Among the billions of historical records housed at the National Archives throughout the country, researchers can find information relating to American Indians from as early as 1774 through the mid 1990s. The National Archives preserves and makes available the documents created by Federal agencies in the course of their daily business.

This guide is arranged geographically by state and thereunder contains a listing of tribes and bands living within that state’s borders. Under each entry for a tribe or band is a list of the BIA offices which had a jurisdictional relationship with that tribe, and for which the National Archives holds records. The NARA facility which has records for that office is listed in parentheses next to the entry. We have provided direct links into the National Archives Catalog whenever possible for each of these agencies, office, and/or superintendencies. For each, the National Archives Catalog has tallied the number of descriptions and series available. Note, the National Archives Catalog may include multiple derivations of the agencies, offices, and superintendies name.

Agents and superintendents at American Indian reservations annually submitted census rolls starting in 1885. These rolls include individuals and families who maintained a formal connection with Federally recognized tribes. To research these records, you will need the name of the individual or family.

Compared to the Population Census, the questions found on the Indian Census Rolls and the process for collecting the information were not standardized, and therefore vary between years, tribes, and agents and superintendents. Please note: there is not a census for every reservation or every tribe for every year.

From the earliest years of United States history, American Indians have served in the U.S. Armed Forces. Ever since General George Washington noted the American Indians' skills as scouts and light troops during the Revolutionary War, they have participated in every major conflict, including both sides of the American Civil War. In unique services such as U.S. Army Indian Scouts and the U.S. Army and Marine Corps code talkers in both World Wars, American Indians have participated with distinction throughout America’s military history. The service and pension records of these men and women can be found at the National Archives.

Locating Service and Pension Records

Requests for these records must be submitted in writing or online.

Prior to 1917: These records are located at the National Archives in Washington, DC, and can be requested by fax or by mail.

From WWI through today: These records are located at the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis, Missouri, and can be requested by fax or by mail.

Veterans, as well as their next of kin, can request service records online using the eVetRecs system.

While many American Indian students attended day schools, boarding schools, and mission schools located on their own reservations, beginning in the 1880s the Bureau of Indian Affairs established non-reservation boarding schools for vocational education. These schools enrolled students from many different tribes located all over the United States. Academic classes were offered for the primary grades through high school. Advanced students chose vocational training such as agriculture, masonry, carpentry, leatherworking, blacksmithing, printing, homemaking, sewing, cooking, and, in later years, plumbing, electrical work, welding, mechanics, food services, and office education.

In addition to administrative records, most of these non-reservation schools created and maintained a case file for each student. The information found in these case files generally includes:

Student's name
Degree of Indian blood
Tribal affiliation
Names and tribal affiliations of the student’s parents or guardians
Home address
Religious affiliation
Dates of attendance
While the specific documents can vary widely, the records may include applications for enrollment, medical examination forms, attendance and grade reports, examples of student work, newspaper clippings, documents related to student employment, and correspondence. Photographs generally do not appear in student case files.