damages suffered during an outbreak of the Sioux Indians in Minnesota in 1862. Included are some receipts for other expenditures by the Commissioners. Arranged in part by receipt number and in part as enclosures of letters from the Second Auditor transmitting then to the Bureau. There are other records relating to the claims, including financial records concerning their settlement, among the records of the Depredation Division (entries
702-704).
1918. 2 ft.
Certified copies of statements of accounts, with vouchers and other supporting documents, of the above-named law firm with the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations. These accounts were submitted as evidence for claims of the firm against the Indians for legal services rendered and expenses incurred in connection with Citizenship Court cases. They are for the period October 1902-December 1904 and were submitted to the Bureau in 1909. The copies and certificates were made by the Bureau in 1918. The original records were disposed of with the other earlier claim files of the Bureau (see entry
892). Arranged chronologically by month. The accounts for each month were registered as a separate claim and were assigned a claim number. With these records there is a printed copy of 1928 hearings of a subcommittee of the House Committee on Indian Affairs on a bill for the final settlement of the claims of J. F. McMurray and J. F. McMurray as assignee of Mansfield, McMurray, and Cornish. There are other records concerning the firm's claims among the records of the Land Division of the Bureau (entry
632) and among the records of the Indian Territory Division of the Office of the Secretary of the Interior.
1941, 1944-57.
Arranged in rough chronological order. Consists of a wide variety of records relating to the preparation of the Bureau's budget. Many of the individual files were extracted from the Central Classified Files (220) files. Among the recurring records are "Justifications for Appropriations", "Estimates of Appropriations", and copies of U.S. budgets, listings of salaries and expenses, and costs for special programs. Very few records are present for 1941, the series basically starts with the FY 1946 budget. (new entry)
Mar. 1952-May 1954.
Arranged in chronological order. Each month is filed separately. Consists predominantly of various standard Treasury Department forms detailing the day-to-day financial status of the Bureau. (new entry)
1949-52.
Arranged in chronological order. From 1949-51 the series consists almost entirely of Journal Voucher sheets, Form 1017G. For 1951 and 1952, several other types of records are included, mainly schedules of collection. Also contains separate files on Storm Disaster - 1949 and irrigation funding. (new entry)
1935-41.
Consists of three items. Two are published reports showing the status of funds under the Emergency Relief Appropriation Acts. These were published by the Bureau of Accounts of the Treasury Department and cover all federal agencies affected by the act, including the BIA. One report is current as of Nov. 30, 1940, the other as of Mar. 31, 1941. They were apparently kept for reference purposes. The third item is a hand-written report in tabular form entitled "Summary of Expenditures from Public Funds by Agencies and Appropriations for FY 1936-41". All agencies or reservations are listed with a further breakdown by program area. (new entry)
1953-57.
Arranged alphabetically by name of area office, thereunder alphabetically by name of agency or reservation. Contains regular audit reports, special audit reports, and memos, notes, and working papers related to audits. Staff from the Office of Audit carried out the audits. Many of the reports were from the Central Classified Files (249) file series. For each area office there are Administrative Reports, generally from 1953-54. The type of audits are not standardized across area offices, Portland especially has unique reports. An agency-prepared folder list is at the front of the series. (new entry)
1947-51.
Arranged numerically by appropriation symbol number (a seven digit number starting with "14"), thereunder alphabetically by name of area office or agency. The sole exception is a section at the end of the series labeled "Miscellaneous Trust Funds". Consists of two basic forms: Form 1014 "General Ledger" and Form 5-768 "Disbursing Fund Journal", most of which bear code #01.10. Each appropriation symbol represented a different program area. (new entry)
ca. 1913-61.
Arranged alphabetically by name of tribe or agency. Most of the records are copies. Each schedule details the share due individual members of the tribe in question and cite the legal authority. Also listed are: the number of the applicant on the tribal rolls, the appropriation symbol to be charged to, how the claim should be paid (generally by the Treasury Department), and who examined the schedule. A claim number is often in the upper right hand corner - this corresponds to the claims in ENTRIES 892 and 892B. (new entry)
1936-55.
