American Indian Genealogy
Labriola Center
The following bibliography lists reference material dealing with American Indian genealogy. These resources include material found in the Labriola National American Indian Data Center in the University Libraries, websites, and other research facilities. This subject guide is also located on the Labriola Center website at www.asu.edu/lib/archives/labriola.htm
Introductory texts on genealogy are a good place to begin when looking into your family history. The Labriola Center has three such books as well as an instructional video. Census information may also play a key roll in your search. The following material is an example of the Labriola Center’s collection.
Books
Dawes Commission and the Allotment of the Five Civilized Tribes, 1893-1914, Kent Carter. Orem, Utah: Ancestry.com, 1999. The appendix includes a list of tribal rolls among the records of the Dawes commission and a list of town sites.
The Final Rolls of Citizens and Freedmen of the Five Civilized Tribes in Indian Territory, Prepared by the Commission and Commissioner to the Five Civilized Tribes; and Approved by the Secretary of the Interior on or Prior to March 4, 1907. Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Pub. Co., 2003. This volume was compiled and printed under authority conferred by the act of Congress approved June 21, 1906.
How to Enroll in an Indian Tribe, Heather Morningstar. Denver: Arrowstar Publishing, 1993. This volume includes information on why and how to enroll in an Indian tribe, including blank copies of forms and copies of correspondence.
Index to the Final Rolls of Citizens and Freedmen of the Five Civilized Tribes in Indian Territory, Prepared by the Commission and Commissioner to the Five Civilized Tribes and Approved by the Secretary of the Interior. Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Pub. Co., 2003. This volume was compiled and printed under authority conferred by the act of Congress approved June 21, 1906.
Native American Genealogical Sourcebook, Paula Byers, ed. New York: Gale Research, 1995. Includes general background material for researchers to use before they begin their genealogical research, as well as basic genealogical research methods and their application to Native Americans.
Student’s Guide to Native American Genealogy, E. Barrie Kavasch. Phoenix: Oryx Press, 1996. This volume provides information and resources on how to trace your family tree, genealogical records and research, and Native American records and documents
Tracing Ancestors Among the Five Civilized Tribes: Southeatern Indians Prior to Removal, Rachel Mills Lennon. Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Pub. Co., 2002. This volume contains a research framework, colonial records and research strategies, historical and genealogical changes and federal records.
Additionally, the Labriola Center has several books by Jeff Bowen that contain census information and birth and death records for various Native American tribes.
Videorecordings
How to Trace Your Native American Heritage, Dallas: Riche-Heape Films, Inc., 1998. This video will help viewers trace their Native American heritage by discussing how to obtain a Certificate of Degree of Indian Blood, how to obtain tribal membership, how and where to research the Dawes Rolls, and provide internet sites to assist in genealogical research.
Additional information can be found through websites such as the Native American Genealogical
Research and Publishing Company www.nagrpubco.net and by visiting facilities that keep genealogical records.
Family History Library
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints has set up Family History Centers throughout the world to assist in genealogical searches. The Family History Library suggests you come with a family tree in hand. Correctly spelled names of ancestors going back before 1920 provide a good foundation to begin research. The Labriola Center has a complete list of the Family History Centers in the Southwestern States and below is the address of the Family History Library in Mesa, Arizona.
Family History Library
41 S Hobson
Mesa, AZ 85204
(480) 964-1200
National Archives
There are also many records in the National Archives in Washington, D.C. that can be used for researching Native American ancestry. These records include special censuses, school records, tribal enrollment records, and allotment records. As a general rule, persons researching their Native American ancestry should begin their research the same way other researchers do: (1) gather as much information as possible from relatives; (2) obtain birth, marriage, and death certificates from appropriate state or county vital records offices; (3) begin census research in the 1930 census and work backward to 1910, 1900 and so forth. Researchers should also read books on how to do genealogical research. Prechtel-Kluskens, Claire. “American Indian Censuses, 1880-1920.” National Archives and Records Administration, Volume 3:5 (1997): 21-23.
The Labriola Center has a guide to the holdings pertaining to Native Americans in the National Archives entitled American Indians: A Select Catalog of National Archives Microfilm Publications.
Good luck in your search.
Joyce Martin, Library Specialist, Sr.
Labriola National American Indian Data Center
University Libraries, Arizona State University
Tempe, Arizona 85287 Spring 2004
