Klamath Indian Agency (California)

Indian Tribes Associated With This Agency
Klamath, Hoopa Valley, Smith River

History
The Klamath Agency was established in 1856 and was responsible for the Indians of northern California, particularly those near the mouth of the Klamath River. This agency also had some responsibility for the Hoopa Valley and Smith River Indians, as well as some of the other Indians of northern California. The Indians served by the Klamath Agency were assigned to the Northern District when the agencies were discontinued in 1860. Most of the Klamath Indians served by this agency were leter associated with the Hoopa Valley Agency.

The Klamath Agency in Oregon is an entirely different agency and should not be confused with the one in California.

Agents and Appointment Dates
James A. Patterson April 18, 1856, H.P. Heintzleman (subagent) June 29, 1857 and David E. Buel May 18, 1858

Records
Agencies and subagencies were created as administrative offices of the Bureau of Indian Affairs and its predecessors. Their purpose was (and is) to manage Indian affairs with the tribes, to enforce policies, and to assist in maintaining the peace. The names and location of these agencies may have changed, but their purpose remained basically the same. Many of the records of genealogical value (for the tribe and tribal members) were created by and maintained by the agencies.

Some historical records of this agency, including correspondence, etc., are part of the records of the California Superintendency records.

Annual Indian Census Rolls were taken at this agency for 1909 thru 1939. These rolls have been microfilmed by the National Archives as part of their Microcopy Number M595, rolls 200 thru 209. Copies of these records are also available at the National Archives, their Regional Archives, and at the Family History Library and its family history centers (their ). These census rolls are also available online at Ancestry.com's subscription web site.