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Unfortunately, we do not have a simple way to help you research your great grandmother Carolyn Missouri Simpson and your Native American heritage. You may want to begin your search by using the Eastern Cherokee Census Rolls, 1835–1884 (Microfilm M1773). These records are digitized in our Catalog. Please note that the Eastern Cherokee Census Rolls only document individuals who maintained a formal affiliation with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. Please note, that census rolls do not exist for every tribe for every year and only document enrolled members of federally recognized tribes.
If you believe your ancestor was a member of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma and you have not already checked Ancestry's database "Oklahoma and Indian Territory, U.S., Indian Censuses and Rolls, 1851–1959" it may be beneficial for your research. This database includes Cherokee Nation censuses from the 1880s and 1890s.
When using the catalog, you could search further by using the “Advanced Search” feature and search for “75” in the Record Group Number/Collection ID field (which signifies the records of the Bureau of Indian Affairs). Please be mindful that there is no simple way to begin nor is there a single list of everyone of Native American Heritage. Records of Native Americans maintained and housed by NARA are generally records of those that live on reservations or are being administered by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. These records are scattered throughout multiple series, record groups, and even NARA facilities. It is also possible that records may be difficult to trace if your ancestors left the reservation or did not have any interaction with the federal government.
Consequently, tracing Native American ancestry can be very difficult. Please keep in mind that there are well over 500 tribes today, and those are only the ones that are recognized by the Federal government. The only Federal records that exist are for those people who were part of a recognized tribe, lived together with their tribe, and were under the supervision of the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA). It is possible that there may not be any records for your ancestor.
For additional information about Native American genealogy at Archives I please email us at archives1reference@nara.gov
