Southern Apache Indian Agency (New Mexico)

Indian Tribes Associated With This Agency
Mimbreno, Mogollon, Coyotero and Mescalero Bands of Apache

History
The Southern Apache Agency was established in 1852. Its location was changed over the years, but, until 1873, most of the locations were near Ojo Caliente, in New Mexico Territory. From 1873 to 1877, the agency was moved to Ojo Caliente, the location of the reservation. In 1877, the Indians it served were moved to the San Carlos Reservation in Arizona. The Southern Apache Agency was part of the New Mexico Superintendency until it was abolished in 1874, after which the agent reported directly to the Office of Indian Affairs in Washington DC.

Agents and Appointment Dates
Charles Overman 1842, Edward H. Wingfield 1852, James M. Smith 1853, Edmund A. Graves 1854, Michael Steck1854, Amos A. Chipman 1861, Ferdinand Maxwell1862, Louis Baca 1867, John Ayres 1868, Lt. Charles E. Drew 1869, Orlando F. Piper 1870, Benjamin M. Thomas 1872, John M. Shaw 1874 and James Davis

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.

A few of the textual records of the Southern Apache Agency have been transferred to the National Archives in Washington DC. The records consist mostly of financial and other administrative records.