Saginaw Indian Subagency (Michigan)

Indian Tribes Associated With This Subagency
Saginaw Band of Chippewa; for a short period of time in its early years, other tribes such as the Black River and Swan Creek Chippewa, Ottawa, Wyandot, Christian and other bands living in southern Michigan and northwestern Ohio. The Ottawa of Maumee, Ohio, were also considered Michigan Indians.

History
The Saginaw Subagency was established in 1837 as the successor to the Detroit Subagency. It had responsibility for the Indians living in the lower part of Michigan and around Maumee, Ohio. In 1846, the duties of the Saginaw subagent were assigned to the Mackinac Agency.

Subagents

Henry Conner 1828 and 1837, John Hulbert 1839, Andrew T McRenolds 1843

Records
Agencies and subagencies were created as administrative offices of the Bureau of Indian Affairs and its predecessors. Their purpose was (and is) to manage Indian affairs with the tribes, to enforce policies, and to assist in maintaining the peace. The names and location of these agencies may have changed, but their purpose remained basically the same. Many of the records of genealogical value (for the tribe and tribal members) were created by and maintained by the agencies.

Letters received by the Office of Indian Affairs from the Saginaw Subagency, 1824-1850, have been microfilmed by the National Archives as part of their Microcopy Number M234, rolls 745-746. Copies are available at the National Archives and at the Family History Library and its family history centers (their ).