California Superintendency of Indian Affairs

United States American Indian Research  Bureau of Indian Affairs  Superintendencies  California

History
The California Superintendency of Indian Affairs was established in 1852. After the Superintendency was abolished in 1873, the agents reported directly to the Office of Indian Affairs in Washington, DC. Correspondence was still filed under "California" until the filing system was changed in 1881, however.

Special Agents and Commissioners and Appointment Dates
John Ross Browne 1857, George Bailey 1858, Robert J. Stevens 1866, John G. Ames May 6, 1873, Charles Q. Wetmore (special commissioner) August 10, 1874, D.A. Dryden March 31, 1875, Justin Colburn July 12, 1877, Samuel S. Lawson July 1, 1878

Adams Johnston (Subagent) April 13, 1849, George Barbour September 30, 1850. Oliver M. Wozencraft September 28, 1850, Redick McKee September 30, 1850, Samuel Sheldon September 1, 1852, Benjamin Wilson September 1, 1852, Edward F. Beale March 5, 1852, Thomas J. Henley May 31, 1854, Austin Wiley April 14, 1864, Charles Maltby March 22, 1865, Billington C. Whiting October 12, 1866, Bvt. Maj. Gen. John B. McIntosh June 10, 1869, Billington C. Whiting reinstated June 20, 1870

Northern District

John A. Driehbelbis June 21, 1860, George M. Hanson April 9, 1861, Elijah Steele August 10, 1863

Southern District

James Y. McDuffie June 21, 1860, Augustus D. Rightmire December 20, 1860, John P. H. Wentworth April 16, 1861

Agencies

 * Fresno Subagency
 * Hoopa Valley Agency
 * Klamath Agency
 * Mendocino Subagency
 * Mission Agency
 * Nome Lackee Agency
 * Round Valley Agency
 * Smith River Agency
 * Tejon (Sebastian) Agency
 * Tule River Agency

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 California Superintendency, 1849-1880, have been microfilmed by the National Archives as part of their Microcopy Number M234. Copies are available at the National Archives and at the and its family history centers on their microfilm roll numbers 1660762 thru 1660782.