American Indian census rolls: An underutilized source of historical demographic information on tribal populations

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.

Keywords

Indian Census Rolls / Historical Indian demographics / 1937 Lummi tribe demographic profile / Excel reporting template

Funding

None.

Conflict of interest

David A. Swanson is an Editorial Board Member of this journal but was not in any way involved in the editorial and peer-review process conducted for this paper, directly or indirectly. Separately, there are no potential conflicts or competing interests with any institutes, organizations, or agencies that might influence the integrity of results or objective interpretation of their submitted works.

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