Public Records – Federal
Federal census records
The purpose of the federal census is to enumerate the entire population of the country every 10 years by county jurisdiction.
The first Census Office began operation in Washington in 1850, and was only temporary as the Office was disbanded after each count. The Census Office became permanent in 1902.
The first six censuses are similar in content, naming only the heads of families, with all other people noted only by tally marks in categories for age, sex, race and slavery (except that the Constitution excluded from the census all Indians not taxed).
Later federal censuses included a variety of different schedules. The 1850 and 1860 censuses contain information on the free population, enslaved population, mortality, agriculture and industry. The 1870 and 1880 counts include schedules for population, mortality, agriculture and industry. Less than one percent of the results of the 1890 census survived the 1921 fire in Washington. The 1900 census has separate schedules for population, mortality, agriculture and manufactures, and the census of 1910 has different schedules for population, agriculture and manufactures.
First compiled in Florida in 1830, the federal census has served as Florida's census record since 1950 due to the abolishment of the state census in 1949. These records provide useful information for genealogical research in tracing Black families.
- 1850 Federal Census of Florida (Series S1200)
- 1860 Federal Census of Florida (Series S1201)
- Federal Census Slave Schedules, 1850-1860 (Series S1776)
- 1870 Federal Census of Florida (Series S1202)
- 1880 Federal Census of Florida (Series S548)
Freedman’s Bureau records
The Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen and Abandoned Lands, often referred to as the Freedmen's Bureau, was established in the United States War Department on March 3, 1865. Congress assigned to the bureau responsibilities previously shared by military commanders and by agents of the Treasury Department, including supervision of all affairs relating to refugees and Freedmen and the custody of all abandoned or confiscated lands and property. The bureau's operations were confined principally to the former Confederate states, the border states and the District of Columbia.
In addition to supervising the disposition of abandoned or confiscated lands and property, bureau officers issued rations, clothing and medicine to destitute refugees and Freedmen. They established hospitals and dispensaries and supervised tenements and camps for the homeless. Bureau officers and members of benevolent organizations cooperated in establishing schools, operating employment offices and dispensing relief. In March 1866, the bureau assumed the function of helping Black soldiers and sailors to file and collect claims for bounties and pensions and to pay arrearages.
The Freedman's Savings and Trust Company was established in New York City in 1865 by a group of philanthropists and businessmen led by Congregational minister John Alvord. Their purpose was to provide former enslaved individuals and their descendants—particularly the many Black Civil War veterans receiving back pay and enlistment bounty payments—with a secure banking institution in which their savings could be protected.
Records include signatures of and personal information about thousands of depositors who maintained accounts in 29 branch offices of the Freedman's Savings and Trust Company. The bank collected detailed information about depositors and their heirs in order to protect their interests in the event of the depositor's death.
Although depositor information varies from branch to branch, the registers generally provide name of depositor, account number, date of application, place of birth, place brought up, residence, age, complexion, name of employer or occupation, names of spouse, children, father, mother and siblings, remarks and signature of depositor.
Some early volumes also provide the name of the former enslaver or mistress and the name of the plantation. In addition, copies of death certificates were attached to some entries.
These records are invaluable to genealogical researchers in tracing the lives of Black individuals and illustrate the challenges that Freedmen faced after the Civil War.
- Freedman's Savings and Trust Company depositors' signature registers, 1865-1874 (Series S1775)
- General operating records of the Commissioner of the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen and Abandoned Lands, 1865-1871 (Series S1991)
- Registers and letters received by the Commissioner of the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen and Abandoned Lands, 1865-1871 (Series S1992)
- Education Division records of the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen and Abandoned Lands, 1865-1871 (Series S1993)
- Records of the Assistant Commissioner and Subordinate Field Offices for the State of Florida, Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen and Abandoned Lands, 1865-1872 (Series S2147)
Military records
After the Civil War, the Union Army occupied Florida and worked closely with the Freedman’s Bureau to maintain order and safeguard the new civil and political rights of recently freed Black Floridians.
Their records help document the role of federal authorities in meeting the challenges Florida faced in the early postbellum years.
Letters sent by the Department of Florida and Successor Commands, 1861-1869 (Series S1300)
