View source for United States Native Races Part 2 - Has Someone Already Researched My Family?

=== UNITED STATES  ===

'''Family Histories'''. Many people have produced histories about their families that may include genealogical data, biographies, photographs, and other information. These usually include several generations of the family. The Family History Library has an extensive collection of over 70,000 published United States and Canada family histories and newsletters. Copies at the library are listed in the Surname Search of the FamilySearch Catalog. Not every name found in a family history will be listed in the catalog, so be sure to check the index if a book has one. 

Major collections of printed family histories are also found at most of the archives and libraries. Many large libraries have the indexes and catalogs to published family histories described in [[United States Compiled Genealogies]] and [[Canada Genealogy|Canada Genealogy]]. 

For an example of the kind of family history these catalogs might cite, see: <br>Brown, Stuart E. ''Pocahontas’ Descendants''. Berryville, Virginia: Pocahontas Foundation, 1985. (FHL book 929.273 P75b 1985.) This family history is indexed and includes information on the Bolling, Cabell, Coolidge, Harrison, Page, Ruffin and related families. 

'''Private Collections.''' Some families, libraries, and societies have private collections that have been compiled by individuals, organizations, libraries and other groups. These collections are also a valuable source of genealogy when researching your ancestor. Some of the private collections are not circulated (loaned) to other institutions: 

Duke University. Library. ''Duke Indian Oral History Collection and Index.'' Cambridge, Massachusetts: General Microfilm, 1981. (On eight microfilms beginning with FHL film 1486555; fiche 6077908-62 [set of 310]; A collection of oral histories of Indians from around the United States housed at Duke University. 

The Draper Manuscript Collection is a significant regional source that includes records of Native Americans. 

Draper, Lyman Copeland. ''Draper Manuscript Collection''. Chicago, Illinois: University of Chicago Library, 197-?. (On 147 FHL films beginning with 889098) The Draper Manuscript Collection consists of nearly 500 volumes of manuscripts, papers, and books collected by Draper about the history of the trans-Allegheny West, a region including the western areas of the Carolinas and Virginia, all the Ohio River Valley, and part of the upper Mississippi Valley from the 1740s to 1830. The collection is divided into 50 series. Some series are titled by geographic area, some by the names of prominent frontier and Indian leaders, and some by topic. The bulk of the collection consists of notes from interviews, questionnaires, and letters gathered during Draper’s extensive travels and research to learn about frontier history. Personal papers are much more rare than government or military records. The collection includes many items of a genealogical or biographical nature. For an inventory and partial indexes, see: 

Harper, Josephine L. ''Guide to the Draper Manuscripts''. Madison, Wisconsin: State Historical Society of Wisconsin, 1983. (FHL book 977.583/M1 A3h; fiche 6050187.) This guide gives series and volume descriptions for some of the Draper manuscripts. There are several indexes at the end of the book, including a name and subject index and an additional personal data index. 

Wolfe, Barbara Schull. ''Index to Lyman C. Draper Manuscripts.'' Logansport, Indiana: B. S. Wolfe, 197-?. (FHL book 977.583/M1 A3w.) The name index gives the series and volume numbers, but is not complete. 

''Indian Pioneer Papers, 1860-1935.'' Millwood, New York: Kraus Microform, 1989. ( FHL fiche 6016865-981 [set of 1012].) These papers contain interviews of people married to Indians, those living on or near a reservation, and other information concerning life in the Oklahoma Territory. An index is included. 

McLaughlin, James. ''Major James McLaughlin Papers, 1855-1937''. Richardton, North Dakota: Assumption Abbey Archive. (On 39 FHL films beginning with FHL film 494467.) These papers include correspondence kept by James McLaughlin, who was an Indian agent in North Dakota from 1876 to 1896 and an Indian inspector from 1895 to 1923.&nbsp; An index is included. For details see: 

''Guide to the Microfilm Edition of the Major James McLaughlin Papers.'' Richardton, North Dakota: Assumption College, 1969. (FHL book 973 A1 no.&nbsp; 200.) This guide contains a description of the roll numbers and includes an index to Indian agencies. 

Pratt, John Gill. ''John G. Pratt Papers, 1834-1899 in the Kansas State Historical Society.'' Topeka, Kansas: KSHS, [1970?]. (On 13 FHL films beginning with 812758.) 

These are papers regarding Indian agency correspondence, newspaper articles, business papers, account books, allotments, and vouchers. Bennett, Archibald F.''Indian Descendants; Research Data (Pedigrees, Letters, Notes).'' Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1967. (FHL Film 528753) 

Adams, James Taylor. ''James Taylor Adams Collection''. St. Louis, Missouri: <br>R. R. Seibel and D.A. Griffith, 1971. (On 13 FHL films beginning with 1689768.) This is a list of families from Kentucky, Virginia, North Carolina, and Tennessee primarily about Adams families and relatives.