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    • Main contributor: Thomas MacEntee
    Seal of the United States Bureau of Indian Affairs
    Seal of the United States Bureau of Indian Affairs

    The U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) – established in 1824 – kept extensive records on Native American tribes and individuals as part of its federal oversight. These records were created for many purposes (treaties, land policies, schools, censuses, etc.) and today are a treasure trove for genealogists. The National Archives’ Record Group 75 holds much of this material, including early correspondence dating back to 1793. In general, BIA records can contain names, ages, family relationships, tribal affiliations, and other personal data. Examples include tribal rolls (membership lists), census rolls, allotment and annuity rolls, school files, and correspondence. Because these records span many agencies, tribes, and decades, there is no single index – researchers typically must search by tribe, agency, reservation or geographic area.

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    Tribal Membership Rolls and Census RecordsTribal Membership Rolls and Census Records

    Over the years the BIA compiled many tribal rolls – formal lists of people recognized as members of a tribe or eligible for a program. For example, in the late 1800s–early 1900s the Dawes Commission enrolled Cherokee, Choctaw, Chickasaw, Creek and Seminole families; the resulting “Dawes Rolls” (final enrollment lists, 1907–1914) give each person’s name, age, sex and degree of Indian blood. Similarly, the Eastern Cherokee Baker Rolls (1924–29) and Guion Miller Rolls (1906–11) listed members of the Eastern Cherokee Nation (North Carolina). The BIA also kept Judgment Rolls and other lists when settling claims in California or elsewhere. These tribal rolls often include names, ages or birthdates, family relationships, tribal affiliation, and other details. (For example, the Dawes “Final Rolls” typically list each person’s name, blood quantum, and parental lineage.) In short, “historical tribal rolls…include names, tribal affiliations, ages, family relations, residences, and more.”

    In addition to these special rolls, the BIA took annual censuses of tribal members on reservations from 1885 to 1940 (often called the Indian Census Rolls). These were congressionally mandated population counts of people formally connected to a tribe or agency. They vary by year and agency, but typically list each person’s name (often with both English and Native names), sex, age or birthdate, marital status, family relationships (to the head of household), tribe, and agency or reservation name. (For example, one early Nez Perce census roll from 1890 shows name, age, and reservation.) You can search the Indian Census Rolls online – they were filmed as NARA microfilm M595 and are digitized on FamilySearch and Internet Archive. Knowing the tribe or agency and the time and place where your ancestor lived is critical, since not every tribe was counted each year.

    The BIA also conducted special censuses outside that 1885–1940 period. For example, earlier tribal censuses were taken during removals or treaty signings; some of these survive as separate rolls or within correspondence files. (See the National Archives catalog under “Census Rolls” for entries like the Eastern Cherokee Census Rolls, 1835–1884.)

    Allotment and Annuity RecordsAllotment and Annuity Records

    In the late 1800s the U.S. government’s Indian policy shifted to allotment, dividing communal tribal lands into private parcels for individual Indians (under laws like the Dawes Act of 1887). The BIA managed this process and created allotment rolls listing everyone approved for land. These rolls show the allotted individual’s name, basic biographical details (age, sex, family relationships) and a legal description of the tract received. For example, a Kiowa-Allottee list might record John Bear, age 30, son of Mary Bear, receiving “Survey No. 1234, SE¼ sec. 10, Township 5 South, Range 2 East.” (Sometimes individuals had to apply – those applications survive as separate records, often with more personal data.)

    Another common BIA series is annuity rolls. Many treaties promised tribes annual payments (cash or goods) in return for land cessions. The BIA compiled annuity payment rolls of eligible individuals when the payments were distributed. These historic payment rolls typically list each recipient’s name, age, sex, and relationship to the head of household. For example, an 1880 annuity roll for the Fond du Lac Chippewa might show “Mary Mahigan [sic], 40, Female, Daughter” and her amount due. The information varies by treaty and tribe, but annuity rolls can confirm tribal affiliation and family ties. (The Archives has both headquarters copies and local copies – HQ copies are at NARA Washington, DC, and field copies are at the regional NARA centers for that state.)

    BIA School RecordsBIA School Records

    Education of Native children was a major BIA activity. Beginning in the 19th century, the BIA operated reservation day schools and non-reservation boarding schools to “assimilate” Indian youth. Many of these schools kept student case files that are now archived. A typical student case file for a boarding-school child includes the student’s name, tribal affiliation, degree of Indian blood, parents’ or guardians’ names (with their tribal affiliation), home address, religious denomination, and dates of attendance. Other documents in the file might include the student’s school applications, medical exam forms, grades or attendance charts, drawings or essays, and letters home. (Photographs seldom appear in these files.) These files survive mainly at NARA facilities by region (see below) and can be requested by providing the student’s name, tribe, birth date and any school attended.

