OFFICE OF INDIAN AFFAIRS RECORDS OF THE IDAHO SUPERINTENDENCY
| 1849 |
"The Idaho Superintendency was established in 1863 at the same time as Idaho Territory. From 1848 until 1853 the present State of Idaho was part of Oregon Territory. Part of it was transferred to Washington Territory in 1853 and the rest of it in 1859. From 1863 until Montana Territory was organized in 1864, Idaho included Montana and part of Wyoming. Thereafter Idaho had its present boundaries. "Until 1869 the Territorial Governor served as ex officio superintendent. Thereafter an Army officer was detailed to the position. The superintendency headquarters was at the Territorial capital, which was briefly located in Lewiston but was moved to Boise in 1864. "After 1864 the principal Indian tribes under the supervision of the Idaho Superintendency were the Nez Perce, Shoshoni, and Bannock. Coeur d'Alene, Kutenai, Pend Oreille, and Spokan Indians also lived or roamed in Idaho. The Coeur d'Alene and Spokan, however, were more closely associated with the Washington Superintendency; and the Kutenai and Pend Oreille, with the Flathead Agency of the Montana Superintendency. "The Nez Perce, Flathead, and Blackfeet Agencies were assigned to the Idaho Superintendency in 1863. In 1864, however, the Flathead and Blackfeet Agencies were transferred to the new Montana Superintendency. The Flathead Agency was again assigned to the Idaho Superintendency from September 1865 until February 1866. "In 1867 a special agent was assigned to the Boise and Bruneau bands of Shoshoni. In 1869 these Indians and some Western Shoshoni and Bannock were moved to the Fort Hall Reservation in southeastern Idaho; and the agency thereafter was called the Fort Hall Agency. "The Idaho Superintendency was discontinued in 1870. Thereafter the agents in Idaho reported direct to the Bureau of Indian Affairs in Washington." Records of the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Edward E. Hill Washington, DC: The National Archives, 1965. (Preliminary Inventory Number 163) p. 314. The information in the tables is culled from: Register of Officers and Agents, Civil, Military and Naval in the Service of the United States on the Thirtieth of September, [year]. Washington: Government Printing Office. [Spine title: United States Official Register. In 1845 and 1847 the only Indian Office entry is for the Western Superintendency. There are no entries for any tribe or geographic part of the Pacific Northwest. The only tribal entries are for the Choctaw, Cherokee, Creek, Seminole, and Neosho. The spelling of some names is inconsistent. In one case, Whitman is spelled Whiteman, Stegg is Stagg, Bronche is sometimes Branche or Brancheau, O'Neill is sometimes O'Neil. Also, Maggie Standing is listed as born in both England and Kansas and as being appointed in both Kansas and Idaho. Based on other sources of information, I assume that her correct birthplace is England and that she was originally appointed in Kansas. The column headings have been regularized for arrangement to match the most logical common order. Compiled by Donna M. Hanson 1999 - 2001 |