Alabama Coushatta Tribe

Guide to  ancestry, family history and genealogy: birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, parish registers, and military records.



Introduction
The Alabama-Coushatta Tribe is primarily associated with the state of Texas and has been since the early 1800s. Prior to that, they were associated with the Creek Confederacy in the Southeastern United States.

Alabama-Coushatta is Recognized by and eligible to receive services from the BIA.


 * Served By: BIA Region: Southern Plains Region
 * Regional Office: Southern Plains Regional Office

Tribal Headquarters
Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas 571 State Park Road 56 Livingston, TX 77351 Phone: 936-563-1100 Website

History
Learning the history of any Native American tribe is essential in finding the genealogical records that are available. For this reason, we have included the following:

Alabama-Coushatta History and Content on FamilySearch Research Wiki


 * Indigenous Peoples of Texas
 * Alabama-Coushatta Indian Reservation (Texas)

History: On-line Digital Books


 * The Alabama Indians of East Texas by Mary Donadson Wade – Digital Book at FamilySearch
 * A history of the Presbyterian church in Texas - Digital Book at FamilySearch
 * Texas Indian Papers 1825-1843; V. 01 - Digital Book at FamilySearch

History: Hard Copy Books At the FamilySearch Library


 * Sam Houston’s Indians: The Alabama-Coushatti – FamilySearch Library Book, call number 970.1 M297s – Off site Storage.  This book is available at the FamilySearch Library, but due to copyright restrictions, it cannot be viewed online. View this title on WorldCat for other possible copy locations.
 * The Alabama-Coushatta Indians – FamilySearch Library Book – call number 970.3 AL41h. View this title on WorldCat for other possible copy locations.
 * Alabama-Coushatta Indians: (Creek) – FamilySearch Library Book, call number 970.3 C861j. View this title on WorldCat for other possible copy locations.
 * Journey to the West: The Alabama and Coushatta Indians – FamilySearch Library book: call number 970.1 Sh91j. View this title on WorldCat for other possible copy locations.
 * The Indians of Texas: An annotated Research Bibliography – FamilySearch Library book: call number 970.1 T187i. View this title on WorldCat for other possible copy locations.

Alabama-Coushatta History Outside of FamilySearch


 * American Indian Genealogy Research: Texas State Library and Archives Commission –
 * Tracing American Indian and Alaska Native Ancestry – U.S. Department of the Interior Indian Affairs.
 * A Guide to Tracing your American Indian and Alaska Native Ancestry - U.S. Department of the interior.
 * American Indian and Alaska Native Records in the National Archives: National Archives and Records Administration.
 * The Alabama-Coushatta and their Texas Friends – East Texas Historical Journal – A Publication of the East Texas Historical Association.
 * Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas Web Site.
 * The Alabama Coushatta Indians – Google Books – Digital preview only.
 * Alabama-Coushatta Indians – Texas State Historical Association
 * Alabama–Coushatta Tribe of Texas – Wikipedia
 * Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas Research Report – Texas Department of Transportation

Reservations
Alabama-Coushatta Reservation (Texas)

Records
Alabama – Coushatta Tribe in U.S. Census Population Schedules

Many were enumerated from Precinct 5 in Polk County, Texas.
 * Many Native Americans from the Alabama – Coushatta Tribe were enumerated in Polk County Texas on the following Censuses:
 * 1880 US Census
 * 1900 US Census,
 * 1910 US Census
 * 1920 US Census
 * 1930 US Census
 * 1940 US Census
 * 1950 US Census
 * Please note: the 1900, and 1910 U.S. Censuses has specific inquiries relating to Native Americans.  For more information about these rolls, please see the FamilySearch Research article United States Special Inquiries Relating to Indians.

Alabama – Coushatta Tribe Deed Records on FamilySearch


 * Polk County Texas, Land and property, Deed Records, 1845-1886; Deed Record, Volume D-E, 1853-1857, Field Notes – Surveyor’s Record, Volume E, pages 11-12, FSL Film number 8256356, digital image number 12 on FamilySearch.org.  These pages include conveyances concerning the Alabama-Coushatta Native Americans in Polk County, Texas.
 * Polk County, Texas, General index to deed records 1846-1898 Deed records v. A 1846-1898, FSL Film number 1006879, Image Number 7 on FamilySearch.org.  These pages include conveyances concerning the Alabama-Coushatta Native Americans in Polk County, Texas.
 * Polk County Texas, Land and property, Deed Records, 1845-1886; Deed Record, Volume D-E, 1853-1857, starting on page 311, FSL Film number 8256356, digital image number 178 on FamilySearch.org. These pages include conveyances concerning the Alabama-Coushatta Native Americans in Polk County, Texas.
 * Polk County Texas, Land and property, Deed Records, 1845-1886; Deed Record, Volume D-E, 1853-1857, starting on page 341, FSL Film number 8256356, digital image number 193 on FamilySearch.org. These pages include conveyances concerning the Alabama-Coushatta Native Americans in Polk County, Texas.
 * Polk County Texas, Land and property, Deed Records, 1845-1886; Deed Record, Volume D-E, 1853-1857, starting on page 431-433, FSL Film number 8256356, digital image number 238 on FamilySearch.org. These pages include conveyances concerning the Alabama-Coushatta Native Americans in Polk County, Texas.
 * *Please note: Many of these land records have copywrite restrictions.  But they can be viewed from your local FamilySearch Center.

National Archive on the Alabama-Coushatta

American Indian Records on Microfilm – The National Archives at Fort Worth Texas. This includes the Alabama-Coushatta Texas Tribe:


 * 1931: List of Arrivals. NARA: 7RA348, Roll 2
 * 1936-1938: Records relating to tribal elections and Government.  NARA: 7RA348, Roll 1
 * 1942: List of Births and deaths. NARA: 7RA348, Roll 2
 * 1944: Census Roll. NARA: 7RA348, Roll 2
 * 1945 List of Indian Students in Public Schools: NARA: 7RA348, Roll 2
 * N.D.: Record of Alabama-Coushatta households in Polk County NARA: 7RA348, Roll 2

Alabama-Coushatta Tribe BIA Area Office (Archived by NARA):


 * 1926-1956: Anadarko Area Office (National Archives at Fort Worth)

Tribal Records, of Genealogical Significance, at the Alabama-Coushatta Tribal Archive web site:


 * Alabama-Coushatta Tribal Archives
 * Alabama-Coushatta Tribal Archives: Files and Histories: Includes Presbyterian Church Records, Histories, 1880 Census etc.
 * Indian Presbyterian Church Records : Alabama-Coushatta Tribal Archives Projects
 * A Short History of the Coushattas : Alabama-Coushatta Tribal Archives Projects
 * Alabama Indians of Texas : The Southwestern historical Quarterly, digital copy at Alabama-Coushatta Tribal Archives Projects

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
 * Vital records

Websites

 * Official Web Site for the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas
 * Constitution and By-Laws of the Alabama and Coushatta Tribes of Texas, approved August 19, 1938
 * Alabama-Coushatta Wikipedia