Freedmen’s Bureau Circulars (1865–1872)
The Freedmen’s Bureau issued 69 Circulars between 1865 and 1872. These circulars acted as official instructions from Washington, D.C., guiding Bureau staff across the South. They covered topics ranging from labor contracts, land redistribution, and education to internal administration, reporting requirements, and coordination with the military.
Although many circulars dealt with internal matters, roughly 35–40 circulars directly shaped the lives of African Americans, particularly the formerly enslaved. These addressed pressing issues such as land ownership, fair labor, education, healthcare, legal protections, and humanitarian relief.
Why Circulars Mattered
- ➡️ For the formerly enslaved: Circulars determined how freedom would be translated into practice, whether through land ownership, wage labor, schools, or legal recognition of marriage and family.
- ➡️ For free people of color: Long-standing Black communities looked to the Bureau for protection from violence and support in securing education and civil rights.
- ➡️ For those still enslaved in 1865: In areas where emancipation had not yet been enforced, circulars often served as the first official orders compelling planters and local officials to recognize freedom.
| Circulars | ||||
| Alabama | ||||
| Roll | Film # | Location | Desc | Link |
| 17 | 007677421 | Alabama | General Orders, Circulars, and Circular Letter Issued, Volume (15) July 26, 1865-Dec. 31, 1868 | Open |
| 17 | 007677421 | Alabama | Circulars and Circular Letters Received, June 1865-Dec 1868 | Open |
| 20 | 007636371 | Huntsville (Freedmen's Hospital) | Special and General Orders and Circular Letters Received, Volume (86) May 1865-Aug. 1866 | Open |
| 26 | 007636411 | Montgomery (Freedmen's Hospital) | Special Orders and Circular Letters Received, Volume(97) Jan-Nov 1867 | Open |
| 28 | 007636406 | Opelika | Circular Letters Issued and Orders Received, Jun-Oct 1868 | Open |
| 33 | 007636398 | Tuscaloosa | General and Special Orders and Circular Letters Received, Jan. 1866-May 1867 | Open |
| 33 | 007636398 | Talladega (Subassistant Commissioner) | General and Special Orders and Circular Letters Received, Dec. 1865-Nov. 1867 | Open |
| Circulars | ||||
| Arkansas | ||||
| Roll | Film # | Location | Desc | Link |
| 6 | 007636385 | Batesville (Independence County) | Special orders and circulars, 1865-1868 | Open |
| 7 | 007636386 | Camden (Ouchita County) | Endorsements sent and received and special orders and circulars issued and received, Jul 1865-Oct 1868 | Open |
| 8 | 007636386 | Devall's Bluff (Prairie County) | Reports of persons and articles hired, orders and circulars received, and accounts current, Nov 1865-Oct 1867 | Open |
| 11 | 007636381 | Jacksonport (Upper White River District) | Circular letters issued, Apr 1866-Jan 1867 | Open |
| 12 | 007636382 | Jacksonport (Jackson County) | Special orders, circular letters, and letters of instruction received, Apr 1866-Jan 1867 | Open |
| 15 | 007636413 | Little Rock (Superintendent of Freedmen) | Letters sent and circulars issued, 1864-1865 | Open |
| 23 | 007636365 | Washington (Southwest District of Arkansas) | Special orders and circulars received, Nov | Open |
| Circulars | ||||
| District of Columbia | ||||
| Roll | Film # | Location | Desc | Link |
| 20 | 005681792 | Freedmen's Village | Special orders and circular letters received, Feb 21, 1866-Oct. 29, 1868 | Open |
| Circulars | ||||
| Georgia | ||||
| Roll | Film # | Location | Desc | Link |
| 29 | 004139638 | Surgeon in Chief | Circulars and circular letters issued, Aug 1867-Nov 1868 | Open |
| 45 | 004139659 | Atlanta (subassistant commissioner) | Special orders and circulars issued, Jan-Oct 1866 and May 1867-Jan 1868 | Open |
| 48 | 004139668 | Atlanta (subassistant commissioner) | Orders and circulars received, Jun 1865-Mar 1866 | Open |
| 81 | 004139866 | Savannah (subassistant commissioner) | Special orders and circulars issued, Feb-Jul 1867 | Open |
| 89 | 004139874 | Thomasville (subassistant commissioner) | General and special orders and circulars received, May 1865-Aug 1868 | Open |
| Circulars | ||||
