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General operating records of the Commissioner of the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, 1865-1871.
Amount:
7.00 microfilm reels 35mm
Medium Included:
Microfilm
Organization/Arrangement:
Primarily chronological; see series description for details.
Restrictions:
Terms Governing Use:
Biographical/Historical:
The Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, often referred to as the Freedmen's Bureau, was established in the United States War Department by an act of March 3, 1865 (13 Stat. 507). Congress assigned to the bureau responsibilities previously shared by military commanders and by agents of the Treasury Department, including supervision of all affairs relating to refugees and freedmen and the custody of all abandoned or confiscated lands and property. The act also provided that the bureau be headed by a commissioner, appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate.
The bureau's operations were confined principally to the former Confederate States, the Border States, and the District of Columbia. The 1865 act authorized the appointment of assistant commissioners to aid the commissioner in supervising the work of the bureau in the states.
During the years of its greatest activity, the operations of the Freedmen's Bureau resembled, in many ways, the work of later federal social agencies. In addition to supervising the disposition of abandoned or confiscated lands and property, bureau officers issued rations, clothing, and medicine to destitute refugees and freedmen. They established hospitals and dispensaries and supervised tenements and camps for the homeless. Bureau officers and members of benevolent organizations cooperated in establishing schools, operating employment offices, and dispensing relief. In March 1866, the bureau assumed the function of helping black soldiers and sailors to file and collect claims for bounties, pensions, and pay arrearages.
Summary:
This series consists of microfilm copies of seven volumes of letters sent, six volumes of endorsements sent, one volume of circulars issued, and one volume of special orders issued by the Commissioner of the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, 1865-72. Also included are 14 volumes of indexes. The records relate to the general operations of the bureau. The seven volumes of letters sent, 1865-72, contain copies of letters, telegrams, and circular letters sent by Commissioner Howard and his assistant adjutant general. Also included are copies of Howard's annual reports to the President. The documents in the letter books are generally arranged in chronological order. There are name and subject index books to volumes 1-4 and name index books to volumes 5-7. Volume 5 also has a subject index that is bound at the front of the volume. The name and subject indexes are arranged alphabetically, with the names listed first. The index books are filmed preceding the related volume of letters sent.
The six volumes of endorsements sent, May 22-September 28, 1865 and August 25, 1866-January 4, 1871, are generally arranged in chronological order. Between September 29, 1865, and August 24, 1866, the endorsements were copied into a series of registers of letters received, which are reproduced in a separate microfilm publication, M752.
The single volume of circulars issued, 1865-69, contains instructions relating to the organization and operation of the bureau. The circulars are arranged by year and thereunder numerically. At the beginning of the volume is a list of officers to whom the circulars were issued. The subject index book, which refers only to the circulars issued in 1865, was filmed before the volume of circulars.
The single volume of special orders, 1865-72, relates mainly to personnel. The orders are arranged by year and thereunder numerically, with the exception of those for the period 1870-71, which are arranged in one numerical series. There is a name and subject index at the beginning of the volume.
Finding Aids:
Microfilm listing available and container listing available. The container listing may also be found in the National Archives Microfilm Publication "Black Studies." 0
Additional Physical Form:
Reproduction Note:
Microfilm.
Location of Originals/Duplicates:
Originals held by the National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D. C.
Associated Materials:
Language Notes:
Ownership/Custodial History:
Publication Note:
General Note:
Electronic Records Access:
Subject Access Fields:
Reconstruction (U.S. history, 1865-1877) Florida. Freedmen Florida Reconstruction (U.S. history, 1865-1877) Freedmen United States Civil rights Florida
for detailed listing.