Georgia, Reconstruction Registration Oath Books - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
Voter registration oath books created by U.S. military officials stationed in Georgia after the Civil War of eligible voters. Registers typically contain each voters name, county of residence, date of registration, race, and an oath of allegiance to the United States. The oath of allegiance was required in order to register. Those who registered voted for delegates to the state constitutional convention. The Returns of Qualified Voters are available on film at the Family History Library include name, time if residence in state and naturalization information. The oath books are located at the Georgia Department of Archives and History in Atlanta.

The oath books include:
 * Name
 * Date of registration
 * County of residence
 * Race is sometimes included
 * Signature (Oath)of allegiance to the United States of the registrant

 Related Collection 
 * Georgia, County Voter Registrations, 1856- 1909 This publication includes the 1867-1868 Return of Qualified Voters.

What Can These Records Tell Me?
The following information may be found in these records:

Oath books
 * The names of individuals
 * The city and county where the person lived
 * The race of the individual

How Do I Search the Collection?
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
 * The name of your ancestor
 * The place where your ancestor lived

How Do I Analyze the Results?
Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images. Keep track of your research in a research log.

What Do I Do Next?
When you have located your ancestor in the registration of oath books, carefully evaluate each piece of information about them. These pieces of information may give you new biographical details that can lead you to other records about your ancestors.

I Found the Person I Was Looking For, What Now?

 * Use the information found in the oath books to locate your ancestor in census records
 * Use the information found in the oath books to locate your ancestor in land records
 * Use the information found in the oath books to locate your ancestor in additional state and county records
 * Use the information found in the oath books to locate your ancestor in the Freedmen’s Bureau Records

I Can’t Find the Person I’m Looking For, What Now?

 * Look for variant spellings of the names. You should also look for nicknames and abbreviated names
 * Search the indexes and records of nearby counties

Research Helps
The following articles will help you in your research for your family in the state of Georgia.
 * Georgia Guided Research
 * Research Tips and Strategies
 * Step-by-Step Research

Citing this Collection
Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used.