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
Creek removal records
The Creek Indians lived in villages. These records are usually arranged by name of village and thereunder by name of Indian.
1833. 1 vol. 1 in.
This roll was completed by Benjamin S. Parsons and Thomas J. Abbott
in accordance with article 2 of the treaty of March 24, 1832. Given are the names of heads of families and the number of males, females, and slaves in each family. The volume is divided into two parts: information for the families living in Upper Towns and Lower Towns, respectively. Each part is arranged by name of town and thereunder by name of head of family. The entries for each town are numbered in order. These entry
numbers were used for purposes of identification in later records. Indexed by name of town. The index to Creek reserves (entry
286) can be used to find the town in which a particular Indian is listed. These records have been
microfilmed by the National Archives as T275,
roll 1 and online transcription
2 vols.
Volume 1 was compiled by Bright and volume 2 by Abert (Entry 287). They index, by name, the Creeks. Also included is a short numerical code, apparently corresponding to volume and page numbers, and a location providing section, township, and range. These serve as indexes to the volumes in
entry 286A. (new entry)
n.d. 1 vol. 1 in.
An alphabetical listing of the Creek Indians entered on the location registers prepared by
Albert and Bright (entry 287). It serves as an index to the census roll described in entry
285.
2 vols.
Arrangement is alphabetical by the first letter of the surname. Each entry covers a two page span and includes the following categories of information: number of entry, reservee's name, Creek town, location book number and page, location, locating agent, name of purchaser, date of approval, and date of patent. (new entry)
ca. 1834-86. 5 vols. 6 in.
Under the provisions of article 2 of the treaty of 1832, each head of a Creek family was entitled to a reservation of land in the East. John J.
Abert and James Bright located these reservations in 1833-34. Given for each reservee are his name and a description of land; and sometimes other information is included. If the land was sold, the name of the purchaser, the amount of sale, and information concerning administrative handling of the contract are also given. There are two copies of a register for Abert's locations and two copies of a register for Bright's locations. There is also a preliminary version of the Bright register. In one copy, when applicable, the date of issuance of a patent by the General Land Office is given. There are notations dated as late as 1886. Arranged by town and thereunder by name of Indian in the same order as the census roll described in entry
285. For an index to names of Indians, see entry 286.
ca.
1834-36. 2 vols. 3 in.
Labeled, respectively, as registers of certifying agents Robert McHenry and James F. Sanford. Both names, however, appear in both volumes. Each volume consists of location registers for certain areas, similar to those described in entry
287, giving both the location of land and information concerning sales. One includes evaluations of the quality of the land. There are also schedules of approved contracts in each volume. These volumes contain many corrections and deletions.
Jan. 22, 1836. 2 vols. 1 in.
Two copies of a report, in tabular form, that was submitted by John B.
Hogan, Superintendent of Creek Emigration, acting under special instructions to investigate fraudulent land sales. Given for individual cases are census number (see entry
285) and name of reservee, location of land, name of registered purchaser, price of sale, judgment on validity of contract, and other information. Some notations were made later. Arranged by town.
1836. 1 vol. 1/4 in.
Submitted by investigating agents John B. Hogan, James W. Burney,
and George D. Anderson on June 10, 1836, and approved by the President on July 7, 1836. Given are judgments on the validity of certain con tracts for the sale of Creek reservations that were certified by Leonard Tarrant. Later notations were made in the Bureau. Arranged by town.
Records of the Commission of Crawford and Belch
In 1836 the President appointed Thomas Hartley Crawford and Alfred Belch to investigate reports of frauds in the sale of Creek lands and the causes of recent hostilities of the Creek Indians.
1836-38. 1 vol. 3/4 in.
Contains proceedings of the Commission, consisting chiefly of copies of correspondence and other documents. Arranged chronologically.
1836-38. 5 vols. 5 in.
A record of cases of alleged fraud in the transfer of Creek reservations presented to the Commission. Given for individual claims are date of filing, names of contestants, nature of claim, notations on actions taken, and other information. Later notations were made in the Bureau. Arranged in three groups: (1) cases in which more information was needed; (2) cases in which the Indian reservee was a contestant; and (3) cases in which the reservee had died. Within these groups, the cases are arranged chronologically by filing date of claim and
numbered consecutively. In three of the volumes there is an alphabetical index to names of contestants. For decisions, see entry
293. Papers submitted concerning the cases are now filed with the reserve papers described in entry
529.
1836-38. 3 vols. and unbound papers. 5 in.
Summaries of the evidence presented and the decisions of the Commissioners in fraud cases. There are cross-references to the docket books (entry
292). Later notations were made in the Bureau or the War Department. There are one general report and other reports for special groups of claims. Arranged by
name of town, usually in alphabetical order.
1839. 1 vol. 1/2 in.
Copies of schedules approved by the President. Arranged in groups of related cases and thereunder by town. There are later notations, dated for the most part in 1840, relating to administrative actions.
Other Creek removal records
1839-142. 1 vol. 1/2 in.
