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(Not to be confused with American Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940.) As part of the Twelfth (1900) and Thirteenth (1910) United States Censuses a population schedule was created titled Special Inquiries Relating to Indians. These schedules are commonly referred to as the Indian Population Schedules. The information was recorded at the same time as the regular federal population schedules. The schedules contain the same questions asked in the regular population schedule and additional questions for Native American households. The schedule was divided into two parts. The top half of the page was identical to the general population schedule but contained only twenty lines, instead of the usual fifty. The bottom half of the page contains "Special Inquiries Relating to Indians" for those listed on the top half of the page.

The census takers were instructed to make an enumeration of Indians living on reservations. If an Indian on the reservation had intermarried with a white or "Negro" person that person was also recorded on the Special Inquiries form. An Indian household outside of the reservation was recorded on the Special Inquiries form and an Indian living outside of the reservation in a white or "Negro" household was recorded on the general population schedule as part of that household.

Availability
The 1900 and 1910 Special Inquiries Relating to Indians or Indian Population Schedules are digitized and available on these websites: www.familysearch.org www.ancestry.com

The 1900 United States Census Special Inquiries Relating to Indians
These inquiries included any other name the person may have been using at the time of the census (usually their Indian name), the tribe of the person listed as well as that of the person's father and mother, degree of white blood, whether or not the person was living in polygamy, whether or not they were "taxed," and the type of dwelling in which they were living.

The 1900 Special Inquiries Relating to Indians asked the following questions of Indians "both those on reservations and those living in family groups outside of reservations." Other Name, If Any Tribe of this Indian Tribe of Father of this Indian Tribe of Mother of this Indian Has this Indian any white blood: if so, How much? (0, 1/2, 1/4, etc.) Is this Indian, if married, living in polygamy? Is this Indian taxed? Year of acquiring citizenship Was citizenship acquired by allotment? Is this Indian living in a fixed or in a movable dwelling?

For a copy of the 1900 Twelfth Census of the United States: Special Inquiries Relating to Indians When the United States Census Bureau collected information for the 1900 federal census, instructions were sent to the census takers to record information about Indians, "both those on reservations and those living in family groups outside of reservations." Special forms titled "Special Inquiries Relating to Indians" were provided for this purpose.

Census enumerators were instructed to record occupations as on general schedules, except if the Indian was wholly dependent on the government, they were to write "Ration Indian" in the occupation column. If they were partly self-supporting or a minor receiving rations, special instructions were also given.

The question concerning whether or not the individual was taxed provides the researcher with some clues to some other potential records. If the Indian either (1) was "living among white people as an individual, and as such subject to taxation," or (2) was "living with his or her tribe but has received an allotment of land, and thereby has acquired citizenship," then the answer in column 35 was to be recorded as "Yes." In the second case above, column 37 should also have "Yes" recorded in it. If the individual was living on the reservation and has a "Yes" in column 37, there should be an allotment record for that individual somewhere among the agency records for that reservation.

If the answer in column 35 is "No," that should indicate that the Indian is either living on a reservation without an allotment, or is "roaming over unsettled territory."

Column 38 is an indication of the permanence of the Indian family. If they were living in a tent, tepee, or other temporary dwelling, the entry in the column should state "movable." If they are living in a permanent dwelling of any kind, the entry should be "fixed."

The Indian Population schedules may be collected together under the name of the reservation or Indian school. They are filed in the Bureau of Census under the name of the county and state in which the reservation or school is located. Indian families living off the reservation may be filed with the township or county in which they were residing.

Websites

 * Ancestry: http://www.ancestry.com
 * Ancestry in a Family History Center