Arranged into two sub-series. The first is arranged chronologically by date of signature of bond and runs from 1936-49. It consists of books 28-31. The second sub-series is arranged alphabetically by name of employee and covers 1946-55. It consists of books 32 and 33. The employees signing for these bonds were high level employees, generally those charged with disbursing funds. All books have a name index at the front. The whereabouts of books 1-27 is unknown. (new entry)
Records Relating to Kansas Claims of New York Indians
The records described in entries 901-905 relate to claims of individual New York Indians to participate in an award made by the Court of Claims in 1898. The award was for the proceeds from the sale of lands in Kansas allocated to the New York Indians under provisions of the Treaty of Buffalo Creek, January 15, 1838, but never occupied by the Indians. Congress appropriated the necessary funds in 1900. Investigation of the claims was begun by the regular agent of the New York Agency
During 1903 and 1904, however, Special Agent Guion Miller examined all the claims; and he compiled rolls of names of the persons he considered to be eligible. Revisions were made in Miller's rolls under orders of the Court of Claims in 1905 and 1906. Among the annuity payment rolls (entry 906) there are rolls of names of persons who were actually paid.
n.d. 2 vols. 2 in.
Two indexes containing the same names. One index gives names and claim numbers only. The other index includes penciled notations indicating names of tribes and decisions. Entries in both indexes are arranged, in alphabetical sections, by surname of applicant.
1901-7. 8 in.
Once a part of the general incoming correspondence of the Bureau (entry 91). These letters relate to requests for application forms, the right of certain groups to participate in the award, general information concerning the claims, the status of individual claims, reports of agents investigating the claims, payments, and other subjects. Included is a copy of an 1894 report concerning the enrollment of the Stockbridge and Munsee Indians. The letters are arranged for the most part by file number, which was assigned in chronological order by date of receipt. Most of the application forms and other documents concerning individual claims are filed separately (entry
903).
1901-4. 5 ft.
Application forms -- with affidavits, attorneys' notices of appearance, other letters received, copies of letters sent to applicants, and other documents concerning individual claims. These records were once a part of the general incoming correspondence of the Bureau (entry
91). There are applications for only the Onondago, St. Regis, Seneca (and Cayuga), Stockbridge and Munsee, and Tuscarora Indians. Most of the claims were filed in 1901. These records are arranged alphabetically by name of tribe and thereunder by claim number, which was assigned in rough chronological order by date of receipt of application. There are a few applications with the letters received (entry
902) and with the general series of letters received by the Bureau (entry
91).
1903-5. 7 in.
Reports concerning the investigation of claims. Rolls, reports on individual claims, and lists of names of persons in special groups are included as exhibits. There are some letters from the Secretary of the Interior approving the reports and exhibits. Also included are indexes to testimony (the testimony itself has not been found), a copy of an 1859 report by Special Agent A. S. Stevens (see entry
905 for index), copies of earlier rolls and other records used by Miller, some legal documents concerning the approval of the rolls by the tribes, and appeals of rejected applicants.The reports and exhibits are arranged alphabetically by name of tribe; the other records are arranged by type.
n.d. 1 vol. 1/2 in.
An index to names of persons testifying before Special Agent Alden S. Stevens in 1859 concerning their rights to participate in the allotment of lands in Kansas. Individual entries give page references for claimants' testimony included in a report submitted by Stevens. A copy of this report is with the records described in entry 904.
Records Concerning Tribal and Individual Moneys and Payments to Indians
1841-1949. 959 vols. and unbound papers. 138 ft.
