Montana, Polson, Tribal Census - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
Family Group Records of the Salish, Kootenai, and Pend d’Oreille Tribes of the Flathead Reservation in Montana. Eugene Mark Felsman gathered genealogical information to compile the family records from the following sources: NARA M595, rolls 107-116 Indian Census Rolls, Office of Indian Affairs, Flathead Agency, 1886-1940. Tribal enrollment records up to the year 1961, “Selected Records of the BIA relating to the Enrollment of Indians on the Flathead Reservation, 1903-1908, NARA M1350, Roll 1-3,” and some 6000 obituaries of Tribal members from 1870 to 1995, gathered by himself.

What Can These Records Tell Me?
The following information may be found in these records: • 2

How Do I Search This Collection?
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
 * Name of the person
 * Approximate date of the event

How Do I Analyze the Results?
Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images. Keep track of your research in a research log.

I Found the Person I Was Looking For, What Now?

 * Add any new information to your records
 * If available, check the image for additional information
 * Analyze the entry to see if it provides additional clues to find other records of the person or their family

I Can’t Find the Person I’m Looking For, What Now?

 * Try searching by surname only
 * The person may be recorded with an abbreviated or variant form of their name
 * Remember that spelling was generally not standardized until the early part of the 20th century

Research Helps
The following articles will help you research your family in Montana.
 * Beginning Research of United States Indigenous Peoples

Other FamilySearch Collections
These collections may have additional materials to help you with your research.

FamilySearch Catalog

 * Indians tribes of the Flathead resevation in western Montana : Salish, Kootenai, Pend D'Oreille
 * Selected records of the Bureau of Indian Affairs relating to the enrollment of Indians on the Flathead Reservation, 1903-1908 NARA M1350
 * Tribal obituaries (Polson, Montana)
 * United States. Bureau of Indian Affairs. Flathead Agency. Agency records, 1899-1952

FamilySearch Digital Library

 * Edward E. Hill, comp. Preliminary inventory of the records of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, record group 75. 2 volumes. Washington, D.C. : National Archives & Records Administration, 1965

Citing This Collection
Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used.