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"AI portrait created by David Anthony Taylor – Black Pearls of Genealogy for Freedmen’s Bureau Records M2029 (1872–1878)" Rich Keywords Freedmen’s Bureau Records M2029 (1872–1878) African American genealogy resources post-Reconstruction U.S. Colored Troops records (USCT) 1870s Freedmen’s Bureau claims, contracts, petitions African American court and hospital records 1872–1878 Black Pearls of Genealogy AI artwork David Anthony Taylor genealogy projects Post-Reconstruction African American history Freedmen’s Bureau microfilm M2029 archives African American family history research tools

M2029 – Records of the Freedmen’s Branch, Office of the Adjutant General (1872–1878)

What Is M2029?

Film number M2029 refers to a collection of microfilmed records created after the official closure of the Freedmen’s Bureau in June 1872. While most Bureau offices had shut down, their work did not end completely. Instead, many of their responsibilities, particularly those related to African American soldiers and sailors, were transferred to the Freedmen’s Branch of the Adjutant General’s Office within the U.S. War Department.

M2029 covers the years 1872–1878 and represents a critical continuation of the Bureau’s mission. Unlike earlier Bureau records that dealt with food relief, schools, or local disputes, these files focus heavily on military claims, pensions, and benefits. This makes M2029 especially valuable for uncovering the service and postwar struggles of Black veterans and their families.

Freedmen’s Bureau M2029 record from FamilySearch showing a military pension file for Solomon King, Private, 102nd U.S. Colored Troops. Keyword-Rich Terms Freedmen’s Bureau M2029 records FamilySearch African American genealogy 102nd USCT pension record Solomon King Civil War soldier African American military claims U.S. Colored Troops records genealogy Freedmen’s Bureau pensions and bounty claims Black Civil War soldiers records Military service genealogy African Americans Freedmen’s Bureau records FamilySearch

What Records Are Found in M2029?

Record Type

Found in M2029

Found in (M1900-M1913)

Comparison table of Freedmen’s Bureau records, showing differences between M2029 records and Field Office Records (M1900–M1918), including military claims, USCT testimonies, court, labor, land, and ration records. Keyword-Rich Suggestions M2029 Freedmen’s Bureau records Freedmen’s Bureau record comparison USCT testimonies M2029 vs field office records Military claims and pensions Freedmen’s Bureau African American genealogy records M2029 Freedmen’s Bureau labor contracts vs M2029 Court and property records Freedmen’s Bureau Field Office records vs M2029 comparison

M2029 – Records by State

M2029

Descriptive Pamphlet

M2029 - Savannah, GA
Roll Description Date Link
52 Letters sent Apr 1873-Mar 1875 Open
52 List of claimants Apr 1873-Jan 1875 Open
52 Registered letters received Dec 1872-Jun 1874, Oct 1874-Apr 1875 Open
52 Register of claimants Apr 1873-Feb 1875 Open
52 Register of letters received Dec 1872-Apr 1875 Open
52 Unregistered letters received Nov 1872-Apr 1875 Open
53 Confidential lists for the identification of claimants 1874-1875 Open
54 Accounts current Apr 1873-Apr 1875 Open

M2029 - Louisville, KY
Roll Description Date Link
2 Letters sent, vol 1-4 Oct 1872-Nov 1874, Dec 1875-Jul 1878 Open
3 Letters received, vol 1, Sep 1872-Mar 1873 Sep 1872-Mar 1873 Open
3 Registers of letters received, vol 1-2 Oct 1872-Jul 1878 Open
4 Letters received, vol 1 Apr-Dec 1873 Open
5 Letters received, vol 1 Jan-Dec 1874 Open
6 Letters received, vol 1-2 Jan 1875-Sep 1876 Open
7 Letters received, vol 2 Jun 1876-Dec 1877 Open
8 Letters received, vol 2 Jan-Jul 1878 Open
8 Register of claimants Oct 1872-May 1878 Open
9 Lists of claimants Sep 1872-May 1878 Open
9 Memorandums of examination of claimants, no 292482-606334 1872-1876 Open
10 Memorandums of examination of claimants, no 606339-611469 1872-1876 Open
11 Memorandums of examination of claimants, no 611470-613435 1874-1875 Open
12 Memorandums of examination of claimants, no 613436-615919 1874-1875 Open
13 Memorandums of examination of claimants, no 615920-618039 1874-1875 Open
14 Memorandums of examination of claimants, no 618040-620387 1874-1875 Open
15 Memorandums of examination of claimants, no 620390-623525 1875-1876 Open
16 Memorandums of examination of claimants, no 623529-625360 1875-1876 Open
17 Confidential lists for the identification of claimants Oct-Dec 1872 Open
17 Confidential lists for the identification of claimants, Ahl-Young 1873 Open
17 Misc records 1872-1878 Open

