Choctaw Nation

Guide to  ancestry, family history and genealogy: birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, and other agency records.

Click this button for links to databases, indexes, or sites that help you find an American Indian ancestor by topic or tribe. Various Spellings: Choctaw, Chactaw, Chaktaw, Chatha

The Choctaw Tribe is primarily associated with the states of Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, and Oklahoma. See below for at least a partial lists of groups of Choctaw Indians and the reservations associated with each.

The Choctaw Tribe is one of the Five Civilized Tribes: Choctaw, Cherokee, Chickasaw,and Creek, and Seminole

Choctaw Bands: 

Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians

Texas Band of Choctaw Indians

MOWA Band of Choctaw Indians

Choctaw Clans:

Wind, Bear, Deer, Wolf, Panther, Holly Leaf, Bird, Raccoon and Crawfish

Tribal Headquarters


Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma P.O. Box 1210 Durant, OK 74702-1210 Phone: 1.800.522.6170


 * Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma Official Website

History
A Muscogean based tribe, the Choctaw is similar to the Creek Confederation. The Choctaw evolved from multiple smaller tribes that shared similar language and culture. The Choctaw were early allies of the French, Spanish and British during the 18th century. In the 1750's the tribe was involved in a Civil War that decimated whole villages. The division was driven by factions affiliated with the Spanish and the other the French. In the 18th century the Choctaw were generally at war with the Creeks or the Chickasaw Indians. The Choctaw like all of the Muscogean tribes was a matriarchal and clan culture. Brief Timeline

1540: De Soto first recorded non Indian to encounter the tribe

1763: with the French surrendered to the British many moved west of Mississippi

1784: Treaty with Spain

1786: Treaty of Hopewell

1792: Treaty talks with Spain and United States

1801: Treaty of Fort Adams

1802: Treaty of Fort Confederation

1803: Treaty of Hoe Buckintoupa

1805: Treaty of Mount Dexter

1816: Treaty of Fort St. Stephens

1820: Treaty of Doak's Stand; ceded some land

1825: Treaty of Washington City

1825: Tribal population: 21,000 (Mississippi and Alabama) reported by T. C. Mc Kenny- Indian Office

1830: Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek, * (Article 14 - removal)

1831-1833: First of Five Civilized Tribes forced from their homeland. Removed to Indian Territory.


 * Part of the Tribe 5-6,000 individuals remained in Mississippi and became known as the Mississippi Band of Choctaw who were recognized in 1945.

1838: First testimonies taken in what is known as the Net Proceeds Case.

1844: Second set of testimonies taken in what is known as the Net Proceeds Case.

1855:Treaty with the Chickasaw, gives Chickasaw nation their own land from lands of the Choctaw.

1856: Choctaw Nation created with three districts: Apukshunnubbee District, Moshulatubbee District and Pushmataha District.

1856: Annuity Roll (Census) of the Choctaw and Chickasaw as a result of the treaty of 1855.

1867: Tribal population: 22,500; reported by Commissioner of Indian Affairs.

1875: Testimonies taken to determine heirs for the monies won from the Net Proceeds Case.

1889: Second set of testimonies to determine heirs for the monies from the Net Proceeds Case.

1903: 300 Choctaws left Mississippi for Oklahoma and the Choctaw Nation

1907: Oklahoma became the 46th State


 * Choctaw Nation divided intoeight counties: Choctaw, Atoka, Haskell, Latimer, Le Flore, Mc Curtain, Pittsburg and Pushmataha.

1910: Tribal population: 14,551 in Oklahoma, and 15,917 in other states

1918: Choctaw Indian Agency in Philadelphia, Mississippi established

1945: Mississippi Band of Choctaw Federally recognized


 * 1953: U.S. Congress began a new policy of termination for the Indian tribes. The policy ended the protected trust status of all Indian-owned lands. The BIA began a voluntary urban relocation program. American Indians could move from their rural tribes to a metropolitan area. Many Indians relocated to Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose, St. Louis, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Dallas and Seattle. It is estimated that 750,000 Native American migrated to the cities between 1950-1980.

World War I and II: the U.S. Military used members of the Choctaw Nation for secure communications. They became the first code-talkers

Additional References
Frederick Webb Hodge, in his Handbook of American Indians North of Mexico, gave a more complete history of the Choctaw tribe, with estimations of the population of the tribe at various time periods. Additional details are given in John Swanton's The Indian Tribes of North America.

Reservations
Oklahoma: Latimer and Pushmataha counties

Mississippi: Neshoba, Newton, Leake, Scott, Jones, Attala, Kemper, Winston counties

Groups or Parts of the Tribe
Choctaw Nation (Oklahoma)

Jena Band (Louisiana)

Mississippi Band

Records
Records From the Choctaw Nation, (1830-1900) Indian Territory, Oklahoma. Oklahoma Historical Society. (census, Cemetery Records, Church Records, Military and other records). (first of 90 microfilm reels)

Joe R. Goss. A Complete Roll of all Choctaw Claimants and their Heirs. Reprint. Originally published: St. Louis, MO: Robt. D. Patterson Stationary Co., 1889.