Schedules, approved by the President, of contracts that had been approved by certifying agents and Commissioners. The dates given above are those of the schedules; the contracts were approved as early as 1834. Arranged chronologically by date of schedule; the individual schedules are arranged alphabetically by name of town.
1841. 1 vol. 1/2 in.
Five reports submitted to the Secretary of War by John Wyse and John
J. Abert concerning the land of deceased reservees. These reports formed a separate group of claims presented to Crawford and Belch (see entry
292) Some notations were made later.
Feb.
22, 1841. 1 vol. 1/2 in.
Contains decisions on cases involving the validity of contracts made with J. C. Watson and
Company for sale of Creek reservations. Arranged by town. Included in the volume are also some related schedules concerning settled and uncontested cases and also cases admitted for adjudication after the prescribed time.
ca. 1833-57. 9 in.
Schedules, statements, abstracts, lists, and other records relating to the contracts for sales of reservations and to some related subjects. Many of these records were prepared by locating and certifying agents and Commissioners. Arranged in rough chronological order.
1836-38. 8 vols. and unbound papers. 5 in.
Muster rolls of Creek Indians about to emigrate and Indians who had emigrated. There are also lists of Indians entitled to subsistence and some receipt rolls for subsistence goods. One roll includes some names of Seminole Indians. Arranged for the most part chronologically.
ca. 1827-59. 1 ft.
Correspondence, depositions, contracts for sale of land, memoranda, drafts of reports, statements, and other records
relating particularly to land fraud cases. Included are some records of investigating officers -- particularly John Wyse, secretary to Special Commissioner John W. Edmonds (see entries
296 and 297). Arranged by subject or type of
document.
Other removal records
1832-46. 5 vols. and unbound papers. 2 in.
Rolls of Apalachicola and Seminole of Florida, Kickapoo, New York, Ottawa, Potowatomi, Quapaw, and Wyandot Indians. Arranged
alphabetically by name of tribe or state.
The Land Division was established in 1846 at the time divisions were first organized within the Bureau of Indian Affairs. It was known at first as the Land Statistics, Reservations and Grants Division; and until 1907 it was sometimes called the Land and Law Division. In this inventory it will be consistently designated as the Land Division.
The regulations adopted in 1846 provided that the Land Division would "embrace all business connected with the location and survey of lands set apart for the various tribes; the examinations of claims arising out of Reservations and grants to individual Indians; the assignment or conveyance thereof; and the correspondence which appropriately relates thereto." These duties remained major areas of concern, but they were soon expanded to include other activities.
To induce Indians to give up their land had been a major goal of Indian policy since colonial times. Most of the "claims arising out of Reservations and grants" were the outgrowth of treaties by which Indians gave up much of their land in exchange for tribal reserves and, frequently, for grants to individual Indians as well as monetary and other benefits. A significant part of the records of the Bureau relates to the Indians' cession of their land east of the Mississippi River and their removal to the West. Although most of the removal activities were completed before the establishment of the Land Division, many of the records were maintained in that Division. These records relating to Indian removal have been regarded as a distinct subgroup of the records of the Bureau and are described in a separate section of the inventory (entries 198-301).
During the third quarter of the 19th century much of the work of the Land Division was concerned with the sale, under the provisions of treaties, of parts of reservations ceded by the Indians and, in some cases, of entire reservations of tribes who had agreed to move to Indian Territory. Since the proceeds from these sales were ordinarily to be used for the benefit of the Indians, with the Secretary of the Interior acting as trustee of the funds, the lands offered for sale were known as "trust lands." These lands were usually sold in small tracts by the sealed bid method; sometimes, however, arrangements were made to sell large areas to one purchaser -- most often a railroad company. Other lands were sold to settle tribal debts.
Allotment work became another important activity of the Land Division. During the last half of the 19th century the division of tribal lands into tracts owned by individual Indians became more common. After the General Allotment Act of 1887 (24 Stat. 388) was passed, it became a basic policy to provide every Indian with his own allotment. During a "trust period" (originally for 25 years but frequently extended) allotments were to be held in trust with the United States acting as guardian. During this period the Indian could not sell his land without Government approval. After the expiration of the trust period, the Indian was to receive a fee patent and was to have full control of the land. After 1900 the Land Division also handled the issuance of certificates of competency. These certificates testified to the ability of individual Indians to conduct their own affairs and authorized them to sell their land. The surveying of Indian lands gradually became one of the allotting activities.
The Indian Reorganization Act of 1934 (48 Stat. 984) -- sometimes known as the Wheeler-Howard Act -- prohibited further allotments to Indians and suspended sales of land.
The Land Division was concerned more with the ownership of land than with the use of it, but it was in charge of the leasing of Indian land to non-Indians. The leases, which became more common at the turn of the century, allowed the use of reservations and individual allotments for farming, grazing, lumbering, mining, and, later, for development of oil - and gas - bearing areas.
