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Freedmen's Bureau

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Freedmen's Bureau

The Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, commonly known as the Freedmen's Bureau, was an agency established by the United States government in 1865, shortly after the end of the Civil War. Its primary purpose was to aid formerly enslaved people and impoverished whites in the Southern States and the District of Columbia during the Reconstruction era. The bureau's establishment was part of the larger effort to rebuild the South and to integrate millions of newly freed African Americans into American society as citizens with rights.

Law Creating the Freedmen's Bureau

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freedmen's bureau online

The different levels of the Freedmen's Bureau

Headquarters, Superintendents of Education and Field Office Records

What records can I find in the Freedmen's Bureau?

These records typically involve claims made by formerly enslaved individuals or Union loyalists who lost property during the Civil War. They might include claims for lost wages, compensation for injuries, or restitution for property taken or destroyed by military forces.

These contain details of legal proceedings and decisions made by the Freedmen’s Bureau courts. The Bureau set up its own legal system to adjudicate issues involving freed people, such as disputes over labor contracts, cases of racial discrimination, and violence against African Americans.

These provide information about the medical services provided by the Bureau. They include records of hospital admissions, treatments given to freed people, and sometimes details of specific medical conditions and health issues prevalent at the time.

These documents record agreements between employers and employees. After emancipation, many freed people entered into labor contracts with former owners or new employers. Records of indenture and apprenticeship often involve agreements for minors who were to be trained in a trade.

These include information about the allocation and use of abandoned or confiscated lands and properties. The Bureau played a role in redistributing land to freed people, a key aspect of Reconstruction-era policies.

These records likely pertain to individuals who were hired for specific tasks or services, and possibly list the items or equipment that were also hired out for use.

These detail the distribution of food, clothing, and other necessities to freed people and refugees. The Bureau provided basic necessities to assist those who were struggling to support themselves immediately after the Civil War.

These are records of complaints made by freed people to the Bureau, often regarding unfair labor practices, disputes over wages, racial discrimination, or violence. They provide insight into the challenges faced by African Americans during the Reconstruction era.

African American Research

This search tool will also locate Freedmen's Bureau records.

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View State Field Offices Maps and Records
M1900-M1913

Field Office

Alabama - M1900
Alabama

Field Office

Arkansas - M1901
Arkansas

Field Office

DC - M1902
DC

Field Office

Georgia - M1903
Georgia

Field Office

Kentucky - M1904
Kentucky
Click Here to View Field Offices by States

The Freedmen’s Bureau Field Office Records are a crucial historical resource for understanding the Reconstruction era in the United States, particularly regarding the experiences of freed African Americans following the Civil War. Film # M1900-M1913 in the Freedmen’s Bureau records refers to a specific set of microfilm rolls within the larger collection of records from the Freedmen’s Bureau to assist freed slaves (freedmen) and poor whites in the Southern United States.

The Bureau’s records, which include correspondence, reports, contracts, and other documents, provide a crucial primary source for understanding the Reconstruction era, the challenges faced by freedmen, and the workings of the early attempts at social reform in the United States. These records cover a wide range of activities undertaken by the Bureau, such as the distribution of food and clothing, the establishment of schools, the management of confiscated lands, and the administration of justice.

The Freedmen’s Bureau Records of Superintendents of Education are a significant collection of historical documents from the post-Civil War Reconstruction era in the United States. These records were created by the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, commonly known as the Freedmen’s Bureau, which was established in 1865 to assist formerly enslaved people and impoverished whites in the Southern states and the District of Columbia. 

Selected Series of Records Issued by the Commissioner of the Bureau of Refugees

The Freedmen’s Bureau Headquarters Records refer to the collection of documents, correspondences, reports, and records generated by the central office or headquarters of the Freedmen’s Bureau. These records are invaluable for understanding the Bureau’s operations, policies, and the challenges it faced during its existence from 1865 to 1872. Here are key aspects of these records:

  • Types of Documents: The records include letters, reports, labor contracts, marriage records, and documents related to education, land, and legal proceedings. They also contain correspondences between Bureau officials and other government entities.

 

Selected Series of Records Issued by the Commissioner of the Bureau of Refugees

  • M742 Records Issued – 7 Rolls
  • M752 Registers and Letters Received – 74 Rolls
  • M809 Letters Received – 23 Rolls

Pre-Bureau Records from 1863

Before official government assistance to freed slaves and war refugees was organized. 

Louisiana

Louisiana

Pre-Bureau Records

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Mississippi

Mississippi

Pre-Bureau Records

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Fort Monroe, Virginia

Fort Monroe, VA

Pre-Bureau Records

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Pre-Bureau Records

State Records of Assistant Commissioner

The term "Pre-Bureau Records" in the context of 1863 Mississippi, Louisiana, and Fort Monroe, Virginia, typically refers to documents and records that predate the establishment of the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, commonly known as the Freedmen's Bureau. This Bureau was established in 1865, so pre-Bureau records from 1863 would encompass a variety of documents created during the Civil War, before official government assistance to freed slaves and war refugees was organized. 

Murders and Outrages By State

"This topic and resources was suggested and proposed by Professor Lyle Gibson."

