Cherokee Indian Agency (Oklahoma)

Indian Tribes Associated With This Agency
Cherokee, Delaware, Shawnee.

History
The Cherokee Agency in the west was established in 1813 and was located in Arkansas until 1830. At that time, the Cherokee Agency in Arkansas moved to Fort Gibson in Indian Territory. For a short time (1834-1837), it became a subagency and was made responsible for the Seneca and the Mixed Band of Seneca and Shawnee. It was again made a full agency in 1837.

This agency was also made responsible for the Cherokee from east of the Mississippi who were removed to the west, mostly in 1838. In 1851, the agency headquarters was moved from Fort Gibson to a location near Tahlequah. This agency was forced to leave Tahlequah during the Civil War, during which time the agency buildings there were destroyed. After the war, the agent remained at Fort Gibson until the agency was rebuilt and re-established at Tahlequah.

In 1874, the Creek Agency, the Choctaw Agency, and the Seminole Agency were consolidated with the Cherokee Agency, and, later that year, the new agency as named the Union Agency.

Records
Letters received by the Office of Indian Affairs from the Cherokee Agency, 1836-1880, have been microfilmed by the National Archives as part of their Microcopy Number M234, Rolls 80-118. Copies are available at the National Archives and at the Family History Library and its family history centers (their microfilm roll numbers 1660810-1660848).

Reports of Inspection of the Field Jurisdictions of the Office of Indian Affairs, 1873-1900 have been microfilmed by the National Archives as part of Microcopy Number M1070. The report for Cherokee Agency, 1876 only, is on roll 3 of that Microcopy set. Copies are available at the National Archives, their Regional Archives, and at the Family History Library and its family history centers (their microfilm roll number 1617676).