Kay County, Oklahoma Genealogy

Kay County, Oklahoma genealogy and family history research page. Guide to genealogy, history, and courthouse sources including birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, wills, deeds and land records, Civil War records, family histories, cemeteries, churches, tax records, newspapers, and obituaries.

County Courthouse
Kay County Courthouse 201 S. Main Newkirk, Oklahoma 74647 Clerk Court has marriage, divorce, probate and court records from 1893; County Clerk has land records from 1983

Parent County
1893--Kay County was created in 1893. It was an original county (Cherokee Outlet). Originally known as “K” County, it was part of the Cherokee Outlet and was formed after the famous Cherokee Strip Land Run of 1893.

County seat: Newkirk

Description
It is the only Oklahoma county keep its original territorial name. Its county seat is Newkirk. Founded 1893.

Boundary Changes

 * Interactive Formation Boundary Map of Oklahoma - shows boundary changes for Oklahoma Counties
 * Oklahoma Historical Boundary Changes - list of all boundary changes by county provided by Newberry Library

Record Loss
Land Records Deed Index Grantee Record Book (1901-1910).

Places/Localities
Kay County sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places

Kay County Historical Sites listed on USGS– This list contains mostly historical post offices. Click on feature name in the list then use the GNIS Google Map feature to see map or satellite view of the location.

Populated Places

 * Blackwell
 * Braman
 * Kaw City
 * Kildare
 * Nardin
 * Newkirk (county seat)
 * Ponca City (largest city) (partially in Osage county)
 * Tonkawa
 * White Eagle

Neighboring Counties

 * Cowley County, Kansas
 * Garfield
 * Grant
 * Noble
 * Osage
 * Sumner County, Kansas

American Indians
Census
 * 1851 - 1959 Oklahoma and Indian Territory, Indian Censuses and Rolls, 1851-1959 at Ancestry — index and images ($)
 * 1895 - 1914 U.S., Native American Citizens and Freedmen of Five Civilized Tribes, 1895-1914 at Ancestry — index and images ($)
 * 1898 - 1914 Oklahoma and Indian Territory, Dawes Census Cards for Five Civilized Tribes, 1898-1914 at Ancestry — index and images ($)
 * Dawes Final Rolls - Oklahoma Historical Society

Land and Property
 * 1884 - 1934 Oklahoma and Indian Territory, Land Allotment Jackets for Five Civilized Tribes, 1884-1934 at Ancestry — index and images ($)
 * 1889 Oklahoma County Plats 1889 - Oklahoma Historical Society
 * 1899 - 1907 at FamilySearch — index and images
 * For more information see Indians of Oklahoma

Cemeteries
Chilocco Indian School Cemetery

Chilocco Indian School Cemetery Photo Grant for Chilocco Cemetery Article - This article states that about 70 children were buried here.

Kay County Cemeteries listed on Find-A-Grave

Kay County Cemeteries listed on USGS – Click on feature name in the list then use the GNIS Google Map feature too see map or satellite view of the location.

Pioneer Genealogical Society Kay County Cemetery Index – This is an alphabetical name Index for interments in the Cemeteries which are available on CD from the Pioneer Genealogical Society.

Church
LDS Ward and Branch Records


 * Blackwell

State Census Records

 * 1890 Oklahoma Territorial Census 1890 - Oklahoma Historical Societ
 * 1890 and 1907 Oklahoma Territorial Census, 1890 and 1907 at Ancestry — index and image ($)

Federal Census Records
Federal Censuses were taken for Oklahoma starting in 1860. For links to Federal census indexes, see Oklahoma Census. 1890 Oklahoma Territorial Census Search at the Oklahoma Historical Society Website

Dawes Rolls Search at the Oklahoma Historical Society Website

City Directories
Oklahoma State Historical Society has Smith's First Directory of Oklahoma Territory for the Year Commencing August 1, 1890, which provides information about the population of early Oklahoma. This transcribed index contains over 17,000 names. These are arranged alphabetically by surname and divided into three sections.” Surnames A-K » Surnames L-Q » Surnames R-Z »

1941-1942 Kay County Atlas on the Pioneer Genealogical Society Website

Court
Kay County Clerk’s Office P.O. Box 450 Newkirk, OK 74647 Main Phone Line: 1-580-362-2537 Toll Free Line: 1-888-567-4611 Available Records: Miscellaneous records (such as petitions to incorporate cities/towns, election returns for 1902, etc.) court judgments, mechanic and materialmens liens, physicians and hospital liens, and UCC filings.

District Court Offices:

Kay County Courthouse 201 S. Main, 2nd floor Newkirk, Oklahoma Phone: (580) 362-3350

Federal Post Office Building 4th Grand, 2nd floor Ponca City, Oklahoma Phone (580) 762-2148

City Administration Building 2nd Blackwell Avenue Blackwell, Oklahoma Phone (580) 363-2080

On Demand Court Records – Search for Kay County court records online. Provides basic case information but no digital images are available.