| Kentucky | ||||
| Roll | Film # | Location | Desc | Link |
| 48 | 007641537 | Issuances | General orders and circulars, Mar 1866-Apr 1869 | Open |
| 93 | 007641582 | Columbus (superintendent and subassistant commissioner) | Circulars and special orders received, Jun 1865-Mar 1868 | Open |
| 107 | 007641582 | Lexington (chief superintendent and chief subassistant commissioner) | General orders, special orders, and circulars received, Aug 1865-Dec 1868 | Open |
| 118 | 007641742 | Louisville (superintendent and subassistant commissioner) | General orders, special orders, and circulars received, Jul 1865-Nov 1868 | Open |
| 124 | 007641759 | Maysville (superintendent and subassistant commissioner, Mason county) | General orders, special orders, and circulars received, Feb 1866-Dec 1867 | Open |
| 126 | 007641757 | Nicholasville (agent) | Special orders and circulars received, Mar 1866-Jun 1867 | Open |
| 130 | 007641753 | Paducah (chief superintendent and chief subassistant commissioner) | General orders, special orders, and circulars received, Apr 1866-Dec 1868 | Open |
| 132 | 007641751 | Paducah (chief superintendent and chief subassistant commissioner) | Complaints, affidavits, and evidence relating to court cases, Apr-Dec 1866 | Open |
| Circulars | ||||
| Louisiana | ||||
| Roll | Film # | Location | Desc | Link |
| 53 | 007641637 | Alexandria (assistant superintendent and assistant sub assistant commissioner) | Letters and circulars received, Mar-Nov 1866 | Open |
| 55 | 007641635 | Algiers (agent and assistant sub assistant commissioner) | Letters, special orders, and circulars received, Nov 1866-Aug 1868 | Open |
| 56 | 007641634 | Algiers (agent and assistant sub assistant commissioner) | Special orders and circulars issued, Mar 1866-Dec 1867 | Open |
| 64 | 007641653 | Bayou Sara (agent and assistant sub assistant commissioner) | Roll 64, Register of letters and circulars received, Jan-Apr 1867 | Open |
| 67 | 007641633 | Bragg Home Colony (assistant superintendent of freedmen) | Letters, telegrams, special orders, circulars, endorsements received, Feb-Dec 1865 | Open |
| 82 | 007641688 | Lake Providence (assistant sub assistant commissioner) | Orders and circulars received, Feb 1866-Oct 1868 | Open |
| 86 | 007641684 | Millikens Bend (provost marshal and assistant sub assistant commissioner) | Circulars received, Apr 1866-Dec 1868 | Open |
| 88 | 007641682 | Monroe (agent and assistant sub assistant commissioner) | Orders and circulars received, Feb 1866-Jun 1867 | Open |
| 88 | 007641682 | Monroe (sub assistant commissioner of 5th sub district) | Circulars issued, May 1867-Dec 1868 | Open |
| 105 | 007641746 | Vermillion Ville (agent and assistant subsistent commissioner) | Register of circulars received, May 1865-Dec 1867 | Open |
| 105 | 007641746 | Vernon (assistant subsistent commissioner) | Orders and circulars received, Nov-Dec 1866, May 1867-Aug 1868 | Open |
| Circulars | ||||
| Mississippi | ||||
| Roll | Film # | Location | Desc | Link |
| 6 | 007630045 | Surgeon in chief | Special orders and circulars issued, Jul 1865-Oct 1866 | Open |
| 23 | 007630062 | Jackson (acting assistant commissioner of the northern district | Orders and circulars received, Jun 1865-Mar 1866 | Open |
| 63 | 007630102 | Vicksburg (freedmen's hospital) | Letters, general and special orders, and circulars received, Jan 1867-Aug 1868 | Open |
| Circulars | ||||
| North Carolina | ||||
| Roll | Film # | Location | Desc | Link |
| 5 | 007497914 | Asheville (agent) | Circulars received, Feb-Sep 1866 | Open |
| 6 | 007497915 | Beaufort (subassistant commissioner) | Orders and circulars received, Oct 1865-Aug 1868 | Open |
| 8 | 007497917 | Charlotte (subassistant commissioner) | Special orders and circulars received, 1865-1868 | Open |
| 11 | 007497920 | Edenton (subassistant commissioner) | Circulars received, Feb 1866-Dec 1867 | Open |
| 13 | 007497922 | Fayetteville (subassistant commissioner) | General and special orders and circulars received, May 1865-Sept. 1867 | Open |
| 16 | 007497925 | Goldsboro (subassistant commissioner) | General orders, special orders, and circulars received, Jan 1866-Dec 1867 | Open |