Chiefly receipt rolls for periodic annuity payments that were made to individual Indians, as provided by treaties. Included are rolls for equalization payments (money payments made instead of land allotments); distribution of proceeds of townsite sales, timber sales, and mineral right sales; compensation for improvements on ceded land; repayments of expenses of removal; and other payments. Some of the rolls are for single payments provided by awards of courts or acts of Congress. Sometimes payments were made in goods instead of money. From these rolls it cannot always be established that the persons listed were actually paid; the persons listed may be only those who were entitled to be paid. Vouchers often accompany the rolls. Some of the rolls are incomplete. The rolls sometimes give personal information concerning the Indian, such as age, sex, degree of Indian blood, and relationship to head of family. Arranged for the most part alphabetically by name of tribe or band (but sometimes by name of jurisdiction or State) and thereunder chronologically. The individual rolls are usually arranged by family groups. On some of the rolls the families are listed alphabetically by surname, but on most of the rolls there is no discernible order. In some of the volumes there are alphabetical indexes. A list of most of the rolls is available for use in the National Archives. Usually three copies of payment rolls were made -- one for the local field office, one for the central office of the Bureau, and one to be referred to the proper Auditor in the Treasury or, later, to the General Accounting Office. The General Accounting Office has retained those rolls that were referred to it and to the Treasury. For some separate rolls, see entries
908 and 910.
1897. 1 vol. 1/2 in.
Entries give names and page references for persons listed on the
roll described in entry 908. Arranged alphabetically by surname, with a separate list for some names added at the end of the roll. Inserted in the volume are a list of duplicates on the roll and a list of names of persons on the roll who died after May
3, 1894.
1897. 1 vol. 2 in.
A roll of Cherokee freedmen who were entitled to participate in an award by the Court of Claims. This roll is a duplicate copy used by Agent Dew M. Wisdom, who completed the work of making payments that was begun by Special Agent James G. Dickson. Entries for individuals give various identification numbers, name, age, sex, amount due, and sometimes other information. For each person who had been paid by Dickson there are also given the amount paid, his signature, date of receipt, and signatures of witnesses. For persons who had not been paid by Dickson there is an indication of the action taken, usually a reference to the supplemental roll for those paid by Wisdom. There are also references to the affidavits and other records submitted as the exhibits described in entry
911. Arranged by family group, with names of individuals numbered in order. For an index, see entry
907. For a roll of persons paid by Wisdom, see entry 910.
1 vol. 1/4 in.
Entries give names and page numbers for persons listed on the roll described in entry
910. Arranged alphabetically by surname of
freedman.
1897. 1 vol. 1/2 in.
A roll of Cherokee freedmen who were entitled to participate in an award by the Court of Claims and most of whom were paid by Agent Dew M. Wisdom. The persons listed on this roll were those who had not been paid by Special Agent James G. Dickson, who began the work but did not complete it. Included are names of some persons who were not paid by Wisdom (in most cases persons who appeared on the rolls more than once). Entries for individuals give various identification numbers, name, age, sex, amount due, and sometimes other information. For each person who was paid there are also given the amount paid, address, signature, date of receipt, check number, and signatures of witnesses. There are also references to the affidavits and other records submitted as the exhibits described in entry
911. Arranged by family groups in the same order of listing as on the Dickson Roll, with names of individuals numbered in order. For an index, see entry
909. For roll of persons paid by Dickson, see entry 908.
1897. 9 vols. 10 in.
Affidavits, with some letters of administration and guardianship, submitted by persons claiming a share in payments made to Cherokee Freedmen by the Special Agent James G. Dickson and Agent Dew M. Wisdom and transmitted to the Bureau with the rolls. Affidavits submitted to
Dickson are separated from those submitted to Wisdom. Each set of exhibits is arranged by numbers assigned in rough chronological order.
The letters of administration and guardianship submitted to Wisdom
are segregated from the affidavits. For roll of freedmen paid by
Dickson, see entry 908; and for roll of freedmen paid by Wisdom, see
entry 910. There are other records concerning Cherokee freedmen claims
among the records of the Land Division (entries 577-588).
1895. 1 vol. 3 in.
A roll of persons determined to be eligible to participate in a
payment to the Cherokee "Old Settlers" in Indian Territory. It was
certified by a commission of the Indians. Entries for individuals
give name, age, sex, address, various identification numbers, and
sometimes other information. Arranged by agency pay number (one of
the identification numbers). No roll of names of persons actually
paid has been located among the records of the Bureau now in the
National Archives. There is, however, an index to such a roll, and
the page references in this index correspond to those in the census
roll; see entry 913.
