Washington, U.S., Enrollment and Allotment Applications of Washington Indians, 1911-1919

This database contains documents relating to people in Washington state who applied to be recognized as Indians and granted land allotments.

Historical Background

In the late 1800s the U.S. government adopted a policy of making allotments of land to individual members of Indian tribes rather than having lands held by tribes as a whole. In order to qualify for an allotment, people had to prove their Native American ancestry and be “enrolled” in a tribe. In 1916, the process of enrolling Indians in western Washington who had not received an allotment fell to Special Agent Charles E. Roblin. His report, submitted to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs in 1919, included a list of enrolled Indians referred to as the Roblin Roll.

This database includes the Roblin Roll and other supporting documents, many of them submitted to Roblin by people who wanted to establish their status as Indians and receive land allotments. These supporting documents include affidavits, applications, correspondence, and reports. Some of the forms granted power of attorney to Thomas G. Bishop, President of the Northwestern Federation of American Indians.

What You Can Find in the Records

Details vary in these documents. The Roblin Roll itself lists name, blood, and residence and provides some indication of family relationship. Some of the affidavits and other documents can be much more detailed and may include some or all of the following:

• name
• gender
• age
• birth date
• birthplace
• residence
• tribe
• date of death
• blood