The claims handled by the Land Division gradually expanded in scope. Those referred to in the 1846 regulations related mainly to disputes over the ownership of land granted to tribes and to individuals. There are more records relating to this type of claim among the Indian removal records than among the records of the Land Division itself. There were also claims, notably the Choctaw Net Proceeds Case, concerning the proceeds from the sale of land. Later the Division handled some claims for losses of property by both Indians and no Indians. In 1893 the Depredation Division of the Bureau, which handled depredation claims, was consolidated with the Land Division. The Land Division was also concerned with claims for military bounty lands and even for claims for pay, bounties, and pensions resulting from military service by Indians during the Civil War. These claims were probably handled by the Land Division because it had gradually assumed general charge of the legal work of the Bureau. It also handled such matters as contracts of attorneys who represented Indians and attorneys' claims for fees.
Another area of activity of the Land Division not so closely connected with land matters was that of tribal enrollment and citizenship. Usually, however, the chief material benefits of membership in a tribe were entitlement to land and to per capita payments (many of which were payments for cessions of land). For many years the Land Division was concerned with deposits of tribal funds, bonding of banks, and related activities.
Between 1907 and 1913 there was a multitude of changes in the organization and activities of the Land Division as a result of a general reorganization of the Bureau. Until this period there were no formal subdivisions within the Land Division, although specific activities were frequently assigned to a particular clerk. The Division was now divided into sections, the names and duties of which were changed frequently.
The Law Clerk was separated from the Land Division in 1907 to set up what became the Law Division. In 1907 a Division of Field Work (later the Cooperation Division) was established to take charge of irrigation and, later on, of forestry activities. In 1908 these Division activities were transferred to a Cooperation Section in the Office of the Chief Clerk. In 1909 the Uses Section of the Land Division assumed duties relating to irrigation matters. In 1910 an Irrigation Section and a Forestry Section were established in the Land Division. Later in the same year these two Sections were consolidated to form the Field Section. In 1912 the Field Section was divided into a Forestry Section and an Irrigation Section, but they were not part of the Land Division.
The handling of the affairs of the Five Civilized Tribes was also shunted about during this period. In 1907 an Indian Territory Division was established with personnel transferred from the Land Division. In the following year, however, the Indian Territory Division was abolished and its activities were transferred to the Land Division. For the next several years responsibility for the Five Tribes alternated between the Land Division and the Office of the Chief Clerk. After 1913 there was a permanent Five Tribes Section in the Land Division.
The other permanent sections that survived the transitory period were the Allotments, Sales, Contracts (known briefly as Uses and as Tribal Lands), and Records Sections. The most important short-lived sections were a Population Section (1909-11) and an Heirship Section (1913). The activities of the Population Section (relating chiefly to statistics, census rolls, trust funds, and per capita payments) were divided among other units of the Bureau. In 1913 all heirship matters were transferred to the Law Division.
There was a considerable shifting of specific duties among the various sections, but the general scope of their duties is indicated by their names. The Allotments Section was concerned with allotments and such related activities as surveys, appraisements, and acquisition of land for Indians without reservations. The Sales Section supervised sales of land, issuance of patents and certificates of competency, and partition of estates. The Contracts Section had charge of matters relating to leases, rights-of-way, contracts of attorneys, bonding of banks, and enrollment. Later a separate Oil and Gas Section was established to handle oil and gas leases. The Records Section had charge of records, particularly those relating to land titles.
After the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934 was passed, the names and duties of some of the sections were changed. The Allotments Section became the Acquisitions Section, with the major duty of acquiring land for the use of Indians; the Sales Section became the Adjustments Section; and the Contracts Section became the Claims Section. The Five Tribes Section was consolidated with the Claims Section.
In 1940 the Land Division became a part of the new Indian Resources Branch. Later on their names were changed, respectively to Branch of Land (now known as the Branch of Realty) and Division of Resources. The series entries for the records of the Land Division have been arranged according to functions and activities of the Division rather than according to the organization that developed after 1907. Most of the series fall into four large groups relating, respectively, to surveying and allotting, sales and leases of land, enrollment, and claims�
The records of the Land Division now in the National Archives are fragmentary chiefly because (1) most of the correspondence of the Bureau relating to land matters is included with the general records of the Bureau and (2) many of the records of the Division -- particularly those relating to title to land -- have been retained by the Bureau. The tract books, allotment schedules, and other similar records that have been transferred to the National Archives are for the most part only those for which the Bureau has duplicate or revised copies.
Other records relating to land matters are among the records of the Bureau -- particularly with the general records, the Indian removal records, and the records of various field offices. There are also the records of the Depredation Division (which was consolidated with the Land Division) and the records of the Law and Probate Divisions, the Forestry Division, and the Irrigation Division (Divisions that assumed functions at one time exercised by the Land Division). Among the records of the Finance Division are records relating to Indian trust funds, annuity payments, and claims -- all of which were closely related to activities of the Land Division. There are records concerning enrollment of Indians among the records of the Civilization and Finance Divisions.
