Oklahoma Applications for Allotment, Five Civilized Tribes - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
Under the terms of the 1887 Dawes Act, Indian reservations were surveyed and lands held in common by the tribes were allotted in smaller parcels to individual members of the tribe. Individuals had to be enrolled tribal members to apply for an allotment. The lands were usually granted as homesteads. These records were created to provide a final list of those individuals who were approved to receive an allotment of land in Indian Territory (Oklahoma). The records cover the years 1899 to 1907. Index courtesy of Fold3.

The collection consists of a name index and images of land allotment records for the Five Civilized Tribes in Indian Territory. These records describe the parcels of land and name the tribal member to whom each parcel was allotted. Records are arranged by name of tribe (Cherokee, Choctaw, Chickasaw, Creek, and Seminole), by membership designation (member by blood, by intermarriage or freedmen), application number and according to age group -- newborn and minor children are listed separately. The pages may be:


 * Handwritten in narrative style
 * Handwritten on pre-printed forms
 * Typed
 * Printed plot maps

For a list of tribal membership rolls currently published in this collection, select the Browse link from the collection landing page.

Note:These records are related to two collections indexed by Footnote: RG 75, NARA publication M1301 [Applications for enrollment of the Commission to the Five Civilized Tribes, 1898-1914--468 rolls]; and M1186 [Enrollment Cards for the Five Civilized Tribes--93 rolls].

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

Allotment
 * Tribal roll name
 * Membership category of the individual -- member by blood, by intermarriage or freedmen (newborn and minor children are listed on separate rolls)
 * Age
 * Degree of Indian Blood
 * Tribe or Nation
 * Application number
 * Indian census card number
 * Names of individual’s representative and their relationship to the individual
 * Guardianship and relationship information
 * Number of acres allotted
 * Legal description of the land
 * Date and place of application
 * Details of any improvements to the land parcel

How Do I Search This Collection?
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
 * The name of your ancestor
 * The tribe which your ancestor was affiliated
 * The membership category -- member by blood, by intermarriage or freedmen

View the Images
View images in this collection by visiting the :
 * 1) Select the Tribal Membership Roll
 * 2) Select the Application Number  to the view images.

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.

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

 * Use the age to calculate a birth date and to find other records such as birth, christening, census, land and death records
 * Use the name, tribe, and the census number to locate the individual on the census
 * Use the name, tribe, and membership category to locate the individual in the enrollment records
 * Use the information to find additional family members

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

 * Collect entries for every person who has the same surname. This list can help you identify possible relations that can be verified by records
 * If you cannot locate your ancestor in the locality in which you believe they lived, then try searching records of a nearby locality
 * Standard spelling of names typically did not exist. Try variations of your ancestor’s name while searching the index or browsing through images
 * Remember that sometimes individuals went by nicknames or alternated between using first and middle names, or even initials

Research Helps
The following articles will help you in your research for your family in the state of Oklahoma.
 * Oklahoma 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.