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Native American Genealogy Resources - Southwest Tribes

This guide will assist you in locating some of the useful Native American genealogical resources in New Mexico and the greater Southwest region.

                              

Bureau of Indian Affairs - NARA Record Group 75

Records created by the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) document the U.S. Federal government’s interaction with American Indians. The National Archives (NARA) maintains historically significant and permanently valuable records created by the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and its predecessor agencies from as early as 1793. Tasked with federal oversight of American Indians, the BIA interacted with many individuals and families.

Most American Indian-related records held by the Nation Archives primarily relate to administrative matters and the management of tribal and individual resources by the Federal government. Records created by the BIA can be found at many of the NARA facilities throughout the country. There is no comprehensive index to these records. It is important to know the Indian tribe and/or BIA agency to locate potentially relevant records. Locating specific records can be tricky, due to the continual changes in reservations, tribes, and geographic areas. In many instances, tribal records are split between National Archives (NARA) offices and affiliated archives. 

Digitized records for some of RG 75 are available on Ancestry.com from library computers. The NMSL has the following parts of Record Group 75 on microfilm:

  • Bureau of Indian Affairs Records created by the Santa Fe Indian School (1890-1918)
  • Letters Received by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, 1824-1881, New Mexico Superintendency, 1849-1880
  • Records of New Mexico Superintendency of Indian Affairs 1849-1880
  • Reports of Inspection of the Field Jurisdictions of the Office of Indian Affairs, 1873-1900
  • Bureau of Indian Affairs Census - Compiled by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and arranged by Indian agency jurisdiction and year. Informational categories vary, but may include degree of Indian Blood, marital status and place of residences, along with name, age, and relation to the head of household. There are no indexes. 
  • Miscellaneous Letters Sent by the Pueblo Indian Agency
  • Superintendent’s Annual Narrative and Statistical Reports from Field Jurisdictions of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, 1907-1938

Other important parts of RG 75 and where they can be found:

  • Agency records, 1878-1926 Contains school records, census, and other misc. records. Microfilm available at the Family History Library, Salt Lake City Utah. Also available digitally through FamilySearch when you create a free account. 
  • Birth and death records, 1919-1944 Microfilm available at the Family History Library, Salt Lake City Utah. Also available digitally through FamilySearch when you create a free account. 
  • School records, 1884-1953. Reel 7: School census, 1921-1923 . Jicarilla Agency census, 1921-1922 Southern Pueblos Agency census, 1921-1922 Pawnee Agency census, 1923 Quapaw and Seneca Agency census, 1921-1922.  Microfilm available at the Family History Library, Salt Lake City Utah. Also available digitally through FamilySearch when you create a free account.