Special mention should be made of the records of the former General Land Office, which are now among the records of the Bureau of Land Management (in Record Group 49). There was close cooperation between the Office and the Bureau, particularly concerning the surveying and classifying of land, the issuance of patents, and the providing of areas of the public domain for the use of Indians.
General records
1855-80. 9 vols. 2 ft.
In these were registered chronologically the letters received in
the Bureau that were referred to the Land Division for examination and
action. The contents of the volumes changed somewhat over the years.
In the first volume, entries for individual letters give file mark and
jurisdiction, date of receipt in the Division, name of person from whom
received, name of clerk to whom referred, and remarks concerning action
taken. In the other volumes, the date of the letter and the date of
its receipt in the Bureau are also given; and, in the last two volumes,
the subject matter of the letter is indicated. Entries are arranged
chronologically by date of receipt of letter in the Division. There
are a few entries for letters received before 1855. With the exception
of letters filed in segregated series, hereinafter described, the letters
registered are usually with the general incoming correspondence of the
Bureau (entry 79) and not with the records of the Land Division. The
registers for letters received after 1880 were destroyed by the Bureau.
For general registers of letters received by the Bureau, see entries 75,
88, and 89.
1881-96. 16 vols. 3 ft.
Indexes to letters received by the Bureau and referred to the Land
Division for examination and action. Entries for individual letters from a particular person or relating to a given subject usually give file number, date of letter, name of sender, subject matter, and references to registers. The registers for this period.,
however were destroyed
by the Bureau. There are some cross-references. References to letters
relating to the affairs of a particular agency are not so extensive as
those in the general indexes of the Bureau (entry 87). The volumes are
for varying periods of time, usually about a year. Each volume is divided into alphabetical sections by the first
two or three letters of
the subject heading. Within each section the entries are in rough
chronological order. The correspondence that is indexed is ordinarily
with the general incoming correspondence of the Bureau (entry 91).
ca. 1870-86. 5 vols. 10 in.
Abstracts of the Land Division letter books (see entry 96), which ,
were prepared by Robert F. Thompson, a clerk in the Bureau for many
years. Most individual entries give name of addressee, date, page
reference, and abstract of contents of letters relating to a specific
subject. The first volume, labeled as being for the 1870-80 period,
includes earlier and later references. In it are cited incoming correspondence, statutes, and other sources as veil as the letter books.
Entries in this volume are arranged alphabetically by initial letter
of subject. Each of the other volumes covers a stated number of letter books for the 1878-86 period and was prepared some time after the
last letter book had been closed. Entries in these volumes are arranged alphabetically by subject. For indexes to incoming letters
handled by the Land Division, see entry 303.
1870-ca. 1905. 2 vols. 5 in.
Cover Bureau correspondence handled by the Land Division and
some other sources of information relating to subjects considered of
particular importance. For all entries the subject matter of the letter and a brief of the contents are given. For individual letters
received are given the name of the person from whom it was received,
date of letter, and file designation. For individual letters sent are
given the name of addressee, date of letter, and citation in the press
copy books (entry 96). Although both volumes are divided into alphabetical sections according to subject, they are somewhat different.
The first volume was used primarily during the period 1870-81, but there
are earlier and later references. There are separate sections in the
volume for records in the Special Cases (entry 102) and some other
segregated series and, within the sections, the entries are in rough
chronological order. The second volume was probably begun in 1882.
Included, in addition to abstracts of correspondence of the Bureau,
are references to congressional documents, statutes, opinions of the
Attorney General, and court decisions. In the volume are citations for
as early as 1800 and as late as 1905. There is no apparent pattern to
the order of the entries within the alphabetical sections.
1897-1910. 41 vols.
3 ft.
Docket books for correspondence of the Bureau relating to land
matters and enrollment of the Five Civilized Tribes. There are volumes for correspondence relating to particular subjects, such as deeds,
townsites, tribal acts, legal contests, removal of restrictions on alienation of land, and enrollment. There are also separate volumes for
correspondence with the Commission to the Five Civilized Tribes and
with the Inspector for Indian Territory and volumes for miscellaneous materials. Individual entries consist for the most part of an abstract
of the incoming letter and a notation of subsequent action, including
references to letters of reply. There are a few notations dated later
than 1910. Arranged in part by subject and in part chronologically.
The arrangement of the entries in individual volumes varies. Most of
the volumes are divided into broad subject areas and are arranged thereunder chronologically. In some volumes, entries are arranged
chronologically by date of receipt of incoming letter; in others they are arranged
alphabetically by subject. There is usually an alphabetical index to
names and subjects.
1896-1907. 2 vols. 1 in.
A list of the numbers of those "authorities" described in entry 110
that were referred to the Land Division. Also given are volume and
page numbers, apparently for registers of incoming correspondence
that were destroyed. Entries are arranged numerically by authority
number.
ca. 1882. 1 vol.
1 in.