M2029 - New Orleans, LA
Roll Description Date Link
42 Letters received, vol 1, no 0-01 Sep 1872 Open
42 Letters received, vol 1, no 1-38 Oct-Dec 1872 Open
42 Letters received, vol 1, no 39-117 Jan-Apr 1873 Open
42 Letters sent, vol 1-2 Sep 1872-Jul 1878 Open
42 Registers of letters received, vol 1-2 Sep 1872-Jul 1878 Open
42 Subject index - Open
43 Letters received, vol 1, no 1-273 Jan-Dec 1874 Open
43 Letters received, vol 1, no 118-339 Apr-Dec 1873 Open
44 Letters received, vol 1, no 1-157 Jan-Jun 1876 Open
44 Letters received, vol 1, no 1-244 Jan-Dec 1875 Open
45 Letters received, vol 1, no 1-202 Jan-May 1877 Open
45 Letters received, vol 1, no 159-328 Jul-Dec 1876 Open
46 Letters received, vol 1, no 1-55 Jan-Mar 1878 Open
46 Letters received, vol 1, no 203-398 May-Dec 1877 Open
46 Quarterly returns of property, weekly reports of payments, and monthly reports of persons and articles hired 1872-1878 Open
47 Confidential lists Sep-Dec 1872 Open
47 Memorandums of examination of claimants 1876 Open
47 Names and addresses of claimants, vol 1-2 - Open
47 Register of claimants Oct 1872-May 1878 Open
48 Confidential lists, no 276935-631965 1873-1878 Open

M2029 - Natchez, MS
Roll Description Date Link
34 Letters received, no 1-35 1872 Open
34 Letters received, no 1-154 1873 Open
34 Letters sent, vol 1-2 Oct 1872-Jun 1876 Open
34 Register of letters received Sep 1872-Jun 1876 Open
35 Letters received, no 1-369 1874 Open
35 Letters received, no 155-271 1873 Open
36 Letters received, no 1-343 1875 Open
36 Letters received, no 2-185 1876 Open
37 Lists of claimants Sep 1872-May 1876 Open
37 Monthly reports of persons and articles hired, returns of public property, and statements of public funds Oct 1872-Jun 1876 Open
37 Names and addresses of claimants - Open
37 Register of claimants Oct 1872-Jun 1876 Open
37 Register of claims investigated Oct 1872-Jun 1876 Open
38 Memorandums of examination of claimants, no 281894-615771 1872-1877 Open
39 Memorandums of examination of claimants, no 615870-629537 1872-1877 Open
40 Confidential lists for the identification of claimants, no 281886-597400 1872-1873 Open
41 Confidential lists for the identification of claimants, no 597401-620970 1873-1875 Open

M2029 - Vicksburg, MS
Roll Description Date Link
55 Letters received Sep 1872-Jun 1874 Open
55 Letters sent Sep 1872-Jun 1874 Open
55 Register of letters received Sep 1872-Jun 1874 Open
56 Lists of claimants Sep 1872-Jun 1874 Open
56 Memorandums of examination of claimants 1873-1874 Open
56 Names and addresses of claimants - Open
56 Register of claimants 1872-1874 Open
56 Unregistered letters received Oct 1872-Apr 1874 Open
57 Confidential lists for the identification of claimants 1872-1874 Open
58 Affidavits of identity 1873-1874 Open

M2029 - Fort Leavenworth, KS
Roll Description Date Link
18 Letters sent Jan 1874-May 1875 Open
18 Lists of claimants Sep 1874-Apr 1875 Open
18 Registered letters received Oct 1874-May 1875 Open
18 Register of claimants Jan 1874-Apr 1875 Open
18 Register of letters received Dec 1873-May 1875 Open
18 Unregistered letters received Aug 1874-May 1875 Open
19 Roll 19, Confidential lists for the identification of claimants 1874-1875 Open
20 Roll 20, Misc records 1874-1875 Open

M2029 - St. Louis, MO
Roll Description Date Link
49 Registered letters received Oct 1872-Jun 1876 Open
49 Register of letters received Oct 1872-Jun 1876 Open
50 Register of claimants Oct 1872-May 1876 Open
50 Register of payments made to claimants Dec 1872-Jan 1875 Open
50 Unregistered letters received Sep 1872-Jun 1876 Open
51 Confidential lists concerning deceased soldiers 1873-1875 Open
51 Confidential lists for the identification of claimants 1872-1874 Open
51 Lists of claimants Sep 1872-May 1876 Open
51 Misc records 1872-1876 Open
51 Receipts for payments of claims and other related papers June 1873 Open

M2029 - Fort Johnston, NC
Roll Description Date Link
2 Confidential lists and accounts current Feb-Apr 1874 Open
2 Letters received Aug 1872-May 1874 Open
2 Letters sent Jun 1873-May 1874 Open
2 Register of claimants Mar 1874 Open
2 Register of letters received Aug 1872-May 1874 Open

M2029 - Fort Macon, NC
Roll Description Date Link
18 Confidential lists for the identification of claimants 1873-1874 Open
18 Letters sent Dec 1872-Aug 1874 Open
18 Lists of claimants Feb 1873-Feb 1874 Open
18 Register of claimants Feb 1873-Jul 1874 Open
18 Register of letters received Dec 1872-Aug 1874 Open