    Reservation day schools often did not keep separate files for each child, but student names may appear in administrative records. For reservation schools you might find names in BIA agency annual reports, attendance registers or school censuses, correspondence, and even group photos. For instance, a tribal school’s attendance register for 1922 might list all children enrolled that year, with ages and grades. These records are scattered, but the archives guide by state (under “Navigating RG 75”) can point to which NARA facility holds a given agency’s school files.

    Correspondence and Agency FilesCorrespondence and Agency Files

    BIA correspondence files contain letters, reports and case files on a wide range of topics – from land disputes to school administration to financial accounts. These are often the bulk of RG 75. The correspondence runs roughly from 1800 (Office of Indian Affairs in the War Department) into the late 1900s. It includes communications between BIA central offices and field agencies, other federal departments, Congress, tribal governments, churches, and the public. While general policy letters dominate, individual names can appear (for example, a family might petition the Commissioner to attend school or secure services). Finding specific people in correspondence is challenging, since there is no single index. However, many major letter series have been microfilmed (e.g. Letters Received by the Office of the Secretary of War Relating to Indian Affairs, 1800–1823). In general, researchers should consult the National Archives catalog for “Bureau of Indian Affairs – Correspondence” and be prepared to search by subject or agency.

    Tribal Enrollment Lists (Modern)Tribal Enrollment Lists (Modern)

    Today, each federally recognized tribe maintains its own membership roll, and many historic “base rolls” were created by BIA. It’s important to note that the BIA itself does not keep complete ancestral membership records; it only holds current enrollment lists without genealogical documentation. In practice, genealogists rely on older lists (like the Dawes or Baker rolls) and on tribal enrollment offices. If an ancestor’s tribe is known, a helpful step is to contact the tribe’s enrollment office or historical department. They can explain membership criteria and may have rolls or records derived from these BIA lists. For example, the Cherokee Nation and Eastern Band of Cherokee use the Dawes and Baker rolls as their base rolls for membership.

    Where to Find BIA RecordsWhere to Find BIA Records

    Most historic BIA records are in NARA’s Record Group 75, held at various archives depending on the location:

    • National Archives (Washington, DC) – Houses BIA headquarters files, including general rolls (like Dawes), annuity rolls, and some early census records. Many of these series are described (and often digitized) online.
    • NARA Regional Facilities – BIA district and agency records are at the regional archives serving that state. For example, records for Oklahoma and the Five Tribes are mainly at NARA-Fort Worth; Southwest (Arizona, NM) at NARA-Denver or Riverside; Great Plains at NARA-Kansas City; Pacific Northwest at NARA-Seattle; Alaska Division correspondence mainly in Anchorage; etc. (The National Archives Catalog will list the repository for each series.)

    In addition, parts of RG 75 have been microfilmed and digitized. For instance, many agency school and census records (especially 1878–1930s) are available on film and through FamilySearch with a free account. The Indian Census Rolls (1885–1940) (microfilm M595) are fully online via subscription sites and free on FamilySearch or Internet Archive. Always check the FamilySearch Catalog or NARA’s Access to Archival Databases (AAD) for on-line indexes or images of BIA collections.

    Finally, published guides and local archives can help. For example, some state libraries have transcribed BIA censuses or guides by tribe. The Department of Interior’s official “Indian Affairs” website and the National Archives’ genealogy exhibits have tutorials on using Dawes rolls and other records.

    Tips for BeginnersTips for Beginners

    • Start with what you know. Gather names, dates and tribal affiliation from family or other records. Every BIA search will require at least a name, and preferably a tribe or agency location.
    • Use the National Archives Catalog. Search by “Tribe name” (e.g. “Lakota” or “Cherokee”) or terms like “Dawes Commission” or “Indian Census.” The catalog often links directly to digitized images (see, for example, the Dawes Roll index or Baker Roll series).
    • Check multiple sources. If an ancestor isn’t in the Indian Census Rolls, try also the regular U.S. Census (state censuses may list Native students at boarding schools) or local land and court records. (Some BIA correspondence files and annual reports are indexed by name on FamilySearch and in the Access to Archival Databases.)
    • Use variant spellings. Names may appear differently in BIA records, and some records list ages or blood quantum instead of birthdates. If you know approximate age or parents’ names, use those details to confirm.
    • Contact archives. If a series is not online, write or visit the NARA facility that holds it. Provide as much information as possible (full name, tribe/agency, dates). NARA staff can help identify relevant file series.
    • Reach out to tribes. Tribal historic offices often guide genealogists. If your ancestors were from a particular tribe, check that tribe’s website or contact their historian for enrollment information or archived records.

    BIA records cover a wide swath of U.S. history and policy. They require patience to navigate, but they yield names and family links that might not be found elsewhere. By learning what each record type contains and where it’s kept, beginning genealogists can trace Native American ancestry using these valuable federal archives.

    See alsoSee also

    Explore more about Bureau of Indian Affairs recordsExplore more about Bureau of Indian Affairs records


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