A shelf list of records, 1797-1882, as they were maintained in the
au about 1882. Most of the records listed relate to claims and
other matters arising from the Choctaw Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek
of 1830 and the Chickasaw treaties of 1832 and 1834. There is one list
for the records relating to the Choctaw; another list is for those relating to the Chickasaw. Entries on each list are arranged by number assigned
to the package or volume of records. There is a brief index. Many of
these records are now with the records relating to Indian removal rather
than with the main body of records of the Land Division in the National
Archives.
1892-1907. 1 vol. 3/4 in.
A shelf list of the records described in entry
310 as they were
maintained in the Bureau. This list was apparently begun in 1892 and
additions to it were made later. Individual entries give the subject
matter of the records in the separate bundles and, frequently, dates
and file numbers. There is an alphabetical index to subjects -- The
list is no longer accurate -- there have been so many additions to and
removals from the series. It is of some use, however, in finding
records relating to particular subjects. The records listed are maintained in the National Archives in roughly the same order as in the
list.
1849-1907. 17 ft.
These records consist chiefly of incoming correspondence and enclosures that were kept separately from the main correspondence series
(entries 79 and 91) and the Special Cases (entry
102) because of unusual
size or bulk. Included are some copies of outgoing correspondence, reports, proceedings, testimony,
journals, census rolls, schedules, plats,
field notes of surveys, patent applications-, vouchers, receipts, ledgers,
and newspaper clippings. These records relate to such matters as appraisals and allotments of land, boundaries, leases, railroad
rights-of-way, enrollment of Indians, proceedings of special commissions, timber
operations, and irrigation projects. Arranged, according to subject
matter, into bundles that may consist of one item or of many items. In
many cases all the records in a bundle were received by the Bureau
with one transmitted, letter, which signifies that the bundle is one file
unit of incoming correspondence. The arrangement within the bundles
varies. For a list of these records, see entry 309.
1 vol.
This is a publication of the General Land Office of the Department of the Interior. Included are land grants, forfeited railroad grants, wagon roads, canal grants, river improvement grants, and an index to the volume. Entries include various information, based on the kind, but samples of information found in them include date of grant, route of road, extent of grant in place, extent of indemnity limits, grantee, grantee of state, subdivisions of grant and present owners, and additional legislation affecting but not increasing grant. (new entry)
Surveying and Allotting Records
n.d. 1 vol. 1 in.
Individual entries give name of reservation or other area surveyed
and usually include the date of survey and the name of the surveyor
for many of the field notes described in entry 313. There are also references to related records, mainly incoming correspondence and maps,
and other notations. Volume references are given, but they do not coincide with the present numbering of the volumes. References to the Ancient
and Miscellaneous Surveys (entry 315) are included. Copies of correspondence and lists of contents of some of the volumes have been inserted.
There are references to records dated from 1796 to 1911. There are also
some notes relating to Geological Survey field notes. Entries are arranged alphabetically by name of State.
ca. 1914-19. 1 vol. 2 in.
Consists of lists of the areas of land surveyed and described in
each of volumes 1-165 of the records described in entry 313; with a
few notations for higher numbered volumes. The information is entered
in the guide (apparently compiled during the period 1914-19) in the
same order as the volumes are numbered and arranged. Also included is
an alphabetical index, chiefly to names of reservations or other geographic locations, giving volume references (and, sometimes, page
references) in the field notes. This index is for all the volumes, not
only the first 165.
1832-1919. 287 vols. 45 ft.
Surveyors' records of the results of surveys - mainly cadastral but some astronomical ones. Most of the surveys were conducted under the supervision of the General Land Office. In addition to the notes themselves, some of the volumes include copies of correspondence and other documents. Arranged numerically by number assigned to the volume; but some numbers are missing and there are some unnumbered volumes. The numbers were assigned apparently after the volumes had already been arranged in rough alphabetical order by name of State or Territory. The volumes for each reservation are usually together. In the higher numbered volumes (chiefly for more recent surveys) the geographical arrangement is no longer followed. For finding aids for these records, see entries
311 and 312. For other field notes, see entries
314, 315, and 317-321. Additional field notes have been retained by the Bureau, and there are others among the records of the former General Land Office (in Record Group 49).
1910-40. 6 ft.
These notes are essentially a continuation of the series of records described in entry
313, although there is some overlapping of dates. Arranged by State, thereunder by reservation, and thereunder by location of land.
1960-1974.
Reports are arranged alphabetically by agency, area, or reservation. They were compiled for the Branch of Real Estate Services of the Land Division of the BIA. These land appraisals contain such information as legal descriptions, location, land value, mineral rights, flood history, history of the property, assessed valuation and taxes, description of the land, improvements, highest and best use, and fair market value. (new entry)
1797-1887. 10 in.
These records were once bound as volumes 299-302 of the field notes described in entry
313. They consist of notes of early surveys and also of some more recent ones that were not voluminous enough for a separate volume. Many of the notes are enclosures to incoming letters. They have been kept in the same order as that in which they were formerly bound, but no pattern for this order has been discerned. A list of the notes, with references to related correspondence, is included with the records.