M2029 - Charleston, SC
Roll Description Date Link
1 Confidential lists 1873 Open
1 Index to bounty records Apr 10, 1873 Open
1 Letters sent Apr 1873-Jun 1874 Open
1 List of certificates of land sales in South Carolina 1875-1876 Open
1 Lists of claimants May-Jun 1873, May 1874 Open
1 Misc records 1866-1867, 1872-1874 Open
1 Registered letters received Dec 1872-May 1874 Open
1 Register of claimants May 1873-Jun 1874 Open
1 Register of letters received Dec 1872-Jun 1874 Open

M2029 - Memphis, TN
Roll Description Date Link
23 Letters received, no 1-191 Sep 1872-Feb 1873 Open
23 Letters sent, vol 1-3 Sep 1872-Jun 1877 Open
23 Register of letters received Sep 1872-Jun 1877 Open
24 Letters received, no 12-664 Mar-Dec 1873 Open
25 Letters received, no 665-1232 Jan 1874-Feb 1875 Open
26 Letters received, no 1234-1622 Mar 1875-Jul 1876 Open
27 Letters received, no 1-152 Jan-Jun 1877 Open
27 Letters received, no 1-159 Jul-Dec 1876 Open
27 Lists of claimants Sep 1872-Jun 1877 Open
27 Register of claimants Oct 1872-Jun 1877 Open
28 Confidential lists for the identification of claimants 1872 Open
28 Receipts for payments of claims, no 1-34, 145-150 1874 Open
29 Misc records 1872-1877 Open
29 Receipt book Jan-Nov 1875 Open
29 Receipts for payments of claims, no 22-33 1877 Open
29 Receipts for payments of claims, no 47-54 1875 Open
29 Receipts for payments of claims, no 151-178 1874 Open
29 Register of postage paid by Mjr Hunt Jul 1875-Jun 1877 Open

M2029 - Nashville, TN
Roll Description Date Link
30 Letters sent Sep 1872-Jul 1876 Open
30 Registered letters received, no 1-327 Sep 1872-Jun 1875 Open
30 Register of letters received Sep 1872-Jun 1876 Open
31 Registered letters received, no 328-429 Jul 1875-Jun 1876 Open
31 Unregistered letters received Mar 1873-May 1876 Open
32 Lists of claimants Sep 1872-May 1876 Open
32 Quarterly returns of public property, weekly reports of payments, and monthly reports of persons and articles hired 1872-1876 Open
32 Register of claimants Oct 1872-May 1876 Open
33 Confidential lists for the identification of claimants 1873-1874 Open
33 Lists of cases used in transferring business of office from Mjr Lamotte to Mjr Gibson and from Mjr Gibson to Capt Hawkins 1872-1875 Open
33 Lists of claimants paid while Mjr Gibson was temporarily in charge of the Nashville office 1872-1874 Open

M2029 - Fort Monroe, VA
Roll Description Date Link
21 Letters received Dec 1872-Dec 1873 Open
21 Letters returned undelivered 1873-1875 Open
21 Letters sent Dec 1872-Apr 1875 Open
21 Register of letters received Dec 1872-Apr 1875 Open
22 Letters received Jan 1874-Apr 1875 Open
22 Misc records 1873-1874 Open
22 Register of claimants Feb 1873-Mar 1875 Open

Why These Records Exist After the Bureau Closed

Freedmen’s Bureau M2029 record from FamilySearch showing a military pension file for Solomon King, Private, 102nd U.S. Colored Troops. Keyword-Rich Terms Freedmen’s Bureau M2029 records FamilySearch African American genealogy 102nd USCT pension record Solomon King Civil War soldier African American military claims U.S. Colored Troops records genealogy Freedmen’s Bureau pensions and bounty claims Black Civil War soldiers records Military service genealogy African Americans Freedmen’s Bureau records FamilySearch

When the Freedmen’s Bureau was officially shut down in June 1872, thousands of unresolved military claims remained. To finish this work, the Freedmen’s Branch was established within the Adjutant General’s Office of the War Department in Washington, D.C.

At that point, the Bureau’s claim files, correspondence, and unfinished casework were transferred to the War Department. The Freedmen’s Branch organized these materials, added new petitions from veterans and their families, and created detailed registers, affidavits, and correspondence to manage the claims.

In effect, the Freedmen’s Branch became the “afterlife of the Freedmen’s Bureau” for military and pension cases. While the records were technically created under the War Department, they grew directly out of the Bureau’s unfinished work. This is why the National Archives groups them with Freedmen’s Bureau records; they represent the continuation of its mission, even though the Bureau itself no longer existed.

Many of the claims and petitions found in the Freedmen’s Bureau Records M2029 (1872–1878) stem directly from the service of U.S. Colored Troops (USCT) veterans. These files include requests for back pay, pensions, widows’ benefits, and dependents’ support, all tied to the sacrifices made by Black soldiers and their families. To better understand the role and legacy of the USCT, explore our dedicated U.S. Colored Troops page, where you’ll find historical context, research tools, and links to additional records.

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