Native American Records at the National Archives at Atlanta
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Guide to Researching Individual Native Americans
This guide is designed to provide a framework for researching individual Native Americans at the National Archives at Atlanta. It is organized primarily by tribe. Each section lists available resources in chronological order and includes textual, microfilm, online, and published records and indices.
RG 75 - Bureau of Indian Affairs
Develops and implements, in cooperation with tribal governments, Native American organizations, other federal agencies, state and local governments, and other interested groups, economic, social, educational, and other programs for the benefit and advancement of Indian and Alaska native peoples.
Administrative FilesThese records contain correspondence and reports documenting activities administered by the agency. The records include administrative business; health, social, welfare and relief issues; community activities; and educational provisions.
Enumeration and Enrollment Censuses
This series consists of census books enumerating Cherokee Indians residing in communities and counties within the Cherokee Indian Reservation, or Qualla Reservation, in western North Carolina. Communities represented include Big Cove, Yellow Hill, Birdtown, Nantahala, Soco, and Wolf Town. Counties represented include Cherokee, Jackson, Swain, and Graham. Information provided for each household may include name of head of household, number of members, number of males and females, number of members between ages 5 and 20 who did not attend school during the year, number of members who could read and use conversational English, number of dwellings built and occupied, number of church members, number of males over age 18, number of females over age 14, and number of school children between ages 6 and 16, among other information.
Reservation Management Files
This record series contains copies of correspondence to Indian Commissioners, letters to others, inter-office transmittals, accounting data, financial invoices, and collection reports representing the daily business of the reservation.
Seminole Agency Subject Files
These records document the activities of the Seminole Agency as directed and administered by the Superintendent. Topics include day-to-day administrative business; health, social, welfare and relief issues; financial, funds and allotment requests; and educational provisions.
RG 435 - Indian Arts and Crafts Board
Serves as a clearinghouse for development of Native American (American Indian and Alaska Native) arts and crafts. Operates museums at Anadarko, OK; Rapid City, SD; and Browning, MT. Maintained field representatives until the 1980's.
Cherokee Field Office RecordsThis series contains general correspondence files, studies, reports, and lectures concerning Native American arts and crafts. Also included are lessons and instructions for weaving various baskets and mats using a variety of materials. Additionally, the collection contains photographs which depict many patterns used in weavings, drawings, paintings, carvings, and sculptures. Also included are cassette tape recordings of lectures given on Native American arts and crafts. Although the majority of this collection relates to the Cherokee Nation, there are some holdings which are associated with Native American Nations from across the country.