Texas, Freedmen's Bureau Field Office Records - FamilySearch Historical Records

United States

What is in the Collection?
This collection consists of scanned images of records from National Archives microfilm publication M1912Records of the Field Offices for the State of Texas, Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands which is part of Record Group 105 Records of the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen and Abandoned Lands. The images are generally arranged in the order the records were microfilmed with the records of the Assistant Commissioner who oversaw Bureau operations in the state and state level staff officers; Quartermaster and Disbursing Officer, first then the local field office records are arranged alphabetically by location and by NARA roll number.

The Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands (often called the Freedmen’s Bureau) was created in 1865 at the end of the American Civil War to supervise relief efforts including education, health care, food and clothing, refugee camps, legalization of marriages, employment, labor contracts, and securing back pay, bounty payments and pensions. These records consist of bound volumes and unbound records, including letters received and endorsements, monthly school reports, and other records relating to freedmen's complaints and contracts.

Records with Freedmen and Refugees Names


 * Office of the Assistant Commissioner, Roll 1, Unidentified Volume Relating to Patients and Accounts
 * Quartermaster and Disbursing Officer, Rolls 7-9, Reports of Persons and Articles Hired
 * Quartermaster and Disbursing Officer, Roll 11, Orders for Transportation, Accounts, 6 volumes
 * Austin, Roll 12, Register of Complaints, Register of Contracts
 * Bastrop, Roll 13, Register of Complaints
 * Belton, Roll 13, Register of Complaints
 * Boston, Roll 13, Register of Complaints
 * Boston, Roll 14, Affidavits and Settlements
 * Brenham, Roll 14, Register of Complaints
 * Bryan, Roll 14, Register of Complaints
 * Centerville, Roll 14, Register of Complaints
 * Columbia, Roll 15, Register of Complaints, Register of Contracts
 * Columbus, Roll 18, Register of Complaints
 * Crockett, Roll 19, Register of Complaints
 * Gonzales, Roll 21, Register of Complaints
 * Halletsville, Roll 21, Register of Complaints
 * Houston, Roll 22, Register of Complaints, 3 volumes, Receipts
 * Huntsville, Roll 23, Register of Complaints
 * Jefferson, Roll 23, Register of Complaints
 * La Grange, Post 23, Register of Complaints, Evidence in the Case of F. D> Ackerman
 * Liberty, Roll 24, Register of Complaints
 * Lockhart, Roll 24, Register of Complaints
 * Marlin, Roll 24, Register of Complaints
 * Marshall, Roll 24, Register of Complaint
 * Meridian, Roll 24, Register of Complaints
 * Nacogdoches, Roll 24, Register of Complaints
 * Palestine, Roll 25, Register of Complaints
 * Richmond, Roll 25, Contracts
 * San Augustine, Roll 25, Register of Complaints, Register of Contracts
 * Seguin, Roll 26, Register of Complaints
 * Sterling, Roll 26, Register of Complaints
 * Sumpter, Roll 26, Register of Complaints
 * Tyler, Roll 27, Register of Complaints
 * Waco, Roll 27, Register of Complaints
 * Wharton, Roll 28, Records Relating to Complaints, Accounts

Collection History and Content
For details about the contents of these records, their history, and help using them, see the wiki article: United States Freedmen’s Bureau Records (FamilySearch Historical Records)

How Do I Search the Collection?
To browse by image: To search the collection you will need to follow this series of links: ⇒Select the "Browse" link in the initial search page ⇒Select the appropriate "Freedmen's Bureau Office or Subordinate Field Office Location" ⇒Select the appropriate "NARA Roll Number - Content" which takes you to the images

Look at the images one by one comparing the information with what you already know about your ancestors to determine if the image relates to them. You may need to look at several images and compare the information about the individuals listed in those images to your ancestors to make this determination. Keep in mind:


 * There may be more than one person in the records with the same name.
 * You may not be sure of your own ancestor’s name.
 * Your ancestor may have used different names or variations of their name throughout their life.

Related Websites

 * Mapping the Freedmen's Bureau
 * NARA Freedmen's Bureau Records: An Overview
 * NARA A Genealogical Finding Aid
 * NARA Select Images from Freedmen's Bureau Records
 * The Freedmen's Bureau Online. Records of the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen and Abandoned Lands.
 * Publications of the Freedmen and Southern Society Project
 * Texas State Library & Archives Commission 1867 Voter Registration
 * Suffolk University,Boston

Related Wiki Articles

 * African American Freedmen's Bureau Records
 * Quick Guide to African American Records
 * African American Research
 * African American Resources for Texas

Citing this Collection
Citing your sources makes it easy for others to find and evaluate the records you used. When you copy information from a record, list where you found that information. Here you can find citations already created for the entire collection and for each individual record or image.

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