| 19 | 007497928 | Greensboro (subassistant commissioner) | Special orders and circulars issued, Jun-Nov 1867 | Open |
| 20 | 004567404 | Assistant Commissioner | Issuances, circulars received, May 1865-Apr 1869 | Open |
| 20 | 004567404 | Assistant Commissioner | Issuances, general orders and circulars (28), Jul 1, 1865-Dec 9, 1868 | Open |
| 20 | 004567404 | Assistant Commissioner | Issuances, subject index (23) to circulars | Open |
| 29 | 007497938 | Lumberton (agent) | Special orders and circulars received, May 1866-May 1868 | Open |
| 30 | 007497939 | Magnolia (assistant superintendent) | Special orders and circulars received, 1866-1868 | Open |
| 32 | 007497941 | Murfreesboro | General orders, special orders, and circulars received, 1866-67 | Open |
| 37 | 007497946 | Newberne (superintendent–eastern district) | Special orders and circulars issued, Dec 1865-Feb 1868 | Open |
| 48 | 007497957 | Oxford (assistant superintendent) | Orders, general orders, special orders, and circulars received Apr. 1866-Apr. 1867 | Open |
| 50 | 007497959 | Plymouth (subassistant commissioner) | Circulars issued, Jul 1867-Apr 1868 | Open |
| 50 | 007497959 | Plymouth (subassistant commissioner) | Circulars received, 1866-1867 | Open |
| 55 | 007497964 | Rocky Mount (assistant superintendent) | General orders, special orders, and circulars received, Jan. 1866-Jan. 1867 | Open |
| 59 | 007497968 | Salisbury (superintendent–western district) | Orders, general orders, special orders, and circulars received. May 1865-Mar. 1868 | Open |
| 72 | 007497981 | Wilmington (superintendent–southern district) | Orders, general orders, special orders, and circulars issued and received. Apr. 1865-Feb. 1869 | Open |
| Circulars | ||||
| South Carolina | ||||
| Roll | Film # | Location | Desc | Link |
| 37 | 007492034 | Aiken (subassistant commissioner–bureau district of Anderson) | General and special orders and circulars issued, Aug 1866-June 1868 | Open |
| 69 | 007492065 | Columbia (acting assistant commissioner–District of Columbia) | Special orders and circulars issued, Jan-Jun 1867 | Open |
| 85 | 007492081 | Hopkins Turnout (acting assistant surgeon) | Letters sent and received and circulars received, Nov-Dec 1866, Jul-Oct 1867 | Open |
| 89 | 007492085 | Moncks Corner (subassistant commissioner) | Orders and circulars received, Aug1866-Jan 1868 | Open |
| Circulars | ||||
| Tennessee | ||||
| Roll | Film # | Location | Desc | Link |
| 15 | 007641783 | Chattanooga (Superintendent) | Special orders and circulars received, Oct 1865-Mar 1867 | Open |
| 18 | 007641801 | Chattanoogaa (Subassistant Commissioner) | Special orders and circulars received, 1867-1868 | Open |
| 18 | 007641801 | Cleveland (Superintendent) | Special orders and circulars received, July 1866-Aug 1867 | Open |
| 25 | 007641794 | Knoxville (Subassistant Commissioner) | Special orders and circulars received, 1865-1868 | Open |
| 46 | 007641814 | Memphis (Subassistant Commissioner-Subdistrict of Memphis) | General and special orders and circulars issued and received. Mar. 1865-Aug. 1867 | Open |
| 46 | 007641814 | Memphis (Subassistant Commissioner-Subdistrict of Memphis) | Special orders and circulars issued, Oct 1865-Oct 1868 | Open |
| 82 | 007641723 | Nashville (Subassistant Commissioner-Subdistrict of Nashville) | Circulars received, July 1866-July 1868 | Open |
| 86 | 007641720 | Nashville (Superintendent) | Circulars received, May 1867-Nov 1871 | Open |
| Circulars | ||||
| Texas | ||||
| Roll | Film # | Location | Desc | Link |
| 13 | 005412746 | Boston | Orders and circulars issued, vol (69), July 1867-July 1868 | Open |
| Circulars | ||||
| Virginia | ||||
| Roll | Film # | Location | Desc | Link |
| 49 | 004150382 | Alexandria (superintendent) | General and special orders and circulars issued, Jul-Nov 1865, and Feb. 1866-Apr. 1867 | Open |
| 59 | 004151176 | Bowling Green (Caroline County, assistant subassistant commissioner) | Circulars and orders received, Jan 1867-Apr 1868 | Open |
| 70 | 004151192 | Culpeper Courthouse (Culpeper County, assistant subassistant commissioner) | Circulars and orders received, 1865-1868 | Open |
