Spotted Tail Indian Agency (South Dakota)

Indian Tribes Associated With This Agency
Spotted Tail’s band of Brulé Sioux

History
The Spotted Tail Agency was the successor to the Whetstone Agency. It received its name from the leader of the band of Brulé Sioux which it served. In 1878, the agency was moved to a location on Rosebud Creek near its confluence with the South Fork of the White River and the name was changed to the Rosebud Agency.

Agents and Appointment Dates
Edwin A. Howard 1873, Lt. M.C. Foot 1876, Lt. A. C. Paul 1876, Lt. Horace Neide 1876, Lt. J.M. Lee 1877, William J. Pollock 1878, Cicero Newell 1879, John Cook 1880

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.

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 these offices.

The records of the Spotted Tail Agency are part of the Rosebud Agency. Many of the earlier historical records have been moved to the Central Plains Regional Archives of NARA at Kansas City.

Letters received by the Office of Indian Affairs from the Spotted Tail Agency, 1875-1880, have been microfilmed by the National Archives as part of their Microcopy Number M234, Rolls 840-845. Copies are available at the National Archives and at the Family History Library and its family history centers (their ).

Records Available through the Family History Library

 * 1877 Census and marriage records. FHL Film:1012647


 * Vital Records Marriage 1847-1878.FHL Film: 1012661 items 5 and 6


 * 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 reports for Spotted Tail Agency, 1876-1880, are on roll 51 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 ).