Round Valley Indian Agency (California)

Indian Tribes Associated With This Agency
Yuki, Yupu, Pit River, Concow (Konkau), Ukiah (Yokaia), Wailaki, Redwood (Whilkut), Pomo, Salan Pomo (Potter Valley), Little Lake, Nomelaki

History
The Round Valley Agency was established in 1865 and is located in Mendocino County in northeastern California. It was known as Nome Cult prior to 1861, and was a part of the Nome Lackee Agency. This agency was also responsible for Indians who had lived on the Medocino Reservation prior to 1864. The Round Valley Agency was abolished in 1924 and its duties were transferred to the Sacramento Agency. Some records for Round Valley date later than 1924.

Agents and Appointment Dates
B. L. Fairfield March 22, 1865, Lt. J. S. Styles July 8, 1869, Lt. W. H. Andrews March 4, 1870, Hugh Gibson January 23, 1871, John S. Burchard August 16, 1872, Henry B. Sheldon August 25, 1877

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.

Some of the historical records of the Round Valley Agency are in the Pacific Regional Archives of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) in San Francisco. Among these are:


 * Land allotment and heirship records, 1859-1922
 * Agency reports and administrative records, 1862-1930
 * Court records, 1874-1886
 * Sanitary Records, 1890-1910
 * Census records, 1896-1923
 * Education records, 1899-1923
 * Register of Indian Families, 1901-1908
 * Birth and death registers and certificates, 1901-1924

The 1900 federal census included population schedules for the Round Valley Indian Reservation. The census includes the non-Indian employees of the Round Valley Agency, as well as many pages of Indian Population Schedules for the native population of the Reservation. They are recorded as District 208, Round Valley Indian Reservation, in Mendocino County, California.

Reports of Inspection of the Field Jurisdictions of the Office of Indian Affairs, 1873-1900 have been microfilmed by the National Archives as part of Microcopy Number M1070. The reports for Round Valley Agency, 1883-1900, are on rolls 43-44 of that Microcopy set. Copies are available at the National Archives, their Regional Archives, and at the Family History Library and its family history centers (their ).

Annual Indian Census Rolls were taken at this agency for 1885-1905, 1909, and 1915-1923. These rolls have been microfilmed by the National Archives as part of their Microcopy Number M595, rolls 447-449. Copies of these records are also available at the National Archives, their Regional Archives, and at the Family History Library and its family history centers (their ). These census rolls are also available online at Ancestry.com's subscription web site.

Records Available through the Family History Library

 * 1880 Special Census. FHL film: 1012674


 * Census Records, 1896-1935. FHL films: 976988-976989, 977775


 * Census Records, 1885-1905, 1909, 1915-1923. FHL film: 581441


 * Land Records, 1909-1923. FHL film: 976987


 * Employee Records 1873-1920. FHL films: 976984-976986


 * Heirship Records, 1916. FHL film: 976990 item 1


 * School Records, 1897-1916, FHL film: 976983


 * Vital Records, 1890-1899, 1901-1906,1906-16, 1924


 * Vital Records, Sanitary records, 1890-1905. FHL film: 976991


 * Vital Records, birth and death, 1901-1924. FHL film: 976990 item 2