UNITED STATES. OFFICE OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. DAKOTA SUPERINTENDENCY:

An Inventory of Its Records at the Minnesota Historical Society

Manuscripts Collection

Expand/CollapseOVERVIEW

Creator: United States. Office of Indian Affairs. Dakota Superintendency, creator.
Title:Records of the Dakota Superintendency of Indian Affairs 1861-1870 and 1877-1878 and of the Wyoming Superintendency 1870 [microform].
Dates:1976.
Language:Materials in English.
Abstract:Letters received and sent, accounts, and miscellany concerning all aspects of the administration of Indian affairs within the jurisdiction of the Dakota Superintendency, 1861-1870 and 1877-1878. They primarily concern the several Dakota groups but also including at various times bands from other tribes. Also included are a few records relating to Indian matters in Dakota for 1873 and 1876 when no superintendent was assigned to the Territory.
Quantity:13 microfilm reels ; 35 mm.
Location:M367: See Detailed Description for shelf locations.

Expand/CollapseSCOPE AND CONTENTS

The records of the Dakota Superintendency relate to almost all aspects of administration of the Indian tribes in Dakota territory and surrounding areas, primarily the several Dakota (Sioux) bands but also including at various times bands from other tribes. There is information on negotiations and enforcement of treaties, Indian delegations, annuity and other payments, intrusions on Indian lands, hostilities and depredations, enforcement of federal laws and regulations, traders and licenses, contracts, claims, location of agencies, construction and repair of buildings, purchase and transportation of goods, furnishing of food and other subsistence to Indians, Indian education and farming, medical supplies and health, and agency accounts and employees. There is also documentation of general conditions among the Indian tribes, locations of Indian bands, hunting, and intertribal relations.

Most of the correspondence was conducted with the Commissioner of Indian Affairs or his office and with the agents in the superintendency. With their letters, agents submitted narrative and statistical reports, Indian speeches and communications, lists of supplies and annuities, contracts, affidavits, and estimates of funds. Other correspondents included agency physicians and other employees, special Indian agents, other superintendents, military post command¬ers, Treasury Department officers, state and federal officials, contractors, traders, businessmen, missionaries, and other private individuals. Statements of funds remitted to the superintendent and a variety of accounting records are also filed with the letters received.

An Introduction on Roll 1 of the microfilm provides a more detailed description of the records and their organization, as well as information on the history and administration of the Dakota Superintendency and its constituent agencies, and lists of agency superintendents.

Additional details on the contents of each individual roll are found at the beginning of that roll.


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Expand/CollapseADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

Availability:

The collection is open for research use.

Preferred Citation:

[Indicate the cited item and/or series here]. United States. Office of Indian Affairs. Dakota Superintendency. Records of the Dakota Superintendency of Indian Affairs 1861-1870 and 1877-1878 and of the Wyoming Superintendency 1870. Minnesota Historical Society.

See the Chicago Manual of Style for additional examples.

Microfilm Production:

Washington [D.C.] : National Archives, 1976. (National Archives microfilm publications ; Microcopy No. 1016).

Location of Originals:

Record Group 75, Records of the Bureau of Indian Affairs. National Archives ; Washington, D.C.

Processing Information:

Catalog ID number: 990017331930104294


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DETAILED DESCRIPTION

LocationReel
M3671Letters received and accounts, 1861-1863.
LocationReel
M3672Letters received and accounts, 1864-1865.
LocationReel
M3673Letters received and accounts, 1866.
LocationReel
M3674Letters received and accounts, 1867.
LocationReel
M3675Letters received, 1868.
LocationReel
M3676Letters received from the Commissioner of Indian Affairs and from the Cheyenne River, Crow Creek (Upper Missouri), Fort Berthold, and Grand River agents, 1869.
LocationReel
M3677Letters received from the Ponca, Whetstone, and Yankton Agents; Miscellaneous letters received; Monthly statements of letters received; Tabular statements of funds remitted to the Superintendent, 1869.
LocationReel
M3678Letters Received from the Commissioner of Indian Affairs and from the Cheyenne River, Crow Creek, Fort Berthold, and Grand River agents, 1870.
LocationReel
M3679Letters received from the Ponca, Whetstone, and Yankton agents; Miscellaneous letters received; Tabular statements of funds remitted to the Superintendent, 1870.
LocationReel
M36710Miscellaneous records relating to Indian matters in Dakota, 1873 and 1876.
Letters received from the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, 1877-1878.
Accounts, 1877-1878.
LocationReel
M36711Unbound copies of letters sent, 1861-1866.
LocationReel
M36712Letters sent, 1865-1870.
LocationReel
M36713Letters sent, 1877-1878.
Wyoming Superintendency: Letters sent and endorsements, 1870.

Expand/CollapseCATALOG HEADINGS

This collection is indexed under the following headings in the catalog of the Minnesota Historical Society. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons or places should search the catalog using these headings.

Topics:
Dakota Indians -- Government relations.
Indian agents.
Indians of North America -- Government relations.
Indians of North America -- Dakota Territory.
Indians of North America -- Wyoming.
Organizations:
United States. Office of Indian Affairs. Wyoming Superintendency.
United States. National Archives and Records Administration.
United States. Office of Indian Affairs -- Records and correspondence.
Places:
Dakota Territory.
Wyoming.
Document Types:
Microforms.
Territorial records.

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