Title: Report books of the Office of Indian Affairs
Description: On the 53 rolls of this microfilm publication are reproduced the 53 Report Books of the Office of Indian Affairs, November 25, 1838-November 12, 1885. These Report Books contain manuscript copies of communications sent by the Office to the member of the President's Cabinet having supervisory responsibility for Indian affairs. The Bureau of Indian Affairs was established as a separate agency within the War Department in 1824, and in 1832 Congress established the position of Commissioner of Indian Affairs. The Bureau, usually known as the Office of Indian Affairs until 1947, was transferred in 1849 to the newly created Department of the Interior, where it has remained. Until March 1849 the Commissioner of Indian Affairs reported to the Secretary of War; thereafter he reported to the Secretary of the Interior. The Report Books contain, in addition to communications to the Secretary, some copies of letters to the President, to chairmen and other members of committees of the House of Representatives and the Senate, to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, to the President of the Senate (normally the Vice President of the United States), and to other Government officials. During the earlier years, the letters to the President and the members of congressional committees were often signed by the Secretary of War rather than the Commissioner of Indian Affairs. The use of the Report Books to record letters to officials other than the supervising Secretary was gradually discontinued; and by 1870 they were being used only for copies of letters sent to the Secretary of the Interior.
Subjects: Indians of North America, Government relations, Sources