Chicago Indian Agency (Illinois)

The Chicago Agency

Indian Tribes Associated With This Agency
Potawatomi, Ottawa, Chippewa, Sac and Fox

History
The Chicago Agency was established in 1805 and was responsible for the Indians of Illinois and the southern part of what is now Wisconsin. During the years of its operation, the assignment of various tribes shifted quite often, as did the place the agencies reported. From 1821 to 1832, there was a subagency at Peoria which reported to the Chicago Agency for its first year of operation. The tribes assigned to that subagency were reassigned to the Chicago agency when it was abolished in 1832.

The Chicago Agency was also sometimes called the Illinois Agency. The Chicago Agency was discontinued at the end of 1834 and the Indians under its supervision were removed to areas west of the Mississippi River, but the Chicago agent continued to perform the duties as Superintendent of Emigration, so correspondence was still filed under the Chicago heading until as late as 1847. <

Records
Letters received from the Chicago Agency, 1824-1847, are included among Letters Received by the Office of Indian Affairs, filmed by the National Archives as their Microcopy M248, Rolls 132-134. This set of records is also available at the Family History Library and its family history centers (their microfilm roll numbers 1660862 thru 1660864).