Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2024
Subjects
Population Studies -- Modelling -- American Indians
Abstract
Historical information on tribal populations in the United States is incomplete. American Indians and Alaska Natives were not enumerated with the general population until the 1940 decennial census. However, Indian Census Rolls were produced for the period 1885 – 1940 under the auspices of the Bureau of Indian Affairs in the U.S. The information given in the Indian Census Rolls varies but usually includes the roll number, age, gender, tribal identity, and relationship to the head of the family. In this paper, we present background information on Indian Census Rolls and demonstrate how the digitized microfiche census roll schedules can be assembled into an Excel file. We also provide examples of the potential uses of Indian Census Rolls. We conclude that Indian Census Rolls can not only help bridge the gaps in the historical demography of American Indians but also provide the basis for a clearer picture of the current and future demographic characteristics of American Indians.
Rights
Copyright: © 2024 Author(s). This is an Open-Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, permitting distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Locate the Document
https://doi.org/10.36922/ijps.3906
DOI
10.36922/ijps.3906
Persistent Identifier
https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/44184
Citation Details
TAYMAN, J. (2024). American Indian census rolls: An underutilized source of historical demographic information on tribal populations. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL, 3906.