1915-17. 2 vols. 1 in.
Incomplete indexes to names of settlers. They were prepared to accompany the field notes described in entry
317. Entries indicate the tracts held by individual settlers. There is some duplication between the two volumes; each, however, contains names not found in the other. In one volume there are entries under each letter of the alphabet. Although the second volume includes entries under only the letters A-M, it is a more complete index for those letters.
1915-17. 29 vols. 9 in.
Surveyors' notes, including some plats. Tracts of individual settlers are sometimes indicated. There are also some loose notes, blueprints, and other documents. Arranged by township. For indexes, see entry
316.
1903. 1 in.
Mounted photographs and field notes of surveys relating to proposed irrigation work along the San Juan River. These records are enclosures to a report that was submitted by Superintendent of Irrigation George Butler. The report (file no. "31060-03") is among the general incoming correspondence of the Bureau (entry
91). A map submitted with the report is among the cartographic records of the Bureau. Arranged by enclosure number.
1900. 1 vol. 1 in.
Consist of tables giving measurements of the reservoir as well as dams, canals, and other features in the reservoir area located on the Wind River Reservation in Wyoming (Shoshoni and Arapaho Indians).
1858. 1 vol. 1/4 in.
Consists of field notes with facing plats of a survey of allotments made under a treaty of 1855 and conducted by John H. Millar. Included are copies of Millar's instructions, contract, oath of office, and other records. Entries are arranged by location of land.
1838-88. 1 in.
Included are correspondence, memoranda, reports, and field notes. Some of these records were withdrawn from the general incoming correspondence series (entries
79 and 91); others are copies. Most of the records are dated after 1853. Arranged chronologically.
n.d. 1/4 in.
Printed maps of States, with penciled notations showing Indian land cessions. Included are a few maps showing military establishments, battle sites, and other places of interest. On some of the maps no notations were made. The maps were printed in
1839, 1841, and 1855; there is no indication, however, of the dates when the notations were made. Arranged in two sets: one for maps showing land cessions and one for maps showing military landmarks. The maps in each set are arranged by geographical location of State.
n.d. Negligible.
A hand-drawn map of the part of Indian Territory located between the Canadian River and the North Fork of the Canadian River and extending east and west from the 96th meridian.
1911-16. 1/2 in.
Printed maps prepared by the Bureau. The map of Rosebud Reservation is annotated. Arranged alphabetically by name of reservation.
n.d. 1 vol. 3 in.
A complete entry for a reservation consists of a map or plat, a brief sketch of the history of the reservation, and abstracts of incoming and outgoing correspondence of the Bureau for the years 1855-75 relating to the reservation. All these features are not included for every reservation. There are a few notations of later date. Entries are arranged by State in the following order: Washington, Oregon, California, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Idaho, and Colorado. At the end of these entries there are additional ones (chiefly maps and plats) for California Mission reservations. There is an alphabetical index to names of reservations.
ca. 1868-70. 1 vol. 2 in.
Drawings of agency grounds and buildings, and printed and hand-drawn maps and plats of reservation areas. Arranged alphabetically by name of agency.
1904-6. 10 in.
Consist of data sheets, with maps and clippings from annual reports and other publications. Information is given concerning location, transportation and communication facilities, population, military posts, physical features, agriculture, school facilities, buildings, employees, and other pertinent subjects. Included is some information relating to Indians not under an agency and to Bureau field offices (such as warehouses) not in charge of any Indians. Arranged alphabetically by name of State and thereunder by name of agency or school.
1900. 1 vol. 1/4 in.
A list prepared by Engineer Charles F. Leech. For individual tracts are given name of occupant, his status as tribal citizen or lessee, acreages of various types, quality rating, and sometimes other pertinent information. Entries in the list are arranged by number assigned to tract by location on a map submitted with the list. This map is among the cartographic records of the Bureau maintained separately from the textual records (Map No. 1721, entry
163).
1871-87. 2 in.
Mainly letters transmitting receipts for certificates of allotment. These letters have been segregated from the general incoming correspondence of the Bureau (entries
79 and 91). In some cases there is only a cross-reference or transmittal letter, but often included are the receipts themselves. Arranged chronologically by date of receipt.
1907-9. 1 vol. 2 in.
Given are file references for incoming letters concerning allotments, patents, surveys, and related subjects. Arranged in alphabetical sections by name of person or by subject.
1892-1909. 1 vol. 2 in.
Copies of letters sent by the Commissioner of Indian Affairs to allotting agents giving them instructions for specific assignments. There is an alphabetical index by name of agent or reservation or by subject.
1908-18. 1 vol. 1 in.
Given for individual applications are name of applicant, file reference, decision on entitlement, and sometimes an application number. The dates given above are those of the references rather than of the compilation of the volume. Entries are arranged by name of tribe in no discernible order, but there is an alphabetical index to names of tribes. The entries for each tribe are arranged in rough chronological order.
1908-10. 5 in.