Records
The majority of records of individuals were those created by the agencies. Some records may be available to tribal members through the tribal headquarters.They were (and are) the local office of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and were charged with maintaining records of the activities of those under their responsibility. Among these records are:


 * Allotment records
 * Annuity rolls
 * Census records
 * Correspondence
 * Health records
 * Reports
 * School census and records
 * [[American Indian Vital Records Supplements in Census Rolls|Vital records]

Allotment Records
Chickasaw and Choctaw Indians Homestead and Allotment Patents, 1903-1910

Census Records

 * 1830 www.accessgenealogy.comalso included in American State papers, Vol 7. This is in most libraries or is located online at http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/amlaw/lwsp.html
 * 1831 Census (Armstrong Roll) Choctaw, records of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, RG75
 * 1855 Cooper Roll of Eastern Choctaw www.accessgenealogy.comFamilies living East of the Mississippi River in the states of Mississippi, Louisiana, and Alabama. (roll contains: names of heads of families, place of residence, and numbers of men, women, and children in families)
 * 1855 Annuity Roll, first census of all individuals within a household. Actually done in 1856. Located at the Oklahoma Historical Society.
 * 1868 Census of Cedar County, Choctaw Nationlocated within the Choctaw Nation Collection, University of Oklahoma. View online at digital.libraries.ou.edu/whc/nam/manuscript.asp
 * 1885 Census of the Choctaw Nation. Every name in household is included on this census. This can be viewed in two places online, both for a fee. It is found under the rolls U.S. Indian Census Rolls, and under the category of Union. It is searchable by name (be careful of spelling) on Ancestry.com browseable only on Fold3.com You can also order transcriptions by county from the Bryan County Heritage Association, Bryan, Oklahoma.
 * 1893 Census/Annuity Roll (for both Choctaw and Chickasaw) for Leased District monies. Referred to in several Dawes files, I have been unable to locate this film. I have been told it may be in some counties (ie. Haskell)in Oklahoma, but it is not listed in the NARA or the OHS contents.
 * 1896 Census (cemetery, church, and marriage1897-1901, 1907-1910) second filming
 * The Census of Atoka County, 1885, Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory. by James P. Cummings. Mesquite, Texas, 1976. FHL Book 970.1 Al#86
 * There are miscellaneous censuses recorded on three rolls of microfilm from the OHS, included in the inventory for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and also at the Oklahoma Historical Society and Arkansas Historical Commission. All three rolls cover different counties of the Choctaw nation, and have the 1896 census transcribed, and in some cases the original. The other censuses on the rolls vary to undated or dated, and are heads of household only for the most part.
 * NARA office Fort Worth has microfilm of Muster rolls for various dates prior to 1855.
 * Indian Census Rolls, Choctaw, 1926-1939 containing births and deaths some marriages.

Enrollment Records
The Family History Library

On Line


 * The Final Rolls of Citizens and Freedmen of the Five Civilized Tribes in Indian Territory, 03/04/1907 (National Archives) - arranged by enrollment number; gives age, sex, blood degree, and census card number.

Indexes for the Dawes Rolls and the Enrollment Cards:


 * Index to the Final Rolls of Citizens and Freedmen of the Five Civilized Tribes in Indian Territory, 03/04/1907 (National Archives) - arranged alphabetically; gives only enrollment number. (Surname entries are not always in strict alphabetical order)


 * Searchable indexes:


 * Dawes Final Rolls (Oklahoma Historical Society) - gives card number and enrollment number.
 * Final Rolls (Accessgenealogy) - gives card number and enrollment number.


 * Dawes Commission Enrollment Records


 * Dawes files can be viewed online at www.Fold3.com or on www. archive.gov. While archive.org is free, they do not have a search function, it is browse only. There are two parts to each Dawes case. The enrollment card (Dawes Card) and the packet. In many cases the packet will be empty. In cases of some of the rejected files, there are numerous pages, but referenced information may be absent. Accessgenealogy has a transcription of the Dawes cards available to search and a list of final enrollee's listed on the Dawes Records.

Genealogy
Who Was Who Among the Southern Indians: a Genealogical notebook, 1698-1907 by Don Martini

History
Alokoli: the Choctaw Country bicentennial book by Choctaw County Bicentennial Commission

The Choctaws in Oklahoma: From Tribe to Nation, 1856-1970. by Clara Sue Kidwell.

Oral History

 * Duke Indian Oral History Collection and Index., Duke University Library
 * FamilySearch has the story of Chieftain Greenwood Leflore and the Choctaw Indians of the Mississippi Valley : last chief of Choctaws east of Mississippi river published in 1936.

Land Records
Choctaw certificates of ownership in Boone County, Arkansas. item 33

The land records for Choctaw lands in Mississippi is found at the National Archives, in Washington, D.C. This collection is indexed by name and includes individuals for whom land was granted out of the Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek.

Some cases of land that are disputed within Mississippi are located at county courthouses.

Allotments from the Dawes are found in the county the land was located in in Oklahoma.

