Records of the American Indian

Records of the American Indians were kept by many jurisdictions -- the federal government, the colonial or state government, local governments, churches, educational institutions, and the Indians themselves. The kinds of records kept, by whom, and which jurisdiction is most likely to have kept the most complete record depends upon several factors:


 * The country
 * The state
 * The time period
 * The degree of Indian blood
 * The tribe

The Countries of North America
As time permits, descriptions will be added of the records available for each country considered a part of North America. Other pages relating to American Indian research will be added or expanded as the Research Wiki is developed.

Indians of the United States
As the history of the United States unfolded, the policy of the colonial governments and later the federal and state governments evolved. Each of these policies caused records to be created. read more

The States of the United States
Each state of the United States has a topic entitled "American Indians" which will lead to Wiki user to tribes, reservations, Bureau of Indian Affairs agencies, schools, health facilities, etc. relating to the native population of that state.

Records of American Indians in the United States
Some of the records unique to American Indians in the United States include:


 * Allotment records
 * Annuity rolls
 * (Indian) census rolls
 * Enrollment records
 * Factory records
 * Health records
 * Heirship files
 * Oral histories
 * "Register of Families"
 * Register of Vital Statistics
 * Removal records
 * "Sanitary Record of Sick, Injured, Births, Deaths, etc."
 * School records
 * Treaties

Research Facilities for American Indian Research in the United States

 * Family History Library
 * National Archives
 * Oklahoma Historical Society
 * Regional Branches of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)
 * Various universities
 * Various state and local historical societies