Copies of General Land Office forms submitted by those Mohave Indians living in Arizona and California who applied for an allotment from the public lands on the ground that no reservation had been provided for them by treaty, act of Congress, or Executive order. Arranged by number assigned in rough chronological order by date of application.
1910. 1/2 in.
Applications for allotments, arranged chronologically; a schedule of allotments, arranged by location of land; and plats, arranged by location of land. These records were submitted by Special Allotting Agent William Williams in connection with nonreservation allotments made by him to individual Chemehuevi Indians.
1915-22.
8 vols. 6 in.
Entries give file references for incoming letters in the general classified correspondence (entry
121) relating to certain persons and concerning chiefly allotments and heirship cases. There are some entries relating to other subjects. Some indication of the handling of the letter within the Bureau is usually given. The first volume, covering the period March 15-September 14, 1915, is arranged chronologically. Thereafter there is a volume for each year from 1915 through 1921. There are some entries for 1922 in the 1921 volume. Entries in each of these volumes are arranged, in alphabetical sections, by initial letter of surname of person; thereunder the arrangement is chronological, usually by date of filing.
1920-26. 2 ft.
Copies of letters sent by the Bureau and usually signed by the Chief Clerk. Included are copies of enclosures and related documents, particularly copies of letters sent by the Office of the Secretary of the Interior. Arranged for the most part in rough chronological order. Documents relating to a particular subject, however, are often grouped together.
ca. 1910-27. 1 vol. 1/2 in.
For the reservations in each State are given the approximate locations by direction from principal meridians and references to pertinent tract books, indexes, and schedules. There are also notations concerning the types of patents held and remarks concerning the holding of the land (mainly the extension of trust periods). The dates given above are those of notations made in the volume; the original date of compilation has not been determined. Entries are arranged alphabetically by name of State. Many of the volumes cited have been retained by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. For those volumes in the National Archives, see entries
339, 340, and
343.
n.d. 1 vol. 1/2 in.
Consists primarily of cross-references, but included is other information concerning land allotments. Many of the volumes cited have been retained by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Entries in the volume are arranged alphabetically, for the most part by name of reservation.
n.d. 8 vols. 6 in.
Given for individual allotments are name of allottee, usually the allotment schedule number, and references to tract books. There are volumes for the Cheyenne River, Leech Lake Agency (3), Round Valley, Shoshone, Turtle Mountain, and Yankton Reservations. Entries in each volume are arranged, in alphabetical sections, by name of allottee. In some of the volumes the entries in sections are divided into Indian names and English names or are arranged by geographical locations. Some of the tract books to which there are references are among the records described in entry
340; other tract books and the allotment schedules have been retained by the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
ca. 1857-1912. 51 vols. 10 ft.
These volumes show allotments made on Indian reservations under various lavs and treaties. The contents of the volumes vary somewhat. Some information is given for each subdivision - at least the location. Given for individual allotted tracts are the English and/or Indian name of the allottee, information concerning the approval and issuance of the patent, and sometimes the valuation of the land. There are a few notations dated as late as 1920. Arranged for the most part alphabetically by name of reservation or tribe. For some reservations there are several volumes. Within each volume the entries are arranged by tract of land. For finding aids, see entries
337 and 338. For other tract books, see the records relating to trust lands.
1858-1923. 23 vols. and unbound papers. 3 ft.
Platbooks mainly concerning reservations, but including some concerning oil lands and coal lands. Most of the plats show individual allotments. The volumes vary in their contents. Sometimes included are blueprints, overlays, photostats of General Land Office records, or penciled plats. Arranged by name of reservation, generally in alphabetical order but with some variation to accommodate the different sizes of volumes. Entries in each volume are arranged by location of land. For other plats, see entries
334, 342, 347, 396, and
642. See also tract books (entry 340) and allotment schedules (entry
343). Many platbooks have been retained by the Bureau.
1897-1900. 14 vols. 1 ft.
Printed plats of the lands of the Five Civilized Tribes, compiled by the Geological Survey. Individual tracts are not shown. Some corrections, dated 1900 or 1901, were made in red ink. Two volumes of the set are missing. Arranged by name of tribe and thereunder by location of land. For other plats, see entry
341.
1856-1935. 46 vols. and unbound papers. 5 ft.
Chiefly schedules showing the land allotments of individual Indians, but including some schedules of land set aside for special purposes, such as schools, missions, agency buildings, and cemeteries. Included also are some unapproved schedules of selections. With some of the schedules there are plats, affidavits, and correspondence. Entries for individual allotments usually give name of allottee, some personal information (such as age, sex, and position in family), and location and acreage of the allotment. Information is sometimes given concerning the issuance of the patent. Arranged in rough alphabetical order by name of tribe, reservation, or geographic location; but there are some modifications to accommodate varying sizes of volumes. Some of the volumes also include schedules for more than one tribe. The individual schedules are usually arranged by allotment number. These numbers were sometimes assigned in alphabetical order by name of allottee or in chronological order, but usually there is no discernible pattern to their sequence. Some of the volumes include alphabetical indexes to names of allottees. For separate allotment schedules and lists of selections, see entries
334, 344-348, 389, and 444. For tract books showing individual allotments but arranged by location of land, see entry
340. For platbooks, see entry 341.
1903. 1/4 in.
