GUIDE TO CATHOLIC RECORDS ABOUT NATIVE AMERICANS IN THE U.S.
Volume 3: Western United States
California: CA-81
National Archives at San Francisco
1000 Commodore Drive
San Bruno, CA 94066
Phone: 650-238-3500
Email: sanbruno.archives@nara.gov
Hours: See website
Access: See website
Copying facilities: Yes
Holdings of Catholic records about Native Americans:
Inclusive dates: Between 1800-ongoing
Volume: Ca. 1 cubic foot
Description: 5 record groups include Native Catholic records.
/1 “Record Group 21: Guides to Spanish and Mexican Land Grants in California, Spanish Archives”
Inclusive dates: Between 1866-1871
Volume: Less than 1% of 16 volumes and 14 reels of microfilm
Description: Certified and translated land grant records, including those for Franciscan missions in California; Spanish and English
/2 “Record Group 48: Records of the Office of the Secretary of the Interior”
Inclusive dates: Between 1849-1903
Volume: Less than 1% of 127 reels of microfilm
Description: “Letters Sent to the Indian Division of the Department of the Interior, M606;” until 1907 when abolished, the Indian Division managed the majority of Indian administration issues. Incoming correspondence includes letters from religious leaders, generally filed in a miscellaneous category, and outgoing correspondence from the Indian Division includes some references to missionary activities.
/3 “Record Group 49, Records of the Bureau of Land Management T910, Reel 118”
Inclusive dates: Between 1851-1859
Volume: Less than 1% of 1 reel of microfilm
Description: The Bureau of Land Management succeeded the General Land Office; the General Land Office records in California include Catholic Church claims to mission lands within the California private land claims dockets; several pages are illegible; index included.
/4 “Record Group 75, Records of the Bureau of Indian Affairs,” between 1800-1992, less than 1% of over 1,940 cubic feet and 1538 reels of microfilm; selective sampling indicates that Catholic records comprise less than 1% of Bureau of Indian Affairs Agency records, e.g. Round Valley Agency, ca. .1%, and include documents such as correspondence, quarterly school reports, and school contracts. Notable correspondents include the Bureau of Catholic Indian Missions, Catholic mission superiors, Indian agents or superintendents, and Commissioners of Indian Affairs. Primary subjects include financial matters, establishment of Catholic missions and schools, and the transfer of students to/from mission schools.
A. “Records of the Bishop Subagency in California,” between 1936-1948, less than 1% of ca. .3 cubic foot; the Bishop Subagency was established, 1916, and consolidated with the Walker River Agency, 1926
B. “Records of the California Agency in California,” between 1947-1949, less than 1% of ca. 7 cubic feet; the California Agency was established, 1947, and replaced by the Sacramento Area Office, 1950
C. “Records of the Carson Agency in Nevada and California,” between 1925-1953, less than 1% of ca. 144 cubic feet; the Carson Agency was established, 1925, through the consolidation of the Reno Agency and the Carson/ Stewart Indian School Agency, and it was replaced by the Nevada Agency, 1952
D. “Records of the Carson/Stewart School in Nevada.” between 1890-1962, less than 1% of ca. 108 cubic feet; the Stewart Indian School in Carson City, Nevada, was a non-reservation boarding school established, 1890, and closed, 1982
E. “Records of the Central California Agency in California,” between 1968-1992, less than 1% of ca. 59 cubic feet; the Central California Agency was established, 1970
F. “Records of the Digger Agency in California,” between 1911-1921, less than 1% of ca. .3 cubic foot; the Digger Agency was established, 1907, for the Digger and Tuolumne Reservation and was subordinated to the Reno Agency, 1921
G. “Records of the Fallon Subagency in Nevada,” between 1911-1937, less than 1% of ca. 3 cubic feet; the Fallon Subagency was established, 1908, and subordinated to the Walker River Agency, 1925
H. “Records of the Fort Bidwell School and Agency in California,” between 1898-1940, less than 1% of ca. 15 cubic feet; the Fort Bidwell School was established, 1898, and served as an agency for Pit River and Paiute Indians and was subordinated to the Sacramento Agency, 1931
