Records of the Northern Superintendency of Indian Affairs, 1851-1876

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Microfilm of original records in The National Archives, Washington, D.C.

The Northern Superintendency was established in 1851 as a part of the general reorganization of the field service under an act of February 27, 1851. It superseded the Michigan Superindendency, which was abolished in 1851, and assumed some responsibilities of the former Wisconsin Superintendency, which had been discontinued in 1848. From the Michigan Superintendency it inherited the Mackinac Agency, which with the assistance of the Sault Ste. Marie Subagency, was in charge of the Chippewa, Ottawa, and Potawatomi tribes living in Michigan. From the Wisconsin Superintendency it inherited the Green Bay Subagency, which had jurisdiction over the Menominee, Oneida, and Stockbridge tribes living in Wisconsin and had reported directly to the Office of Indian Affairs following the termination of the Wisconsin Superintendency. The Northern Superintendency also assumed responsibility for some Potawatomi and other Indians in Wisconsin who had not previously been assigned to an agency"--Introd.

"These bound and unbound records... are chiefly the correspondence, reports, procedural issuances, financial documents, licenses, and various other records that were either created by or received by the Superintendent at his headquarters in the field. They document the management of Indian affairs within the Superintendency. Also included are some records that were inherited by the Superintendency from agencies under its jurisdiction. They consist of 18 letters for 1849-50 relating to the tribes who came under Green Bay Subagency and one volume of copies of letters sent from the Winnebago Agency during various periods from 1846-73"--Introd.

"The records of the Northern Superintendency covers almost all aspects of Indian administration within its jurisdiction. There are documents relating to recommendations for appointments in the Indian Service, resignations, oaths of office, and bonds of employees in Indian Service; negotiations and enforcement of Indian treaties; Indian councils, Indian delegations and disturbances between Indians and non-Indians; hostilities and related military operations; enforcement of Federal laws and regulations; intrusions on Indian lands; land surveys; bounty land and land scrip; land allotments; deeds to Indian property; Indian removal; annuities and other payments; purchase and transport of goods and supplies; trader's licenses and applications; liquor traffic; medical treatment; construction and repair of buildings; location of agencies, missionaries, and schools; school curriculums and statistics; school employees; population of agencies; charges against and removal of agents; instructions for agents; agents' reports; superintendents' annual reports; depredation claims; and accounts, bids, contracts, and proposals"--Introd.

"Most of the correspondence of the Superintendency was conducted with the Commissioner of Indian Affairs and with agents under the superintendency. Included with the correspondence with the Commissioner are letters from his Chief Clerk, who sometimes functioned as Acting Commissioner; letters from the Secretary of the Interior, various letters forwarded by endorsement; circulars; and a few drafts of letters sent by the Superintendent to the Commissioner. Among the letters received from agents are letters from acting agents, agency clerks, and communications from Indians; agents' annual, monthly, and special reports; reports from agency employees; statistical reports; reports of changes of employees; resignations of employees; lists of pupils; lists of medical supplies, annuities, goods, and property; contracts; affdavits; and estimates of funds"--Introd.

"The Superintendent also corresponded with other superintendents, military post commanders, the Second Auditor and other Treasury Department officers, various Federal and State officials, traders, contractors, business firms, attorneys, missionaries, teachers and other agency employees, and private individuals"--Introd.

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