Prepared by Special Allotting Agent William E. Casson as part of an investigation for the purpose of making adjustments in the non-reservation allotments to individual Indians in the district. Entries for individual allotments give allotment number; name of allottee; location of land; information concerning the character of the land, improvements, and settlement; tribal affiliation of allottee; recommendation; and other pertinent information. Entries are arranged by allotment number.
1907-33. 3/4 in.
Records additional allotments to individual Chippewa Indians under the provisions of an act of April 28, 1904 (33 Stat. 539). Individual entries show original and additional allotment numbers, location, acreage, date of approval of allotment, volume and value of pine timber, value of the allotment excluding and including the timber on the date of the act, and value of the timber and allotment on the date of approval. The dates given above are those of approval of allotments rather than of the compilation of the schedule. Entries are arranged by additional allotment number. There are other White Earth allotment schedules among the records described in entry
343.
ca. 1911. 1 Vol. 3/4 in.
A list of individual allotments giving original and additional allotment numbers, degree of allottee's Indian blood, and date of his death (if applicable). No names of allottees or descriptions of land are given. Arranged by original allotment number. For White Earth allotment schedules, see entries
343 and 345.
1911. 1 vol. 2 in.
A schedule and plats for tentative allotments made by Special Allotting Agent Matthew M. Murphy to individual Hopi (Moqui) Indians on the reservation but not approved by the Bureau. The entries in the schedule for individual allotments give allotment number; name of allottee and his sex, age, and position in family; location and acreage of land; and sometimes other information. Arranged by allotment number. The plats are arranged by location of land.
1860, 1873. 1 vol. 1/4 in.
Two copies (in somewhat different form) of a schedule of allotments made in 1860, arranged by location of land and numbered in order; and an 1873 appraisement, arranged by location of land.
1873-95. 1 vol. 1 in.
Transcripts of tract books; schedules of entries arranged alphabetically by name of entryman; and supplementary schedules, including a loose copy. They were prepared in connection with an investigation conducted by M. A. Mess of the General Land Office. The several schedules give information concerning the location and entry of the tracts of individual Winnebago, later actions, and other pertinent matters.
ca. 1915-17. 1 vol. 3 in.
Comprise a record of homesteads of Indians not living on a reservation on which the trust period was due to expire in 1916 or 1917. Given for individual homesteads are name of State or Territory, name of land office, location and acreage of land, name of allottee, and information concerning the patent; and often included are the Gate of expiration of the trust period, references to records, and other information. Entries are arranged by the year in which the trust period was due to expire and thereunder in order of entry in another volume not located among the records of the Bureau now in the National Archives.
1907-9. 1 vol. 1 in.
Chiefly two types of schedules. One type is a record of payments made -- mainly to agents -- showing for individual payments the name of the person to whom payment was made, date, authority number, amount appropriated, amount authorized, and balance remaining. The other type is an abstract of weekly reports by allotting agents, giving a statistical account of their accomplishments and expenditures. Included are some other schedules (largely fragmentary) concerning allotments approved, patents issued, family history cards, and other subjects. Also included are some file references to records. Arranged by type of schedule and thereunder for the most part by name of reservation. For a later reference volume concerning expenditures for surveying and allotting, see entry
352.
1912-14. 1 vol. 1 in.
A record of expenditures on individual reservations and also by some individual employees under surveying and allotting appropriations. Entries give reason for expenditure, amount, date, and references to pertinent correspondence. Arranged by account (chiefly for individual reservation); the accounts are for the most part in rough alphabetical order. There is an alphabetical index by name of person or reservation or by subject. For an earlier reference volume concerning expenditures for surveying and allotting, see entry
351.
n.d. 1 vol. 1 in.
Given are references to records of the Bureau and to laws, treaties, and other sources of information concerning various matters relating to allotments. There are references to sources dated from 1838 to 1916. Arranged, in alphabetical sections, by subject.
1921. 1 in.
Drafts of compilations of information concerning the status of patents on several reservations. Information is given concerning applicable laws, treaties, Executive orders, and proclamations. There are also references to pertinent records of the Bureau and to congressional documents. Most of the notes concern the Cheyenne River, Fond du Lac, Fort Hall, Lac du Flambeau, Salt River, Shoshone (Wind River), Tongue River, Turtle Mountain, and Winnebago Reservations. Included also are some notes concerning powersites and irrigation on the Flat-head and Walker River Reservations. Arranged alphabetically by name of reservation.
1875-1927. 3 in.
Photostatic copies of correspondence, lists, court opinions, appeals, congressional documents, Executive orders, deeds, and other documents. They relate mainly to disputes concerning allotments and often involving legal action.