I. “Records of the Fort McDermitt Subagency in Nevada,” between 1906-1937; less than 1% of ca. 3 cubic feet; the Fort McDermitt Reservation was established, 1889, and assigned agency duties and it became a sub-agency of the Reno Agency, 1920
J. “Records of the Greenville School and Agency in California,” between 1894-1925, less than 1% of ca. 20 cubic feet, the Greenville School was established as a contract school, 1890; it became a federal non-reservation boarding school with assigned agency duties, 1897; several Native Americans under this agency’s jurisdiction were transferred to the Reno Agency, while those under the Roseburg Agency were transferred to the Greenville Agency, 1918; the Greenville Agency became a sub-agency of the Sacramento Agency, 1923
K. “Records of the Hoopa Valley Agency in California,” between 1875-1962, less than 1% of ca. 85 cubic feet; the Hoopa Valley Agency was established, 1864, and was responsible for the Hoopa Valley and Klamath River Reservations; it became an area field office under the Sacramento Agency
L. “Records of the Nevada Agency in Nevada,” between 1950-1975, less than 1% of ca. 45 cubic feet; the Nevada Agency was established with statewide jurisdiction, 1952; it was succeeded by the Eastern and Western Nevada Agencies, 1975
M. “Records of the Northern California Agency in California,” between 1891-1980, less than 1% of ca. 22 cubic feet; the Northern California Agency was established, 1970
N. “Records of the Pyramid Lake Subagency in Nevada,” between 1922-1924, less than 1% of ca. .2 cubic foot; the Pyramid Lake Subagency was established as an agency, 1870; it was a subagency of the Reno Agency, 1921-1924; and the Carson Agency, 1925-1930; and it returned to subagency status, 1934
O. “Records of the Reno Agency in Nevada,” between 1905-1933, less than 1% of 13 cubic feet; the Reno Agency was established, 1912; and consolidated with the Carson School to form the Carson Agency, 1925
P. “Records of the Roseburg Agency in Oregon,” between 1890-1924, less than 1% of ca. 11 cubic feet; the Roseburg Agency was established for some Native Americans in Northern California and Oregon, 1909; it was abolished, 1918, with duties transferred to the Siletz and Greenville Agencies, among others
Q. “Records of the Round Valley Agency in California,” between 1859-1924, less than 1% of 23 cubic feet; established, 1856, and consolidated with the Sacramento Agency, 1924; includes a conflict between Agent J.L. Burchard, a Methodist minister, and Padre Luciano Osuna, re: cultural accommodation in Catholic evangelization, 1874-1875
1. Correspondence of Agent Burchard to Commissioner of Indian Affairs, 1874, Box 1: 2 letters
2. Court Records, “Luciana Osuna Papers,” 1874-1875, Box 173: 1 folder
R. “Records of the Sacramento Agency in California” Inclusive dates: Between 1906-1947 Volume: Less than 1% of 90 cubic feet Description: The Sacramento Agency was established in 1923 and absorbed by the California Agency in 1947.
S. “Records of the Sacramento Area Office in California” Inclusive dates: Between 1900-1972 Volume: Less than 1% of 1,200 cubic feet Description: The Sacramento Area Office was established in 1950, superseding the California Agency.
T. “Records of the Special Agency of Nevada in Nevada” Inclusive dates: Between 1869-1871 Volume: Less than 1% of 1 cubic foot Description: The Special Agency of Nevada was established in 1858 and abolished in 1921.
U. “Records of the Tule River Agency in California” Inclusive dates: Between 1897-1936 Volume: Less than 1% of 2 cubic feet Description: The Tule River Agency was established in 1856 and absorbed by the Sacramento Agency in 1924.
V. “Records of the Upper Lake-Ukiah Agency in California” Inclusive dates: Between 1909-1911 Volume: Less than 1% of .2 cubic foot Description: The Upper Lake-Ukiah Agency was established in 1909 and absorbed by the Round Valley Agency in 1911.
W. “Records of the Walker River Agency/ Subagency in Nevada” Inclusive dates: Between 1889-1948 Volume: Less than 1% of 34 cubic feet Description: The Walker River Agency was established in 1859. It was administered under first the Nevada Agency and then the Carson School Agency. It became a separate jurisdiction in 1908 and was abolished in 1935 with its duties transferred to the Carson Agency.