1896. 1 vol. 1 in.
Individual entries give names and page numbers on which they appear
in roll. No roll has been located among the records of the Bureau
now in the National Archives; but the page references correspond to
those in the census roll of persons eligible for payment, which was
prepared in 1895 (entry 912). The index is in two parts: names of
those who were alive at time of payment, and names of those who were
dead and whose heirs were paid. Each part is arranged alphabetically
by surname or Indian name. A loose schedule of unpaid shares has been
inserted in the volume.
1900, 1902. 2 vols. 4 in.
For two separate payments of principal and interest to holders
of Cherokee warrants. Entries for individual payments give warrant
number, date of issue, name of original payee, date of registry,
fund upon which drawn, amount of principal paid, amount of interest
paid, total amount paid, check number, signature of holder, signatures of witnesses, and date of payment. Each payment is arranged
by fund: General, School, Orphan, and Insane. The 1900 payment is
divided between payments of both principal and interest and payments
of interest only. In 1902 all payments included both principal and
interest.
1870. 1 Vol. 1 in.
A census of orphans and their heirs who were entitled to benefits of the treaty of 1832 and a list of payments to be made on the basis of the census. Arranged by town. 1870 Creek Orphan Payroll
1904. 1/4 in.
A roll of Creek Indians and their heirs who were entitled to participate in a payment authorized by Congress in an act of May 27, 1902 (32 Stat. 250), to Creek who had moved from east of the Mississippi River and had subsisted themselves for 1 year in accordance with article 12 of the treaty of March 24, 1832. The roll was prepared by Inspector J.
George Wright and was approved by the Acting Secretary of the Interior. For original claimants the individual entries give the name and amount of claim; and for heirs the individual entries give the name, age, sex, relationship to original claimant, address, amount due, and other information. Arranged by roll number assigned to original claimant, with names of heirs listed under the names of their ancestors and also numbered in order. No roll of names of persons actually paid has been identified in the records of the Bureau now in the National Archives.
1868-70. 3/4 in.
Copies of correspondence, statements of account current, rolls, and other records concerning payments made by the Central Superintendent to Potawatomi Indians in Kansas who had elected to become citizens of the United States, as provided by treaties of November 15, 1861, and March 29, 1866. Arranged for the most part chronologically.
1868-69. 1 vol. 2 in.
Receipts for payments of $610.59 made to individual Potawatomi Indians for the cash value of annuities due them under various treaties, as provided by a treaty of November 15, 1861, and later modified. Arranged chronologically and numbered in order.
1928. 1 vol. 2 in.
Contains accounts of payments to individual Indians during fiscal years 1917, 1919, and 1920. The ledger was prepared in 1928 by Traveling Auditor B. G. Courtright to help determine eligibility of Indians to further payment. Accounts are arranged alphabetically by surname of Indian. For related correspondence and other records, see "52157-24-220 Laona," which is among the central classified files of the Bureau (entry
121). There are payment rolls for these Indians among the annuity payment rolls (entry
906).
1892. 1 vol. 1 in.
Names of Sisseton, Wahpeton, Mdewakanton, and Wahpekute Sioux who served as scouts and soldiers during the Civil War or the Sioux uprising in Minnesota in 1862 and the names and relationships of the heirs of those who were deceased. The persons listed were those considered to be eligible to participate in a payment to be made under a provision of an act of Congress of March 3, 1891 (26 Stat. 1038). The list was prepared by Special Agent Samuel H.
Elrod and was approved by the Acting Secretary of the Interior. Arranged by roll number assigned to the scout or soldier. There is an alphabetical name index in the volume. Among the annuity payment rolls (entry
906) there are rolls of names of persons actually paid. There are records concerning applications designated as file no. "3051-92" of the letters received by the Bureau (entry
91).
1930-32. 1 vol. 1 in.
