American Indian Histories and Cultures

The Houston Public Library system recently added a new research database titled, "American Indian Histories and Cultures" that includes primary historical sources relating to Native Americans in North America. One can browse or search for travel journals, 19th century newspapers, maps and rare books that reference the hundreds of Native American ethnic groups. The American Indian Histories and Cultures database can also be useful as a nontraditional source for genealogists seeking to verify or learn more about their Native American ancestors, as well as the history of particular nations and their historical interactions with Europeans. Researchers can access the American Indian Histories and Culture research under the History and Social Sciences category.http://www.aihc.amdigital.co.uk/

RS

Native American Tribes Locations and Cession Treaties Through 1896-1897

One our most challenging and frequent research questions is how do I find my Native American Ancestors.  When they identify the Tribe and the areas where their ancestors lived the information many times does not pass the smell test(make sense).  Example, my ancestors were Blackfoot Indians in south Mississippi.  Only problem NO Blackfoot were in south Mississippi, I can find no history of them ever being in Mississippi.  They were in the far Northwest U.S. and none of my ancestors were in the Northwest prior to 1880. I still don't know why the Blackfoot.


As we are all aware our primary responsibility is to identify the resources that will assist in researching their possible Native American roots.  However, it's also important we advise customers to research the history, location and movement of their specified Tribe(s).  Identifying a time and location nexus between their Ancestors and the Tribe(s) will confirm or disprove whether their Ancestors and the Tribes paths actually crossed.  It may also point to other Tribes that were present or previously inhabited the area where their Ancestors lived. 


It's difficult to challenge family oral history and tradition or as I like to call it the Gospel according to Grandma written in stone and passed down to her by her Grandma that her Grandma was full blood Cherokee and sometimes a Princess.  A kinder and gentler way to put them on the path to truth and enlightenment and not question the veracity of the their beloved Grandma is to direct them to the following resources and allow them to find their own truth.  The following two resources must be used in conjunction in the steps indicated below.


First Step:
The first link below is to a historic Map that documents Native American land cessions in the United States before 1896.  The Map is divided into individual States and the States into areas claimed by various tribes.  The names of the tribes are not given only a number that has been assigned to each treaty for that area.  There are many Treaties and most States with significant Native American populations are covered.  If you cannot find a number there may have been no treaty possibly due to no major tribe in the area or smaller tribes may have been removed by force.
Take the number and move to step two. 
https://www.loc.gov/resource/g3701em.gct00002/?st=gallery


Second Step:
The link below is to an article published in a report by the Smithsonian in 1899 entitled, "Bureau of American Ethnology".  The article entitled "Indian Land Cessions In the United States" by Charles Royce is a good primer on Foreign(Spanish, English, French) and American policy toward Native Americans.   The link to the treaties is listed on the contents section as Schedule of land cessions on page 648.  The treaties number in the hundreds and finding yours may take a little patience, time and effort.  The treaties run over two pages, the second page contains the treaty number, the Tribe(s) and a historical background. The first page contains the date of signing, legislative citation and some information from the treaty.

http://visualiseur.bnf.fr/Visualiseur?Destination=Gallica&O=NUMM-27628

FS

Native American resources at the National Archives

The National Archives in Washington D.C. contain valuable genealogical and historical resources for genealogists looking to learn more about their Native Ancestry as well as finding confirmation of family stories.

Information about individual Native Americans and their families can be found in variety of categories. Military records, census records, employment records and Indian Rolls are some of the many online sources in which Native Americans are mentioned.

Happy hunting!!!



Rodney

Native American Collections in Ancestry Library Edition

In a personal subscription there is a new Native American Indian Records landing page to search all collections related to this group.

However, in the Library Edition, there is NO landing page for this collection.  To help our cusotmers who have Native American ancestry, it is important to get the researchers to use the "SEARCH" button and click on the applicable state that are researching to view the Native American Indian resources that are available for that area.

·                     Michigan Native Americans History, 1887

·                     Military and genealogical records of the famous Indian woman, Nancy Ward

·                     Minnesota Native Americans, 1823

·                     Minnesota Native Americans, 1851

·                     Minnesota, Indian Allotment Records, 1888-1919 FREE INDEX

·                     North Carolina, Native American Census Selected Tribes, 1894-1913 FREE INDEX

·                     Oklahoma and Indian Territory, Dawes Census Cards for Five Civilized Tribes, 1898-1914

·                     Oklahoma and Indian Territory, Indian and Pioneer Historical Collection, 1937

·                     Oklahoma and Indian Territory, Indian Censuses and Rolls, 1851-1959

·                     Oklahoma and Indian Territory, Indian Photos, 1850-1930

·                     Oklahoma and Indian Territory, Land Allotment Jackets for Five Civilized Tribes, 1884-1934

·                     Oklahoma and Indian Territory, Marriage, Citizenship and Census Records, 1841-1927

·                     Oklahoma Osage Tribe Roll, 1921

·                     Oklahoma, Creek Equalization Records, 1912-1921

• Oklahoma, Historical Indian Archives Index, 1856-1933
• Oklahoma, Indian Land Allotment Sales, 1908-1927
• Origin and traditional history of the Wyandotts: and sketches of other Indian tribes of North America, true traditional stories of Tecumseh and his league, in the years 1811 and 1812
• Osage Indian Bands and Clans
• U.S., Cherokee Baker Roll and Records, 1924-1929 FREE INDEX
• U.S., Citizenship Case Files in Indian Territory, 1896-1897 FREE INDEX
• U.S., Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940
• U.S., Native American Applications for Enrollment in Five Civilized Tribes (overturned), 1896
• U.S., Native American Applications for Enrollment in Five Civilized Tribes, 1898-1914
• U.S., Ratified Indian Treaties and Chiefs, 1722-1869
• U.S., Records Related to Enrollment of Eastern Cherokee by Guion Miller, 1908-1910
• U.S., Schedules of Special Census of Indians, 1880 FREE INDEX
• Wallace Roll of Cherokee Freedmen, 1890-93

If you have any questions, please ask Frank or Sue.  Thanks!  (SK)

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