User:Tbreynaud/sandbox2

= Major Genealogical Record Sources of the Indians of the United States =

In identifying ancestors, genealogists need the answers to four key questions:


 * 1) What types of records exist that will aid in identifying ancestors?
 * 2) What periods of time do the existing records cover?
 * 3) What genealogical information appears in the existing records?
 * 4) What is the availability of the records?

The tables that follow contain answers to the above questions for genealogical record sources of he Indians of the United States. The sources are listed by type of record, the time period covered, type of information given, and source availability.

Records of the Indians have been created by several groups of people. Most of the records which provide genealogical information for Indians are those kept by the federal government. As they managed the affairs of the Indians, the local agents or superintendents of the Bureau of Indian Affairs created many records which are now helpful in tracing an Indian line of ancestry.

Churches also kept records of their missionary work among the Indians. The Catholic, the Presbyterian, the Quaker, the Moravian, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and others were active among the Indian tribes. The content, availability, and period of time of their records vary greatly.

Local governments also kept records of their dealings with the Indians. Such items as deeds and other legal documents are often found in local records.

Before searching the records listed in this paper, the genealogist should...


 * 1) Determine the tribe with which the ancestor was associated. This is very important.
 * 2) Become familiar with the customs of the tribal group. This includes naming practices and kinship systems.  Customs varied widely from one tribe to another and often varied even within a given tribe.
 * 3) Study the history of Indian-white relations of a given tribe and how these relations affected the records.

Appendix II has been prepared to help provide the genealogist with selected readings for a general background.