Washington, Applications for Enrollment and Adoption of Washington Indians - FamilySearch Historical Records

Washington Indians

Record Description
This collection includes records from 1911 to 1919. The collection consists of images of records created during enrollment and adoption proceedings for Washington Indian tribes.

Record Content
Records may contain any of the following:


 * English name of the primary individual or family members
 * Indian name of the primary individual or family members
 * Birth, marriage or death dates
 * Birth, marriage or death places
 * Place of residence
 * Ages
 * Number of children in the family
 * Occupation
 * Other biographical details about the family or individuals such as migrations
 * Tribal affiliation
 * Religious affiliation
 * General information about the tribe

How to Use the Record
To begin your search it is helpful to know


 * Names
 * Identifying information such Indian name, dates lived, tribe, or names of other family members

Search the Collection
To browse by image: To search the collection you will need to follow this series of links: ⇒ Select "Browse through images" on the initial collection page ⇒ Select the "Record Category" ⇒ Select the "Record Type, Volume, and Year Range" which takes you to the images.

Look at the images one by one comparing the information with what you already know about your ancestors to determine if the image relates to them. You may need to look at several images and compare the information about the individuals listed in those images to your ancestors to make this determination. Keep in mind:


 * There may be more than one person in the records with the same name.
 * You may not be sure of your own ancestor’s name.
 * Your ancestor may have used different names or variations of their name throughout their life.

Using the Information
When you have located your ancestor’s record, carefully evaluate each piece of information given. Save a copy of the image or transcribe the information. These pieces of information may give you new biographical details. Add this new information to your records of each family. You should also look for leads to other records about your ancestors. For example:


 * Use ages to calculate approximate birth dates
 * Use the names and tribe to search Indian census rolls
 * Use birth, marriage or death dates and places to search for tribal or government vital records or certificates
 * Use the name of the tribe to search for background and historical information about the tribe
 * Use the names, dates and religious affiliation to search for church records

Unable to Find Your Ancestor?

 * If you are unable to find your ancestor look for variant spellings of the names. You should also look for both English and Indian names as well as nicknames and abbreviated names.
 * Verify the tribal affiliation. The person recording the information may have recorded it incorrectly.
 * Your ancestors may not be Indian.

Related Websites

 * National Archives
 * Bureau of Indian Affairs
 * Washington State Tribal Directory

Related Wiki Articles

 * Washington
 * Indians of Washington
 * Washington-Church for a list of Missions
 * Washington-History for a calendar of events
 * Washington-Military for a list of forts
 * American Indians Beginning Your Search

Citations for this Collection
When you copy information from a record, you should list where you found the information; that is, cite your sources. This will help people find the record again and evaluate the reliability of the source. It is also good to keep track of records where you did not find information, including the names of the people you looked for in the records. Citations are available for the collection as a whole and each record or image individually.

Collection Citation:

Image Citation: