Page 34 - IJPS-11-1

International Journal of
Population Studies Indian Census Rolls: Data for U.S. tribes

descent from a member listed on the “base” roll. In general, all reservations and public allotments under the Indian
by the mid-1930s, the presence of a name on a roll was agency. If the person does not live in the jurisdiction where
a clear indication that the person in question was a tribal enrolled, then the city, post-office county, and state of this
member. person’s location are given (columns 11 – 14). The 1937
Lummi census rolls indicate an on-reservation household
2.3. The 1937 – 1939 Indian Census Roll #593 population of 598, an off-reservation household population
As an example of an Indian census roll, we discuss of 132, and one person who resides in group quarters off-
information for the Lummi Tribe, the original inhabitants reservation (in this case, the person is shown as being in
of the Puget Sound lowlands, in Washinton State from prison). “Ward” (column 15) is either a “yes” or “no.” We
the 1937 – 1939 Indian Census Roll #593, pages 71 to 124 use “yes” on the “ward” variable as an indicator of Lummi
(National Archives, 1965). It contains individual census Tribal membership. As a side note, we found that “ward”

records for the Clallam, Lummi, Muckleshoot, Nooksack, is not a perfect indicator of Lummi Tribal membership.
Puyallup, Skagit-Suiattle, Snohomish, Suquamish, and Just over 90% of the records show the expected consistency
Swinomish Tribal areas as of January 1, 1937. It also between the “tribal membership” entry and the “ward”
contains birth and death information for 1932 to 1936 and entry. In these cases, the tribal membership entry is “
supplemental census rolls for January 1, 1938, and January Lummi” and the ward entry is “yes” (and where the tribal
1, 1939. These supplemental rolls only list additions to the membership is listed as “not Lummi,” ward is listed as
1937 census rolls. “no”). However, there are inconsistencies. There are four
Appendix A1 presents an example of the Lummi records (0.5%) where a person is listed as “Lummi” living
census roll information. The information is organized on another tribe’s reservation and the entry for ward is “no”;
by household with an empty line on the census schedule while in 67 records (9.2%), the person’s tribal membership
after each household. For example, the Johnson household is listed as “Lummi” living on another tribe’s reservation
has two members, a “husband” and a “wife” (Victor and and the entry for ward is “yes.” There is one record (0.1%)
Amelia). Number (Column 1) is a consecutive count of where a tribe other than Lummi is listed, but the “ward”
the enrolled Lummi’s. “N.E” is used to indicate a non- entry is “yes.”
enrollee, a person who is not included in the consecutive Originally prepared on microfiche, the Indian Census
count of tribal members. After all of the information for Rolls need to be presented through computerized means to
this household was written into the census schedule, the cater to modern needs. To this end, we developed an Excel
next line was left empty. workbook that contains features that facilitate the inputting
Indian Census Rolls for 1937 also contain surnames and of individual census records from microfiche. All variables
first names, and demographic information on gender, age shown in Appendix A1 are accommodated in this Excel
at last birthday, birth date, marital status, and household workbook, “LUMMI TRIBE cases 1 to 661 V8_WardAdj2.
relationship. The age of those under 1 year is given as a fraction xlsx,” which is available from the authors. It contains eight
of the year since the date of birth. Marital status is classified worksheets: (1) Documentation, which includes a directory
as single or unmarried, married, or widowed of either to the eight worksheets; (2) Summary, which displays
gender. The household head, whether husband or father, a summary of the data found in worksheet 7 along with
widow, or unmarried person of either gender, is designated the Excel code that extracts and assembles them from
by the agent. The agent also assigned the appropriate term worksheet 7; (3) Lummi 1937 Pyramids, which contains
to designate the relationship of the person to the household graphic representations (population pyramids) of the 1937
head. In the Lummi records, the relationship to the head is Lummi tribal members and Lummi and non-Lummi by
“brother,” “dau” (daughter), “grandson,” “sister,” “son,” “step- age and gender, along with the Excel code that generates
dau” (step-daughter), “step-son,” and “wife.” the data from worksheet 4 that is organized in a format that
facilitates the construction of the population pyramids;
A tribal name is identified in column 6, and an “N.E” (4) Data, which contains the input data for worksheet 3 along
(Not Enrolled) person will have a tribal name other than with the Excel code that extracts these data from worksheet
Lummi. If a person identifies as a member of multiple 2 and assembles them into an age by gender format
tribes, the tribes are listed with a hyphen (e.g., Lummi- that facilitates the creation of the population pyramids;
Clallam). Degree of blood or blood quantum if denoted as (5) Lummi 1937 Sex Ratios by Age, which shows the sex ratios
an (f) for full blood (100%). Other blood quantum values of Lummi and non-Lummi males and females and Lummi
in the Lummi census rolls are 0.25. 0.50, 0.625, and 0.75. males and females by age and contains the Excel code that
Column 10 contains the jurisdiction where the member assembles these ratios from worksheet 7; (6) Age GRP X
in question is enrolled. The term jurisdiction includes Sex X Tribal Status, a worksheet that displays median age

Volume 11 Issue 1 (2025) 28 https://doi.org/10.36922/ijps.3906