Land
Kay County land records began in 1893 with the original patents from the Oklahoma Land Run. Recordings have been kept daily since the Land Run, and are current to date.

Kay County Clerk’s Office P.O. Box 450 Newkirk, OK 74647 Main Phone Line: 1-580-362-2537 Toll Free Line: 1-888-567-4611 Available Records: Plats, deeds, patents, mortgages, surveys and other documents

Oklahoma Public Land Records Search - The data for Kay County is available from August 1995 to present. This will give you the grantor and grantee’s names, case number, the date of the instrument and the date of filing, the type of document, book and page number where the filing is recorded and often the legal description of the property. Digital images or prints from this system require a fee. A variety of subscription levels are available as well as solutions for one time access.

Bureau of Land Management Land Records Search

Oklahoma Historical Society Land Records Resources

Online Land Records

For more information see Oklahoma Land and Property
 * Land Patent Search - index to federal patents and homesteads on the Bureau of Land Management website, some images available
 * 1796 - 1907 - U.S. General Land Office Records, 1796-1907 at Ancestry - index, info taken from Bureau of Land Management website
 * 1861 - 1936 - U.S. Homestead Records 1861-1936 at Ancestry.com - ($), index and images
 * 1889 Oklahoma County Plats, 1889 - Oklahoma Historical Society
 * El Reno Homesteader Filings - Oklahoma Historical Society

Maps
]1910 Kay County Maps at Historic Map Works
 * Interactive Formation Boundary Map of Oklahoma - shows boundary changes for Oklahoma Counties
 * Maps n More - county and township maps.
 * Oklahoma Civil War Map of Battles

1971 Kay County Maps at Historic Map Works

Oklahoma Maps at Historic Map Works

Military
Kay County Clerk’s Office P.O. Box 450 Newkirk, OK 74647 Main Phone Line: 1-580-362-2537 Toll Free Line: 1-888-567-4611 Available Records: Military discharge records beginning in 1917

Oklahoma Historical Society Military Records Resources

Revolutionary War

 * 1775 - 1783 - at FamilySearch - images only
 * For more nationwide Revolutionary War databases, see US Military Online Genealogy Records.

Civil War

 * Oklahoma, Confederate Pension Index, 1915-1955 at Ancestry — index (free)
 * For more nationwide Civil War databases, see US Military Online Genealogy Records.

WWI

 * For more nationwide World War I databases, see US Military Online Genealogy Records.

WWII

 * Oklahoma Military Deaths - Oklahoma Historical Society
 * For more nationwide World War II databases, see US Military Online Genealogy Records.

Newspapers
Oklahoma Newspapers Online Oklahoma Newspaper Catalogs
 * GenealogyBank - ($), contains images of Oklahoma newspapers
 * Newspaper Archive - ($), contains images of Nebraska newspapers
 * Chronicling America - contains images of some Oklahoma newspapers; searching tips
 * Elephind - Free; search engine that retrieves newspaper images from other free newspaper websites
 * Oklahoma State Historical Society - catalog of known Oklahoma newspapers; lists repositories that have the newspapers
 * U.S. Newspaper Directory, 1690-Present on Chronicling America - contains a list of all known newspapers and the dates they cover; once you locate a newspaper name, contact the local library to see if they have copies of the newspaper

Blackwell Journal

Daily Oklahoman Newkirk Herald Ponca City News

Arkansas City Traveler (Arkansas City, Kansas) – Sometimes carries stories and articles from Kay County, especially in the early historical editions.

Oklahoma Historical Society Newspaper Article Search

Oklahoma Historical Society Newspaper Catalog Search

Obituaries
Pioneer Genealogical Society Kay County Obituary Index

Probate
Online Records
 * 1801 – 2008 Oklahoma Wills and Probate Records 1801-2008 at Ancestry.com — index and images $
 * 1887 – 2008 Oklahoma Probate Records 1887-2008 at FamilySearch — images

Although Oklahoma did not become a state until 1907, some Oklahoma Territorial and Indian Territorial probate records were kept at a county level beginning in 1893. Records are available from 1893 until present day.

Kay County District Court Clerk 201 S. Main, 2nd floor Newkirk, Oklahoma Phone: (580) 362-3350 Business hours are Monday thru Friday from 8:00am to 4:30pm.

On Demand Court Records– Search for Kay County court records online. Provides basic case information but no digital images are available.

School Records

 * 1895 - 1936 at FamilySearch — index and images
 * Kay County Clerk’s Office P.O. Box 450 Newkirk, OK 74647 Main Phone Line: 1-580-362-2537 Toll Free Line: 1-888-567-4611 Available Records: School records are available beginning in 1897. In 1897 Kay County had 88 school districts, compared to the present nine.

