RELEASE DATE: FEBRUARY 7, 2016
KINSEARCHING
by
Marleta Childs
P. O. Box 6825
LUBBOCK, TX 79493-6825
[email protected]
Already well-known for his series of records concerning the Cherokee and Choctaw, Jeff Bowen also transcribes information about tribes of the southwestern United States. His latest work is WESTERN NAVAJO RESERVATION: NAVAJO, HOPI, AND PAIUTE 1933 CENSUS, WITH BIRTH & DEATH ROLLS, 1925-1933.
In the introduction, Bowen presents a concise overview of the history and culture of the Navajo, Hopi, and Paiute tribes. He also briefly describes the background and importance of Tuba City, Arizona, where the Western Navajo Reservation is located. Next, the author provides an explanation of how to read the census details, using the key at the top of each page.
Composing the major part of the volume, the 1933 census begins with the Navajo, the largest of the three tribes. Then the smaller tribes of the Hopi and the Paiute are enumerated separately. Everyone on the census is numbered consecutively, despite any change in tribal affiliation. Although all persons on each tribal census are listed in alphabetical order, in a few instances, a name was inserted that disrupts the sequence. Those names appear in a limited index at the back of the book.
For each individual, the 1933 census furnishes the person’s name; census number; gender; year of birth; age at last birthday; tribe; degree of blood (full or half); marital status; relationship to head of family and last census roll number; whether at jurisdiction where enrolled (yes or no); whether a ward or not; and allotment annuity and/or identification number. (If a person was not enrolled at jurisdiction, his or her place of enrollment is given.) For example, the entry for Agnes BURTON provides these facts: census #775; female; born in 1908; age 25; Navajo; full-blood; married; wife #752; enrolled at jurisdiction; married to Gale BURTON, who is married on the Hopi roll; ward; id #72051.
Names of a few persons are listed in miscellaneous categories at the end of the regular 1933 roll. These classifications include additions due to omission from previous rolls, transfers from one roll to another (from the Navajo to the Paiute, for instance), and duplicate enrollments, such as Agnes BURTON.
A small section of Bowen’s volume replicates separate birth (excluding stillbirths) and death rolls, 1925-1933, for the three tribes. Besides the baby’s name, the birth entries provide the census roll number; date of birth; gender; tribe; whether a ward or not; degree of blood of the parents and child; and whether at jurisdiction where enrolled. Entries for deaths include the deceased’s name, year and number on last census; date of birth; age at death; gender; tribe; whether a ward; degree of blood; cause of death; and whether at jurisdiction where enrolled. One especially sad death entry is for Gloria CANYON, a 1½-month Navajo girl, who died on 15 May 1930, due to an accidental injury caused by a falling log from the hogan.
Although a portion of the census schedules was originally published in 1996, Bowen’s new publication contains 140 pages never before transcribed. Since few printed genealogical works about these Southwestern tribes are widely available, WESTERN NAVAJO RESERVATION: NAVAJO, HOPI, AND PAIUTE 1933 CENSUS, WITH BIRTH & DEATH ROLLS, 1925-1933 will be an important addition to library collections concerning the indigenous peoples of the United States.
The 171-page soft-cover book has an interesting picture on its front cover, an informative introduction, a table of contents, instructions about utilizing the data, and a limited full-name index. To the book's price of $18.95, buyers should add the cost for postage and handling charges. For U. S. postal mail, the cost is $5.50 for one book and $2.50 for each additional copy; for UPS, the cost is $7.50 for one copy and $2.50 for each additional book. The volume (item order #CF8625) may be purchased by check, MasterCard, or Visa from Clearfield Company, 3600 Clipper Mill Rd., Suite 260, Baltimore, Maryland 21211 (for phone orders, call toll free 1-800-296-6687; fax 1-410-752-8492; website www.genealogical.com ).