Sub-series consists of a mixed collection of subject indexes prepared by G. M. Matheson (Registrar for Indian Affairs, 1898-1936) and other department personnel in the early 20th century to provide subject access to records relating to Indians and Indian Affairs (both those in department custody and elsewhere). Most subject indexes relate to central registry records in the Red and Black series although some refer to predecessor and successor records-keeping systems.
Among the indexes are the following: index to volumes 6762-6806 of War files - Pensions 452 Series (Vol. 11190); alphabetical subject indices with Red and Black Series references (Vol. 11190); "Index and Précis of Documents, 1914-1924" - alphabetical, subject and nominal index with précis on selected subjects, largely relating to the Red and Black series (Vol. 11190); "Mr. Stewart's Old Index Book" - alphabetical, subject and nominal index compiled originally by Samuel Stewart, an early Departmental Registrar, but with later additions (Vol. 11191); alphabetical subject and nominal indexes with Red and Black Series file references (Vol. 11191, 11398); "Key for finding the old Indian records both in the Department and in the Archives" - alphabetical index of Agents and Agencies including comments on where to find correspondence in the old Red and Black Series indexes, with some references to pre-Confederation records (Vol. 11191). "Archives Reports" - alphabetical subject and nominal index with references to entries in the Annual Reports of the National Archives of Canada with special reference to Indian matters (Vol. 11191); "Index of Returns to the House and Answers to Questions of the Senate and House of Commons since 1897"- alphabetical index c.1898-1939, which also relates to Red Series file 185723 and its many parts dealing with Parliamentary Questions and Returns (Vol. 11191); files containing lists of records transferred to the National Archives, lists of books held in the Indian Affairs' library c.1928-1950, lists of books and documents held by the Indian Affairs' Genealogical and Archival Research Unit c.1961 (Vol. 11192); "Notes from Northern Superintendency Papers" (a partial alphabetical subject index to incoming correspondence of the Northern Superintendency, records now found in RG 10, volumes 612-619) (Vol. 11398); an index of Indian reserves with Red and Black Series file references (Vol. 11397); and "Land Sales of Surrendered Lands" index (Vol. 11398).
The sub-series also contains an "Index to Mr. W. A. Orr's Memoranda, July 1895-March 1921" (Vol. 11092). W. A. Orr, a long-time clerk in the Lands and Timber Branch, prepared a series of memoranda on Indian land matters, copies of which are available in volumes 10021-10022. Note, however, that page references contained in the Index described here do not correspond with the pagination in Vols. 10021-10022. Also included are finding aids and historical sketches largely prepared and organized by G.M. Matheson, Registrar for Indian Affairs, 1898-1936. Included is an Index to Correspondence prior to 1872 and notes, 1872-1873 (Vol. 766); an Index to Subjects of Importance taken from the Registers, 1842-1860 (Vol. 767); an Index to Volumes 247-271 of the C Series, i.e., those volumes of the British Militaryand Naval Records (RG 8) which deal specifically with Indian matters (Vol. 768); an Index to the Claus Papers, private manuscripts held elsewhere in the National Archives (MG 19) (Vol. 768); Historic Sketches on Indian Affairs (Vol. 768A); Northwest Territories Land Sales - an index to land sales and surrenders in the Northwest, 1906, giving names of purchasers, locations and the sale number (Vol.1309).