X. “Records of the Western Shoshone Agency in Nevada” Inclusive dates: Between 1869-1952 Volume: Less than 1% of 55 cubic feet Description: The Western Shoshone Agency was established in 1878 and became a sub-agency of the Nevada Agency by 1955.
Y. “Records of the Supervisor of Indian Education, Sacramento” Inclusive dates: Between 1928-1934 Volume: Less than 1% of unknown cubic feet Description: Pertains to the phasing out of some boarding schools, school management and personnel, and other subjects involving Native American education in the western states. Narrative inspection reports and school activity and attendance reports are included.
Z. “Letters Received by the Office of Indian Affairs, M234” Inclusive dates: Between 1906-1913 Volume: Less than 1% of 962 reels of microfilm
AA. “Letters Received by the Office of the Secretary of War Relating to Indian Affairs, M271” Inclusive dates: Between 1800-1823 Volume: Less than 1% of 4 reels of microfilm
BB. “Letters Received by the Superintendent of Indian Trade, T58” Inclusive dates: Between 1806-1824 Volume: Less than 1% of 1 reel of microfilm
CC. “Letters Sent by the Office of Indian Affairs, M21” Inclusive dates: Between 1824-1881 Volume: Less than 1% of 166 reels of microfilm
DD. “Letters Sent by the Secretary of War Relating to Indian Affairs, M15” Inclusive dates: Between 1800-1824 Volume: Less than 1% of 6 reels of microfilm
EE. “Letters Sent by the Special Indian Agent of Nevada, I18” Inclusive dates: Between 1869-1871 Volume: Less than 1% of unknown reels of microfilm
FF. “Letters Sent by the Superintendent of Indian Trade, M16” Inclusive dates: Between 1807-1823 Volume: Less than 1% of 6 reels of microfilm
GG. “Records of the Michigan Superintendency of Indian Affairs, M1” Inclusive dates: Between 1814-1851 Volume: Less than 1% of 71 reels of microfilm
HH. “Records of the Mission Indian Agency, Southern California, I3” Inclusive dates: Between 1912-1955 Volume: Less than 1% of unknown reels of microfilm
II. “Records of the Nevada Superintendency of Indian Affairs, M837” Inclusive dates: Between 1869-1870 Volume: Less than 1% of 1 reel of microfilm
JJ. “Records of the Oregon Superintendency of Indian Affairs, M2” Inclusive dates: Between 1848-1873 Volume: Less than 1% of 29 reels of microfilm
KK. “Records of the Utah Superintendency of Indian Affairs, M834” Inclusive dates: Between 1853-1870 Volume: Less than 1% of 2 reels of microfilm
LL. “Records of the Washington Superintendency of Indian Affairs, M5” Inclusive dates: Between 1853-1874 Volume: Less than 1% of 26 reels of microfilm
MM. “Register of Letters Received by the Office of Indian Affairs, M18” Inclusive dates: Between 1824-1880 Volume: Less than 1% of 126 reels of microfilm
NN. “Report Books of the Office of Indian Affairs, M348” Inclusive dates: Between 1838-1885 Volume: Less than 1% of 53 reels of microfilm
OO. “Special Files of the Office of Indian Affairs, M574” Inclusive dates: Between 1807-1904 Volume: Less than 1% of 85 reels of microfilm
PP. “Record Group 393, Records of U.S. Army Continental Commands, 1821-1920” Inclusive dates: Between 1846-1918 Volume: Less than 1% of 1 cubic foot and 7 reels of microfilm Description: 1. “Records of the Presidio of San Francisco” Inclusive dates: Between 1862-1918 Volume: Less than 1% of less than 1 cubic foot Description: Includes “accounting forms, bulletins, letters, and qualification record forms of recruits;” re: “administrative matters, equipment, fortifications in the San Francisco Bay area, personnel, and supplies.”
/5 “Records of the Tenth Military Department, 1846-1851, M210”
Inclusive dates: Between 1846-1851
Volume: Less than 1% of 7 reels of microfilm
Description: Includes letters describing Indian attitudes toward Catholic missions.
Unless otherwise noted, the repository on this page holds (or held) the records described here and they are not held at the Marquette University Archives.
new2006/rev2020
