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Letters received by the Office of Indian Affairs relating to the Florida Superintendency, 1824-1853.
Amount:
6.00 microfilm reel 35 mm.
Medium Included:
Organization/Arrangement:
Chronological.
Restrictions:
Terms Governing Use:
Biographical/Historical:
The Office of Indian Affairs was established in 1824 within the United States War Department where it operated informally and exercised jurisdiction over Indian affairs in their civilian aspects until 1832. At this time, Congress authorized the appointment of a Commissioner of Indian Affairs. Then in 1849, the Office of Indian Affairs was transferred from the War Department to the newly created Department of the Interior. In Florida, the Territorial Governor served as the Superintendent of Indian Affairs as well as Commander-in-chief of the militia of the Territory. In this respect, the Governor was in nominal control of Indian agencies, and although the men who officered these agencies were appointed from Washington, they reported to him as well as to their superiors in the Federal Government and were subject as well to his instructions under certain conditions.
Summary:
This microfilm publication contains incoming correspondence of the Office of Indian Affairs relating mainly to the Florida Superintendency from 1824-1853. The correspondence is subdivided into three major areas: 1) Florida Superintendency, 2) Superintendent of Seminole Emigration, and 3) Reserves. The incoming correspondence of the Florida Superintendency (1824-1850) contains letters written mainly to the Secretary of War or the Commissioner of Indian Affairs from Florida Governors, Indian agents, United States military personnel, and private citizens. The series contains a tremendous amount of correspondence from Governor William P. Duval, while correspondence from other Florida Governors is scarce. The correspondence deals generally with Indian attacks, activities during the 2nd Seminole War, and the negotiations and eventual removal of the Seminoles to West. Of particular interest is a Census of Indians taken in May of 1833 by various Indian agents at the direction of the Federal Government.
The incoming correspondence from the Superintendent of Seminole Emigration (1828-1853) specifically deals with the efforts of the Federal government to remove the Seminole Indians from Florida to Fort Gibson in the Arkansas territory. Correspondees include Wiley Thompson, Daniel Boyd, Archibald Smith, Jr, J. J. Abercrombie, Major General Thomas Jesup. Of particular interest is an 1849 journal kept by Lieutenant John G. Reynolds of the United States Marine Corps chronicling the journey of a group of Seminoles from Fort Moultrie, South Carolina to Fort Gibson.
The incoming correspondence of the Reserves (1839-1847) mainly contains papers relating to administrative matters of military personnel.
Finding Aids:
Microfilm listing available.
Additional Physical Form:
Reproduction Note:
Microfilm.
Location of Originals/Duplicates:
National Archives, Washington, D. C.
Associated Materials:
Language Notes:
Ownership/Custodial History:
Publication Note:
National Archives Microfilm Publication M234.
General Note:
Electronic Records Access:
Subject Access Fields:
DuVal, William Pope, 1784-1854 Jesup, Thomas Sidney, 1788-1860 Reynolds, John G. Thompson, Wiley. Abercrombie, J.J. Smith, Archibald. Boyd, Daniel.
Florida. Governor (1822-1834 : DuVal) United States. Office of Indian Affairs.
Seminole War, 2nd, 1835-1842. Seminole Indians Wars Seminole Indians. Governors Florida Indians of North America Southern States Indians of North America Florida
Territorial records. aat Diaries. aat
Florida Census
for detailed listing.