Looking for an American Indian Ancestor

1
Looking for an American Indian Ancestor?
This exercise will help you discover some helpful
American Indian records at the BYU Family History
Library.
2
Where do I find NATIVE AMERICAN INFORMATION?

• First, identify the tribe of your ancestor!
• If you know your ancestors tribe, look in the
  FamilySearch Research Outline found in the
  Finding Your North American Indian Ancestors blue
  binder 41a to find what sources are available to
  search for that tribe.

3

• If you DONT know what tribe your ancestor
  belonged to.
• 1. Find out where your ancestor lived.
• 2. Find what tribes were located in
  the area where your ancestor
  lived and learn
• who kept the records (tribe, agency,
  Bureau of Indian Affairs, etc.)
• 3. Search all record types for your ancestors
  time period and location. Identify and locate
  specific records by using the Family History
  Library Catalog.

4
This map may help you find your Indian ancestors
tribal location..
5

• Some
• Native American
• Resources
• to Search
• in the
• BYU Family History Library..

6
Check the BLUE BINDERS!

• Located on Table 4A, Binders 40a, 40b, 41a,
• and 41b.
• The FamilySearch Research Outline is the
• first item in 41a. It is very comprehensive
• and the records available in our Library are
• highlighted in yellow.
• Other sections in the binders include
• Finding Helps, Treaties, Federal
• Records, Census Information, Oral
• Histories, and much more.

7
Native American Censuses

• There are many different types and years Native
  American censuses were taken. The most complete
  collection was filmed by the National Archives,
  called the Indian Census Rolls 1885-1940.
• The BYU Family History Library has most of the
  632 microfilmed census rolls. To find the census
  you need, go to the Family History Library
  Catalog -- Subject section -- INDIANS OF NORTH
  AMERICA CENSUS.

8
GUION MILLER ROLLS

• Guion Miller Rolls are a list of Eastern
  Cherokees who were alive in May 1906 and applied
  for money awarded in 1905 because of a law suit.
• Images of the General Index are on the internet
  at
• www.accessgenealogy.com/
• native/guionmiller/index.htm

9
DAWES COMMISSION ROLLS

• In 1893, Congress established a commission to
  exchange Indian tribal lands in the southeastern
  United States for new land allotments to
  individuals in Oklahoma.
• Use the Dawes Commission enrollment records if
  your ancestor was

A member of either the CHEROKEE, CHOCTAW,
CHICKASAW, CREEK, OR SEMINOLE Indian tribes in
the southeastern United States. (These tribes
are known as the Five Civilized Tribes). Alive
during the enrollment period between 1896 and
1905. Search for an ancestors name in this index
found on www.accessgenealogy.com/native/finalrolls
/
10
Reference Books

• There are many books on American Indian genealogy
  on the Religion and Family History Reference
  shelves.
• Look for call numbers beginning E77 to E99.

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BYU FHL MICRO FICHE

• INDIAN PIONEER PAPERS 1860-1935
• Western History Collection from the University
  of Oklahoma
• Alphabetical by Surname
• Academic Microfiche E78.I5 045
• DUKE INDIAN ORAL HISTORY COLLECTION
• Western History Collection from the University
  of Oklahoma
• Academic Microfiche E78.045 A43 1982

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MICRO FILM
Check the Family History Library Catalog under
SUBJECT INDIANS OF NORTH AMERICA. After
locating a filmed source, check to see if it is
in our BYU Library. There may be many films
already in our collection.

• There are also many Bureau of Indian Affairs
  Academic Microfilms on row F2.
• These films are for academic American Indian
  study rather than genealogical research.

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COMPUTER RESOURCES
BYU Family History Library Home Page Alphabetical
List click on N

• Native American Collection
• Native American Genealogy
• Native American Indian Ancestors, Searching for
  Your
• Native American Indian Ancestry, How Do I Trace?
• Native American Indian Genealogy Records Online

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Can you answer these 5 questions to help you find
an American Indian ancestor?

• 1. What is the first thing you need to determine
  about the ancestor?
• Answer THE TRIBE.
• 2. If you dont know the tribe, what do you do?
• Answer FIND OUT WHERE THE ANCESTOR LIVED AND
  WHAT TRIBES WERE LOCATED THERE.
• 3. Where are the blue binders for American
  Indian research located?
• Answer TABLE 5A.
• 4. Name three Indian Census records.
• Answer INDIAN CENSUS ROLLS 1885-1940
• GUION MILLER ROLLS (Eastern
  Cherokee)
• DAWES COMMISSION ROLLS
• 5. Where do you look in the Family History
  Library Catalog?
• Answer SUBJECT INDIANS OF NORTH AMERICA

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It may not be easy, but just knowing a few
basics will help you on your way to finding an
AMERICAN INDIAN ANCESTOR!