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How to Find Native American Ancestors Using the 20th Century U.S. Census and U.S., Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940

This article is primarily for novice family history researchers and aspiring genealogists who are researching their Native American ancestors in the early 1900s. However, it can be beneficial for all who desire to find their native ancestors by searching the U.S. Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 and the U.S. census collections. The research process is the same no matter the family's background and ethnicity. The research process[link ] includes: 1) Identify the known facts about the ancestor 2) Determine a research question about the ancestor (objective) 3) Select records to search 4) Obtain and search the record 5) Use the information. Throughout the research process it is best to keep a record of when, where, and what was found onto a research log [link ] for each immediate family which includes father, mother, and child or children.

Step 1: Identify the known facts about the ancestor (background knowledge)

As with any genealogical research, it is best to go from the known to the unknown. Known information will provide clues that will help with the research plan before beginning the actual research. This preliminary or background research is important for any family history research; but critical for Native American ancestry research! Collecting what family knows will not be a one time event. As with any family history research, collecting what is known by family members will be an ongoing process for many years to come.

Therefore, conducting informal interviews for oral histories[link ] will be a means to gather what the family members know about their ancestors. Out of these casual conversations [link ] or interviews will emerge information about the ancestor's:


 * tribal and family traditions
 * photos, documents, and objects in family members' possession, such as memorabilia associated with a memorable event or the ancestor
 * membership with his or her tribe(s)
 * residencies on and off the reservation(s)
 * native, and anglicized or American names the ancestor was known as throughout his or her lifetime
 * biological and adopted relationships within his or her immediate family, particularly parents and siblings.

When possible, ask for permission to scan or take a photo of each photograph, document, and memorabilia pertaining to the ancestor. Take detailed notes, and include it on research log while the information is still fresh in one's mind. In addition, research and become familiar with the location, geography, and history of the ancestor's tribe(s). For future research projects, become familiar with the forced migration route(s) from place of origin to present location of ancestor's tribe(s). Study the past and present location of the tribe's reservation. Some reservations covered more than one state and county. For example, today the Navajo reservation spans into three states and ten: Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah.[link ]

Step 2: Determine a research question about the ancestor (objective)

Record the information found on each individual onto a pedigree chart [link ], and family group record [link ] for each family. The four-generation pedigree chart include's a person's parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents who are in person's direct lines. Record information found for each generation. Also, for each couple in each generation, record information found on a family group record (also called family group sheet) which include the names of the father and mother of the family, and their children. Based on what is known, review what is unknown on the pedigree chart and family groups record(s). If an ancestor does not have known parents on the pedigree chart, perhaps the research question would be "Who are my ancestor's parents?" The objective for the research would be to find the parentage of the ancestor. Perhaps, the date and place of death is unknown. The research question would be "When and where was my ancestor born?" Then, the research objective would be to find the date and place of the ancestor's birth.

Step 3: Select records to search

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Step 4: Obtain and search the records

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Step 5: Use the information

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