Summaries of receipts, disbursements, and balances of accounts
at jurisdictions during fiscal years 1931 and 1932. Arranged by
fiscal year, thereunder alphabetically by name of jurisdiction, and
thereunder by month.
1898-1906. 1 vol. 1/2 in.
This volume shows amounts collected at the Union Agency for the Five Tribes for taxes, permits, royalties, sales, and other purposes. Some information concerning individual Indian moneys is included. Arranged by name of tribe and thereunder for the most part chronologically.
1909-10. 1 vol. 1 in.
Contains accounts of receipts and disbursements of tribal moneys during fiscal year 1910 and, in some cases, for part of fiscal year
1911. Receipts are entered under headings, such as grazing permits, different kinds of leases; and sales of townsites. Disbursements are divided into funds deposited into the United States Treasury and funds not so deposited. Arranged alphabetically by name of school or agency and thereunder chronologically by quarter of fiscal year.
1908-13. 3 ft.
Chiefly copies of orders (mainly forms) of an Assistant Secretary of the Interior to the agent or other officer at the Union Agency in Oklahoma, directing the sale of land of individual members of the Five Civilized Tribes in response to their applications for removals of restrictions on land sales. Sales were to be made for cash under
the sealed bid system. Provisions were made for specific disbursements to be made from the
proceeds. Included with the original orders are modifications of orders, orders authorizing additional disbursements, and orders for "equalization payments" (money payments made instead of land allotments). Also included are some letters concerning deposits of money, affidavits, and other related records. The processing of the applications for the removals of restrictions was handled by the Land Division. The orders in this series, however, are copies furnished to the Accounts Division for use in handling financial aspects of land sales. Most of the orders are identified by the file number of the incoming letter of application, which was assigned in chronological order by date of its receipt. The orders are arranged by this file number. There are other records concerning the removals of restrictions and sales of lands in the 306 classification of the central classified files of the Bureau (entry
121).
1911-18. 2 vols. 8 in.
Ledgers for deposits of and interest paid on tribal funds deposited in several banks. Arranged by name of bank and thereunder chronologically, with breakdowns by name of tribe. There is also a general chronological account.
Records Concerning Indian Trust Funds
1843-57, 1861-74. 5 vols. 1 ft.
Handwritten copies of letters sent. Included are copies of many letters over the signatures of the Secretary of War and the Secretary of the Interior as well as the Commissioner of Indian Affairs. Letters were sent to the Secretary of War, the Secretary of the Interior, Treasury Department officials, State officials, bankers, field officials of the Bureau, and others. There are also some copies of letters sent by the Secretary of the Interior to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs. Letters in this series relate to investment of funds, collection of interest, deposits, and other subjects. Arranged chronologically. There are indexes in the individual volumes. During periods for which there are no letters in this series, letters concerning trust funds were copied in the main series of letters sent by the Bureau (entry
84) and in the Report Books (entry 85). There were, however, few letters sent during the years 1858-60; and by 1874 most of the correspondence concerning trust funds was handled in the Office of the Secretary of the Interior.
1837-65. 3 vols. 5 in.
Provide a chronological record of transactions. For the years 1858-62 there is a combined daybook and journal. There is some
overlapping but no duplication of entries in the second and third volumes. For corresponding ledgers, which are arranged by individual account and to which there are references in the journals, see entry
928.
1837-65. 3 vols. 8 in.
Contain accounts of individual funds; accounts with States, banks, and disbursing officers; and some other kinds of accounts. There are volumes for the periods 1836-49, 1849-62, and 1862-65, respectively. Entries in each volume are arranged by account. There are alphabetical indexes to subjects and to names of tribes, States, and persons. For corresponding journals, which provide a chronological record of transactions and to which there are references in the ledgers, see entry
927. There are ledgers for the years 1857-83 among the records of the Indian Division of the Office of the Secretary of the Interior.
1837-43. 1 vol. 2 in.
