American Indian Ancestry

Federal Population Censuses:

Few American Indians are identified prior to 1900.

• 1790–1840: American Indians are not identified by race.
• 1850: People are identified as white, black, or mulatto.
  View list of questions asked in the 1850 census
• 1860: This Census includes Indian Territory (at the end of the Arkansas schedules), but no American Indians are identified.
• 1870-1880: American Indians in the general population are identified by "I" or "In." Some reservations and Indian agencies are identified, but the schedules mostly list white or non-Indian residents.
  View list of questions asked in the 1880 census
• 1900-1910: American Indians on reservations and in the general population are identified. The special Indian schedule contained additional questions to the general schedule.
  View list of questions asked in the 1900 and 1910 census.
• 1920: American Indians are identified, but there are no special Indian schedules.
  View list of questions asked in the 1920 census
• 1930: American Indians are identified. The degree of Indian blood and tribe are noted. There are no special Indian schedules.
• 1940: American Indians are identified. No mention of blood or tribe.

Helpful Research Sites (Please note: The information and links below are not maintained by the Cherokee Nation)

To search the Guion Miller and Dawes/Freedman rolls yourself (no waiting on an email reply), please visit:
Dawes/Freedman Roll Search – NARA Archival Information Locator (NAIL):
www.archives.gov

You can also search the Dawes Rolls at Access Geneology

The Cherokee Heritage Center also has a genealogist available to assist people in researching their Cherokee ancestry for a fee. You can reach them at 918-456-6007 or by visiting their website at www.cherokeeheritage.org

If tracing to an ancestor that came from around Tennessee, Georgia, Eastern Alabama or South Carolina, you may want to correspond with: 

The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians
Qualla Boundary
PO Box 455
Cherokee, NC 28719
828-497-4771
www.ebci.com

Dawes Rolls and Related Information
Dawes Final Rolls of the Five Civilized Tribes
Removal of Restrictions (Five Tribes) New!
Hastain's Township Plats of the Creek Nation
Moore's Seminole Roll and Land Guide
Finding Your American Indian Ancestors (PDF)

Other Genealogical Information
Individual Indian Files (Plains tribes)
1896 Applications for Enrollment (Five Tribes)
Official Register of the United States Indian agency employees (muliple tribes)
Finding Your American Indian Ancestors (PDF)