Military Records
Genealogical Records on the Confederate Indian Troops by Sherman Lee Pompey

Union Indian Brigade in the Civil War. by Willey Britton.

Periodicals
Choctaw Community News, 1969-1973. item 5 and item 9

Bishnik, available on the website for the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma.

Removal Records
The Indian Removal Act was signed May 26, 1830 by President Andrew Jackson. The Act initiated a policy of removal of American Indians tribes living east of the Mississippi River to land west of the river.

The Choctaw were the first of the Five Civilized Tribes to be removed. Many walked 800 KM Journey to Oklahoma

Many of the Choctaw traveled by steamboat: Talmar, Cleopatra, Walter Scott, Brandywine, and Raindeer


 * 1847 Muster Roll of Big Black River Band (arrived at Fort Coffee)www.accessgenealogy.com
 * 1847 Ha Cubbees Band Muster Roll (arrived at Fort Coffee) www.accessgenealogy.com
 * There are two books by Monty Olsen (available from Bryant County Heritage Association) on Choctaw emigration muster rolls.
 * Betty Wilshire also wrote a book on Choctaw muster rolls. It is available from various vendors.
 * National Archives (NARA) has the information on emigration/muster rolls and not the Oklahoma Historical society. Check with the NARA to see if the holdings are in Fort Worth, Texas or Washington, D.C.
 * The Removal of the Choctaw Indians by Arthur H. DeRosier, Jr

School Records
The Choctaw Academy: official correspondence 1825-1841 by Joe R. Goss

Trade
Superintendent of Indian Trade. Records of the Choctaw Trading house 1803-1824.

Trade during the Spanish period 1781-1798 will be found in the Panton and Leslie papers, located at the University of West Florida. They also have a collection of the Papelas de Cubas, Spanish records of the period.

Records o the Choctaw Trading House, 1803-1824. Office of Indian Affairs. Superintendent of Indian Trade

Records of the Choctaw Trading Post: St. Stephens, Mississippi Territory by Ben and Jean Strickland.

Treaties

 * 1783 January 3, at Hopewell
 * 1796 June 29, with Creek
 * December 17, 1801, at Fort Adams
 * 1802 October 17, at Fort Confederation
 * 1803
 * 1805 November 16, at Mount Dexter
 * October 27, 1805, Chickasaw
 * August 9, 1814,
 * 1816October 24,
 * 1820 October 18 near Doaks Stand
 * 1825 January 20, at Washington
 * February 12,1825, Creek
 * May 6, 1828, - Cherokee
 * 1830 September 27, at Dancing Rabbit Creek
 * February 14, 1833,
 * 1835 August 24, at Camp Holmes, with Comanche
 * 1835 January 17, at Doaksville
 * 1837- Chickasaw
 * 1854 November 4, at Doaksville, with Chickasaw
 * 1855 June 22, at Washington, with Chickasaw
 * September 13, 1855, at Fort Smith-unratified
 * 1865 Cherokee and other Tribes in Indian Territory with Comanche and Kiowa
 * 1865
 * July 4, 1866, with Delaware
 * 1866
 * August 28, 1866, at Washington

Vital Records
Oklahoma Marriage Records, Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory., by Ellen Tiffee and Gloryann Hankins Young. 9 volumes. (Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory, 1890. for Counties of McCurtain, Latimer, Hughes (part), LeFlore, Bryan (part), Pittsburg, Choctaw, Atoka, Haskell, Pushmataha, and Coal (part).

Indian Pioneer Papers
In 1936, the Oklahoma Historical Society and University of Oklahoma requested a writer's project grant from the Works Progress Administration (WPA) in which interviews would be conducted with early settlers in Oklahoma who had lived on Indian land. More than 100 writers conducted over 11,000 interviews and were asked to "call upon early settlers and (record) the story of the migration to Oklahoma and their early life here." The University of Oklahoma Western History Collection has digitized the Indian Pioneer Papers which consists of approximately 80,000 indexed entries arranged alphabetically by personal name, place name, or subject. An index to the Indian Pioneer Papers may also be found at OkGenWeb Oklahoma Genealogy. A separate index of Indians interviewed, including the Choctaw, may be viewed at: “Indians in the Indian Pioneer Papers” Some of the surnames from the Choctaw tribe found in the collection are: Anderson, Baker, Beam (Stevens), Bond, Homer/Homma (Latimer), Jones (Choate), Kemp, Labor (Airington), Moore, Miashintubbee.Family History Library microfiche number: (first fiche)

FamilySearch Catalog
The FamilySearch Catalog has over 260 records of interest to the Choctaw Indians

Web Sites

 * Constitution and By-laws of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma
 * Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma Official Website
 * Choctaw Native Americans http://choctawnativeamericans.blogspot.com
 * Native American Research http://nativeamericanresearch.blogspot.com
 * Indian Research http://researchindians.blogspot.com

For Further Reading

 * Lennon, Rachal Mills. Tracing Ancestors Among the Five Civilized Tribes; Southeastern Indians Prior to Removal. Baltimore, Md.: Genealogical Publishing Co., 2002..

For background information to help find American Indian ancestors see For Further Reading.