In the early 1920s the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) took surveys to evaluate the socio-economic status of tribal communities. This presentation examines the variety of lifestyles of families living on the Sac and Fox Agency (Tama, Iowa) as shown through the surveys. The records include information on family member age, tribal status, property, living conditions, economic and educational accomplishments (as defined by the BIA), and attitudes. Included are photographs of homes which range from traditional to modern western-style dwellings. The surveys provide a snapshot of life experiences and skills ranging from traditional lifeways to the incorporation of western technology.
About the presenterCarla Lesh
Carla Lesh is an independent scholar with a Ph.D. in American history from the University at Albany, State University of New York. Her background is in public history and museum work with a particular interest in archives and digital collections. She is currently editing a fact-based historical novel set in Civil War northwestern Arkansas.