NARA is the <A HREF="http://monitor.nara.gov">National Archives and Records Administration</A>...there are several data bases you may access (Dawes Commission Applications, Guion/Miller Index, 1896 Citizenship Applications, Fort Smith Arkansas criminal case files, Enemy Alien Registration Affidavits, Rough Riders, Chinese Exclusion Acts, to name a few) online and then if you find someone/something you would like to have more information on, you may request a copy of what the government has in it's archives. Jeanne