The Superintendent of Indian Affairs was an official position that was established to regulate contacts between Native Americans and settlers. The Superintendents had a general responsibility to handle affairs in the Territory, negotiate treaties and clear titles to land. Indian agents were appointed by the President of the United States with the approval of the United States Senate. The Oregon Superintendence established in 1848, when the Oregon Territory was organized. It had jurisdiction over the entire area west of the Rocky Mountains. A system of agencies were established under each superintendent. Each agency was responsible for one or more tribes and was usually subordinate to a superintendency. One of the first agencies in Oregon was the Puget Sound District Agency. When Washington Territory was established in 1853, a separate superintendence was established with jurisdiction over the area north of the Columbia River and the 46th parallel. From 1857 to 1861, the Oregon and Washington Office were combined. The Oregon office was abolished in 1873. Those agents reported directly to Washington, D.C.
From the description of Puget Sound District Agency correspondence, 1854-1861. (Washington State Library, Office of Secretary of State). WorldCat record id: 272997686
