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This is a Rare Late 1920's United State Dept of the Interior #'d Aluminum Navajo Census Tag / ID Tag!
According to the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Department of the Interior, The 1928 - 1929 Census was the initial occasion for the issuance of census numbers to the Navajos and the system was kept intact at least through the 1980's so that the ancestors of living individuals may still be identified according to the numbers originally issued to them. The physical process of taking the census resulted in the assignment of an individual number and the issuance of an aluminum metal disc with that number on it to each Navajo Indian enumerated. At that time the Indian was given a metal disc/tag about the size of a half dollar. The metal tag was embossed with the census number on one side and the insignia of the interior department on the other side. Special emphasis has been placed on the disc and its necessity for tribal affiliation and rights, and the Navajos are learning to appreciate its value. In many cases they are coming to the agency office to report births and are even returning discs of deceased relatives, an extraordinary procedure considering their racial superstitions in this respect. The Agency officers, schools, hospitals and traders are encouraging the use of the discs (1929).
VINTAGE: Late 1920's.
SIZE: Approximately 1-3/16" in diameter or it measures just over 30 mm in diameter.
MATERIALS / CONSTRUCTION: Aluminum.
ATTACHMENT: Two holes for suspension on a string or to be sewn or pinned to clothing. .
