Newsletters, Circle of First Nations

Our Newsletters focus on what is happening in the Native American community.  We try to provide one or two a month, sometimes we don't get them done.

Listed below are the Newsletters for this year:

March 2009

Indians in the Census

I am sure some of you are wondering why I am discussing census, when the majority of our ancestors were not even listed until the 1900 Census.

Have you ever thought of the census as a road map? Think about that for a minute, we follow our white ancestors from place to place; we record their travels from country to country, state to state, down the street to across the street. Do we do the same with our Indian ancestors? I think in most cases no, and why not?

For example when you think of the Sioux Indians, were do you think of them as living? North and South Dakota? To most people their knowledge of the Sioux Nation comes from history books and the Battle of Little Big Horn, so the Sioux Nation were from North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming and Montana. Without looking, in which one of those states is the Little Big Horn Battlefield?

We have recently obtained a publication, "Indians Taxed and Indians Not Taxed in the United States in the Eleventh Census (1890)" This is full of all kinds of information that will help us track our Indian ancestors.

Indians in the United States, by Thomas Jefferson, 1872 http://www.accessgenealogy.com/native/census/condition/indians_us_1782.htm

Indians in the United States, 1822 by Jedidiah Morse (father of Samuel Morse)
http://www.accessgenealogy.com/native/census/condition/indian_census_united_states_1822.htm  Not only does this tell you where the Indian Tribes were, but also provides additional information on their condition and location.

I have typed these 2 for easier searching; just use your browser to search by name of the tribe.

The same kind of information is provided for 1853-1890 and I will work on these as time allows, but for right now they are images. Reading the index for this page will provide a listing of the other information you and find and which will eventually be typed http://www.accessgenealogy.com/native/census/condition/indian_census_1853_1890.htm

The Tables of Stock will probably be one of the next sets of pages completed as it contains the names of so many of the tribes, parent stock, reservation and Agency. This should help make your research easier to obtain a location in 1890. http://www.accessgenealogy.com/native/census/condition/indian_stock_united_states.htm#Stocks 

The last section of this publication, which will be greatly expanded, is Condition of Indians Taxed and Indians Not Taxed. This is a listing by state and then tribe, at the present time, completes Alabama and part of Arizona. http://www.accessgenealogy.com/native/census/condition/indian_by_state.htm
Alabama http://www.accessgenealogy.com/native/census/condition/condition_alabama_indians_1890.htm

Arizona http://www.accessgenealogy.com/native/census/condition/arizona.htm
Additional work to be completed here.

We have transcribed a couple other sections of the publication

Chickasaw Nation in the 1890 Census
http://www.accessgenealogy.com/native/chickasaw/chickasaw_nation_1890.htm

Indians in 11th (1890) US Census Eastern Cherokee http://www.accessgenealogy.com/native/northcarolina/cherokee/index.htm  Very interesting information on the tribes at that time

Are you still asking how does all tie together?

We have to know where the Nations lived before we can think of searching for them in a census record. Don't misunderstand I am not saying they are listed on the census prior to 1900, I am saying that it is possible if they were living in an area where they fit in they might just be listed. All it is going to take is a little of your time. We all know they did a great job of hiding and fitting in.

Also don't say when you see a query from someone asking for help searching for their Sioux ancestors in Virginia, that they don't know what they are talking about, you could easily be proven wrong!!

The National Archives has compiled a list of microfilm that is available for purchase of the various census by tribe that were compiled on Indians Census Rolls 1855-1940 http://www.accessgenealogy.com/native/census/index2.htm  You might want to consider purchasing one of these rolls, they can contain a great deal of information especially after 1930. You should also check with your local Family History Center and find out if you can order the film for viewing there.

US Indian Census Schedules 1855-1940, http://www.accessgenealogy.com/native/us_indian_census_schedules_1885_1940.htm  I have to tell you these links go to Ancestry, don't get the idea I am pushing you to get a membership, all I am trying to show you is these are now online and it may be one way for you to find some additional family history.

Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 is also available at Footnote, http://www.footnote.com/page/92600393_indian_census_rolls_18851940/  You can search by tribe there also, and there is a fee for their service.

You also might want to check the main page of AccessGenealogy http://www.accessgenealogy.com/  you will find a lot of new content has been added to our main pages also. What you don't see there is we have been rebuilding, fixing broken links and generally doing Spring Housecleaning. You can also read our blog at http://accessgenealogy.blogspot.com/

Or if you have some questions, please use this link to ask http://www.accessgenealogy.com/contact.php 

Sure hope you will be here next time

February 2009

It has been some time since I have written a newsletter. We have been building many new pages and adding and repairing many pages on our websites.

Dennis has set up new blogs that will keep you up to date on all the happenings at AccessGenealogy

What's new at AccessGenealogy
http://accessgenealogy.blogspot.com

Genealogy Research
http://genreseach.blogspot.com/

Historical and Genealogical Society Watch
http://societies.wordpress.com/

I have found some wonderful information from the 11th Census of the US. This contains many different types of information on the Indian Tribes. We have started putting some of this information online.

Eastern Band and Eastern Cherokee Indians of North Carolina
http://www.accessgenealogy.com/native/northcarolina/cherokee/index.htm

Chickasaw Nation in 1890
http://www.accessgenealogy.com/native/chickasaw/chickasaw_nation_1890.htm

Condition of the Indians by State, 1890
http://www.accessgenealogy.com/native/census/condition/ 
This provides for the tribes by state, so far we only have Alabama and part of Arizona online, but will be adding more states over the next couple weeks. It also contains some great pictures and maps.

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