The "Murders and Outrages" reports within the Freedmen's Bureau records refer to documented instances of violence, often against newly freed African Americans, that occurred during the Reconstruction era (1865–1877) following the Civil War. The Freedmen's Bureau, officially known as the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, was established by the U.S. government in 1865 to help formerly enslaved people transition to freedom. One of the Bureau's responsibilities included recording violence directed at freed people and Union sympathizers, particularly in the South, where racial tensions and opposition to Reconstruction policies were high.

These reports are a disturbing and important part of the Bureau’s archival records. They primarily documented incidents of:

  • Murders: Many African Americans were killed by former Confederates, members of the Ku Klux Klan, and other white supremacist groups who opposed their freedom and civil rights. Violence was often aimed at preventing African Americans from voting, owning land, or asserting their rights.

  • Assaults and Physical Attacks: In addition to murders, African Americans were often brutally beaten, lynched, or otherwise physically assaulted. White individuals who tried to defend the rights of freed people or were seen as Reconstruction allies were also targeted.

  • Property Damage: These outrages extended to the destruction of property owned by freed people or their allies, including burning homes, churches, and schools.

  • Intimidation and Terror: Many incidents involved threats, harassment, and violence intended to terrorize African Americans into submission, keeping them from participating in political life or asserting their rights.

The Bureau compiled these reports as part of its efforts to maintain law and order and ensure the protection of the rights of freedmen. However, the Bureau’s resources were limited, and in many areas, local law enforcement was unwilling or unable to address this violence. The reports highlight the widespread lawlessness in the South and the systemic racism that persisted even after the abolition of slavery.

 

Key Challenges

  • Lack of Legal Recourse: The local judicial system in Southern states was often biased in favor of white perpetrators. African Americans faced difficulty in obtaining justice, as juries were all-white, and local law enforcement often refused to investigate or prosecute crimes against them.

  • Escalation of Violence: As Reconstruction continued, violence against freed people became more organized, particularly with the rise of groups like the Ku Klux Klan, which sought to reassert white supremacy.

  • Limited Bureau Power: The Freedmen's Bureau did not have sufficient manpower to protect African Americans across the South effectively, and its efforts were often obstructed by local authorities.

View Records by State

Marriage in Slave States

The legalization of marriage for enslaved individuals in the United States varied by state and was primarily a consequence of the Civil War and the subsequent Reconstruction era. Prior to these changes, enslaved people were not legally recognized to marry in slave states, as they were considered property and lacked legal personhood.

Legalization of Slave Marriages:

Pre-Civil War Era:

  1. Slave Laws and Status: Under slave laws, enslaved people were considered property, not legal persons. This status denied them basic rights, including the right to legally marry. Slave marriages, if they occurred, were informal and not recognized by law.
  2. Resistance and Informal Marriages: Despite the lack of legal recognition, enslaved individuals often engaged in their own forms of marriage ceremonies, which held significant cultural and personal importance. These ceremonies varied and often included rituals like “jumping the broom.”
  3. Impact on Families: Slave owners frequently separated families, which was a brutal aspect of slavery. This lack of legal recognition for marriages and families facilitated the commodification and dehumanization of enslaved people.

FamilySearch

 

Library of Virginia

 

M1875 – Freedmen’s Bureau

 

Marriage by States Pre-1900

  • M742 Records Issued – 7 Rolls
  • M752 Registers and Letters Received – 74 Rolls (FULLY TRANSCRIBED)
  • M803 Records of the Education Division – 35 Rolls

Renate Yarborough Sanders

Records of the Freedmen’s Bureau: There’s Something for Everyone

Frequently asked Questions

  • Decentralized Operations: The Freedmen's Bureau had a central office in Washington, D.C., but the real work was carried out by its field offices scattered throughout the Southern states. These local branches were crucial for implementing the Bureau’s policies and programs on the ground.
  • Local Outreach: Field offices brought the Bureau’s services directly to the communities they aimed to help, making it easier to address specific local needs and issues.

 

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These were established during the American Civil War to shelter African Americans who escaped slavery. These camps emerged as Union forces advanced into Confederate territories. Escaped slaves, referred to as "contraband of war," sought refuge with Union troops. The Union military, viewing these individuals as contraband, or captured enemy property, provided them sanctuary. These camps were significant in transitioning from slavery to freedom and were precursors to the Freedmen's Bureau's efforts in rebuilding lives post-war.

African Americans, Negroes, and Mulattos. The Bureau provided vital support to Black individuals who were transitioning from enslavement to freedom. This included help in finding family members, securing employment, rations, accessing education, and legal assistance.

White Southerners. The Bureau also helped white Southerners displaced by the war. This included assistance with basic needs and support in navigating the post-war social and economic landscape.

Lands abandoned or confiscated during the war, often owned by secessionists. The Freedmen's Bureau was involved in managing and overseeing these lands, some of which were settled by freedmen as part of Reconstruction efforts. However, much of this land was later redistributed or returned to owners who pledged loyalty to the Union, which led to many freedmen losing the land they had been farming.

The Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands is commonly known as the Freedmen's Bureau. While the Freedman's Bank is officially known as the Freedman’s Savings and Trust Company.

Yes. For the first time, African Americans could have their marriages legally recognized and recorded. The chaplains of the Bureau facilitated these marriages, creating valuable records.

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