Taxation
Kay County Clerk’s Office P.O. Box 450 Newkirk, OK 74647 Main Phone Line: 1-580-362-2537 Toll Free Line: 1-888-567-4611 Available Records: IRS and Oklahoma tax liens

Kay County Assessor 201 S Main Newkirk, OK 74647 Phone: (580) 362-2565 Fax: (580) 362-3668

Online Property Search – This site may require a paid subscription for records access.

Birth
Online Birth Records Indexes and Images
 * Early Oklahoma Birth Records


 * Oklahoma State Department of Health 1000 NE 10th Street Oklahoma City, OK 73117 Phone: (405) 271.4040 E-mail: AskVR@health.ok.gov Lobby Hours: 8:30 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. Monday - Friday with the exception of state recognized holidays

Marriage
Although Oklahoma did not become a state until 1907, some Oklahoma Territorial and Indian Territorial records were kept beginning about 1890. The marriage bonds, affidavits, licenses and certificates were kept at a county level, by or when the county was formed. However, one must keep in mind that these territorial marriages were sometimes not registered at all or they were registered at the county courthouses in adjoining states such as Arkansas, Kansas or Texas. The county began recording marriages at this time. Records are available from 1893 until present day and are in the form of scanned images of the original marriage registers. The county continues to hold all of the recorded marriage documents and none have been lost or destroyed by any manner. No official records are located offsite.


 * Kay County District Court Clerk 201 S. Main, 2nd floor Newkirk, Oklahoma Phone: (580) 362-3350 Business hours are Monday thru Friday from 8:00am to 4:30pm.
 * On Demand Court Records – Search for Kay County court records online. Provides basic case information but no digital images are available.
 * Oklahoma Historical Society Marriage Records Resources

Online Marriage Records Indexes and Images
 * 1841 - 1927 - Oklahoma and Indian Territory, Marriage, Citizenship and Census Records, 1841-1927 at Ancestry ($)
 * 1852 - 1948 - at FamilySearch — index
 * 1870 - 1930 - at FamilySearch Index only.
 * 1870 - 1930 - Oklahoma, Select Marriages, 1870-1930 at Ancestry — index ($)
 * 1870 - 1930 - Oklahoma, Marriages, 1870-1930 at My Heritage index ($)
 * 1889 - 1951 - Oklahoma County, Oklahoma, Marriage Index, 1889-1951
 * 1890 - 1995 - at FamilySearch Index and images
 * OKGenWeb Oklahoma Marriages
 * 1893-1999 - Pioneer Genealogical Society Kay County Marriage Applications Index – Records date from September 29, 1893 to December 31, 1999.

Death
Online Death Records Indexes and Images
 * Obituaries Listed in the Oklahoman - Oklahoma Historical Society — index only
 * 1935 - 2014 - U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014 at Ancestry ($)
 * 1936 - 2007 - U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 at Ancestry, incomplete ($}
 * 1936 - 2007 - U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 at Ancestry, incomplete ($}


 * Oklahoma State Department of Health 1000 NE 10th Street Oklahoma City, OK 73117 Phone: (405) 271.4040 E-mail: AskVR@health.ok.gov Lobby Hours: 8:30 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. Monday - Friday with the exception of state recognized holidays

Divorce
Online Divorce Records Indexes and Images
 * 1923 - 1942 - Oklahoma County, Oklahoma, Divorce Index, 1923-1942


 * Kay County District Court Clerk 201 S. Main, 2nd floor Newkirk, Oklahoma Phone: (580) 362-3350 Business hours are Monday thru Friday from 8:00am to 4:30pm.
 * On Demand Court Records – Search *for Kay County court records online. Provides basic case information but no digital images are available.

Museums
Museums Listed on the Kay County Tourism Website

Societies and Libraries
Pioneer Genealogical Society PO BOx 1965 Ponca City, OK 74602 E-mail:[mailto:queries@pgsok.org queries@pgsok.org] Website

Libraries

Historical &amp; Genealogical Societies

Pioneer Genealogical Society Genealogy Room of the Ponca City Public Library 515 East Grand Ponca City, Oklahoma

Oklahoma Historical Society Oklahoma History Center 800 Nazih Zuhdi Drive Oklahoma City, OK 73105 405-521-2491

Family History Centers

 * Introduction to LDS Family History Centers
 * Ponca City Oklahoma Family History Center 15th &amp; Red Eagle Pawhuska OK 74056 United States Location Map

Websites

 * Kay County on the USGenWeb Project - May have maps, name indexes, history or other information for this county. Select the state, then the county.
 * Kay County, Oklahoma on Wikipedia
 * LDS Oklahoma Research Outline PDF
 * Oklahoma Tourism Genealogical Resources Website