Contains accounts of principal and interest for securities held for individual Indians. There are some entries dated later than 1843; and there are some general accounts for the funds as late as 1865. Arranged by fund and thereunder by number assigned to each of the Indians concerned. The volume includes both a numerical index and an alphabetical name index.
ca. 1869-73. 1 vol. 1 in.
Entries for individual securities give number of bond or certificate, cost, interest rate, date of bond or certificate, date of redemption, dates of interest payments, place where payable, name of trust fund for which held, amount of bond or certificate, and other information. Arranged by name of State in which the security was issued. This volume is labeled "No. 3"; no other volumes, however, have been found among the records of the Bureau of Indian Affairs. There is a similar volume (also labeled "No. 3") among the records of the Indian Division of the Office of the Secretary of the Interior, but it is for a somewhat later period.
1869-74. 1 vol. 1 in.
These statements give information concerning the distribution of interest payments among the several funds. There is a separate form for each payment. The following information is given, when applicable, for individual funds: amount of stock credited, amount of interest, amount of premium, and amount credited to fund. Often there are notations stating that Congress had appropriated the amount of the payment due and that the money was to be credited to the Treasury. The statements are arranged chronologically and numbered in order. There are
other copies of these forms (for the years 1869-98) among the records of the Indian Division of the Office of the Secretary of the Interior.
ca. 1867-84. 1 vol. 2 in.
Tabular statements relating to interest due, interest collected, nonpaying securities, estimates for appropriations, receipts and disbursements, status of individual funds, accounts current of the Secretary of the Interior, and other subjects. Many of them appear to be copies of statements prepared for the use of persons outside the Bureau. The dates given above are those of compilation; many of the statements have references to earlier dates. Arranged in rough chronological order by date of preparation. There is an alphabetical subject index.
1903-9. 9 vols. 2 ft.
Consist of accounts of individual Indians (mainly minors) participating in trust funds and general accounts for the funds themselves. There are accounts for members of the following tribes: Kansa (Kaw), Iowa, Oto and Missouri, Tonkawa, Sauk and Fox of the Missouri, Grand Ronde, Flandreau Sioux, Omaha, Devil's Lake Sioux, Red Lake Chippewa, Rosebud Sioux, Sisseton and Wahpeton Sioux, and Santee Sioux. Arranged by name of tribal fund in approximately the order given above and thereunder by account number. The entries in individual accounts are arranged chronologically. There is an alphabetical name index in each volume.
Other Records
1875-76. 1 vol. 1/2 in.
Consists of accounts of several persons and organizations connected with the participation of the Bureau of Indian Affairs in the Centennial Exhibition at Philadelphia. Arranged by name of individual, or organization and thereunder chronologically. There is an alphabetical name index. For other records concerning the Centennial Exhibition, see entries
78, 79, and 86.
1877-78. 3 in.
These were submitted to agents and then were referred to the
Bureau. Arranged for the most part by name of trader.
1894-96. 1 vol. 1 in.
This journal, maintained by the Commission, balances receipts and disbursements. Arranged chronologically.
ca. 1897-1903. 2 in.
Chiefly drafts and notes for schedules, ledgers, letters, and
reports concerning the. proceeds from sales of Sioux lands and the fulfillment of treaty obligations incurred by the United States in return for the cession of the lands.
ca. 1832-77. 5 in.
Relate to appropriations, estimates, contracts, annuity payments, payments to employees, and other subjects. Some of the schedules contain information concerning earlier periods than the dates given above. Arranged roughly by subject and thereunder chronologically.
ca. 1797-1881. 2 ft.
Included are vouchers, invoices, correspondence, contracts, canceled checks, abstracts, receipts, memoranda, property returns, and clippings. These records relate to bids and proposals, purchases of goods, office expenses, central office and field office accounts, and other subjects. Arranged for the most part by subject and thereunder chronologically. For main series of superintendency and agency accounts, see entry
879.
ca. 1793-1841. 1 vol. 3/4 in.
A record of the personal financial affairs of Abel, who was a resident of Elizabethtown, N.Y. Research has so far failed to explain its being among the records of the Bureau.