Under the Bureau of Trust Funds Administration, the Office of Trust Records manages a records and information program that upholds the legal obligation of the trust relationship between the Federal government American Indians and Alaska Natives. This office safeguards millions of original, historic documents describing the Federal government’s treaty obligations to Native Americans. We store most of these records at the American Indian Records Repository in Lenexa, Kansas.
We store most Indian trust records at the American Indian Records Repository (AIRR) in Lenexa, Kansas. Located nearly 100 feet underground in a network of limestone caves, this facility contains roughly 750 million pieces of paper related to Indian trust, education, and other history from as far back as the 1700s. Our storage environment and procedures comply with standards created by the National Archives and Records Administration. The only Indian records not stored at the AIRR are active records in use at Department offices and those that have become the legal property of the National Archives and Records Administration.
Records Access & Research
The AIRR is closed to the public. Authorized researchers, federal employees involved in historic trust accounting, Tribes, and contractors may be granted secure access to inactive records for research. Individuals wishing to have research conducted on their behalf from records held at the AIRR must request authorization from BTFA, BIA or BIE.
By Email
Write to
4400 Masthead St NE
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87109