| 86 | 004151285 | Fredericksburg (superintendent) | Orders and circulars issued, Dec 1865-Dec 1866 | Open |
| 86 | 004151285 | Fredericksburg (superintendent) | Orders and circulars received, Jul 1865-Dec 1868 | Open |
| 89 | 004151295 | Goochland (assistant superintendent, 2nd division, 4th subdistrict) | Orders and circulars received, Jul 1865-Dec 1868 | Open |
| 94 | 004151301 | Goochland (assistant superintendent, 2nd division, 4th subdistrict) | Circulars and circular letters received, Jan 1867-Oct 1868 | Open |
| 94 | 004151301 | Goochland (assistant superintendent, 2nd division, 4th subdistrict) | Special orders and circulars issued, Jan-Jul 1866 | Open |
| 99 | 004151305 | Lawrenceville (assistant subassistant commissioner) | Letters and circulars received, Feb 1866-Dec 1868 | Open |
| 109 | 004151305 | Lynchburg (subassistant commissioner, 7th subdistrict of Virginia) | Letters and circulars received, Feb 1866-Dec 1868 | Open |
| 110 | 004151340 | Madison Courthouse (assistant subassistant commissioner) | Circulars and general and special orders received, Jan 1865-Aug. 1868 | Open |
| 123 | 004151366 | Fort Monroe (subassistant commissioner, 5th district) | General orders and circulars received, Jul 1865-Dec 1868 | Open |
| 123 | 004151366 | Fort Monroe (subassistant commissioner, 5th district) | General orders, special orders, and circulars issued, Sep 1865-Dec 1868 | Open |
| 124 | 004151367 | Fort Monroe (subassistant commissioner, 5th district) | Orders and circulars received, Jan 1866-Dec 1868 | Open |
| 129 | 004151382 | Fort Monroe (assistant subassistant commissioner) | Circulars and orders received, Sep 1865-Apr 1867 | Open |
| 131 | 004151384 | New Kent Courthouse (assistant subassistant commissioner) | Orders and circulars received, letters sent, bills of lading, and indentures 1865-68 | Open |
| 144 | 004151414 | Norfolk (subassistant commissioner, 1st district) | Circulars and orders received, vol 1-2, Jul 1865-Dec 1868 | Open |
| 144 | 004151414 | Norfolk (subassistant commissioner, 1st district) | General orders, special orders, circulars, and letters of instruction, Jun 1865-Dec 1868 | Open |
| 144 | 004151414 | Norfolk (subassistant commissioner, 1st district) | Orders and circulars received, 1865 | Open |
| 145 | 004151415 | Norfolk (subassistant commissioner, 1st district) | Orders and circulars received, 1865-1868 | Open |
| 149 | 004151384 | Norfolk (assistant subassistant commissioner) | Orders and circulars received, letters sent, bills of lading, and indentures, 1865-1868 | Open |
| 157 | 004152407 | Petersburg (subassistant commissioner) | Circulars and orders issued, Jul 1865-Jul 1868 | Open |
| 157 | 004152407 | Petersburg (subassistant commissioner) | Orders and circulars received, 1865-1868 | Open |
| 169 | 004152421 | Richmond (subassistant commissioner) | Orders and circulars issued, Jan 1867-Oct 1868 | Open |
| 169 | 004152421 | Richmond (subassistant commissioner) | Orders and circulars received, May 1865-Dec 1868 | Open |
| 169 | 004152421 | Richmond (subassistant commissioner) | Orders and circulars received, Mar-Dec 1866 | Open |
| 172 | 004152424 | Rocky Mount (assistant subassistant commissioner) | Circulars received, Jan 1866-May 1868 | Open |
| 175 | 004152427 | Staunton (assistant subassistant commissioner) | Orders and circulars received, Sep 1865-Aug 1866 | Open |
| 177 | 004152429 | Suffolk (assistant subassistant commissioner) | Circulars and circular letters received, May 1865-Dec 1868 | Open |
| 179 | 004152432 | Waverly (assistant subassistant commissioner) | Orders and circulars received, Dec 1866-May 1868 | Open |
| 190 | 004152443 | Winchester (subassistant commissioner) | Orders and circulars issued and received, Jun 1865-Dec 1868 | Open |
| 193 | 004152449 | Woodstock (assistant subassistant commissioner) | Circulars, Feb 1866-Sep 1868 | Open |
| 198 | 004152454 | Wytheville (subassistant commissioner) | Orders, circulars, and leases, 1865-1869 | Open |
| 202 | 004152458 | Yorktown (assistant subassistant commissioner) | General orders, special orders, circulars, and circular letters received, 1867-1868 | Open |