Description
The Six Nations of New York: The 1892 United States Extra Census Bulletin is a facsimile edition of the U. S. Census Office's Report about the Six Nations Iroquois reservations in New York State. This edition republished by Cornell University Press contains an introduction written by historian Robert W. Venables. The introduction sets the census document in historical context as the United States government was setting about breaking up reservations into private property under the 1887 Dawes Act (General Allotment Act). Venables describes the work of Thomas Donaldson, "expert special agent of the census office", General Henry B. Carrington, and T. W. Jackson, the local Indian agent as they went about the various reservations from 1890 to 1891. He also provides a brief overview of essential events in Iroquois history from the formation of the Great Law of Peace to the time of the census-taking. The census is a comprehensive document that provides statistics and descriptions of the New York Iroquois reservations including St Regis (Akwesasne), Tonawanda (Seneca), Onondaga, Allegany (Seneca), Cattaraugus (Seneca), Tuscarora, Cornplanter (Seneca), and Oil Spring (Seneca). The report begins with descriptions of the Six Nations reservations in 1890, their legal status, languages, population statistics, education, value of lands, and agricultural statistics. The authors provide charts, detailed property maps, and narrative descriptions. This report is a goldmine for anyone undertaking genealogical research. The authors provide names of informants as well as their clans and information about their lives. General Carrington spent several months interviewing Iroquois residents and his report represents these discussions. The detailed map of each reservation provides the names of land owners, locations of schools, churches, and council houses. Government, religion, economy, education, health, temperance, marriage, and home life are described in detail. There are also brief sections covering Indian names, annuity payments, citizenship, leases, and land ownership. In addition to the maps, the report contains numerous black and white archival photographs of significant Iroquois people including Daniel La Forte, Caroline Mountpleasant, Governor Blacksnake, Solomon O'Bail, Elias Johnson, Theodore Jimerson, Philip Tarbell, Albert Cusick, and Aunt Dinah. There are also photos of wampum belts, reading of the wampums by Six Nations of the Grand River Chiefs in 1890, and the Thomas Orphan Asylum. This census document is a valuable resource for anyone interested in Six Nations history or genealogy.