Getting to Know 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 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.

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.