Is it time to expand your Choctaw & Chickasaw Freedman Research?
There are numerous resources for descendants of Oklahoma Freedmen to utilize, including the Dawes Roll. Clearly researchers should use traditional genealogy records as well-----Federal Census Records, the 1860 Slave Schedule for Indian Territory, and military records, including Civil War Pension files.
Beyond those records are records that are part of large collections such as the Doris Duke Collection at the University of Oklahoma. The Indian Pioneer Papers are also part of the holdings at the University, and are found in the Western History Collection.
For Choctaw and Chickasaw Freedmen, it is strong suggested that researchers examine multiple record sources, even if they don't contain info on your personal direct family members. By doing so, one can glean additional information about the community as a whole and thereby enhancing the historical narrative.
The following are a few suggestions to assist Freedmen researchers in expanding their work.
1) Examine All Dawes Categories
Besides the standard Dawes Freedmen Rolls that are commonly used, it is important to examine the records of those on the other categories within the Freedmen Records.
Categories of Choctaw & Chickasaw Freedmen:
Freedmen
Freedmen Denied
Freedmen Minor
Freedmen New Born
Freedmen Rejected
2) Examine the Pre-Dawes Categories
1885 Census of Choctaw & Chickasaw Freedmen
1896 Roll of Choctaw & Chickasaw Freedmen
CTN Roll (from OHS) Choctaw Citizens and Freedmen (Rolls 1-7)
3) Study the Records of Freedmen of Other Nations:
Cherokee Freedmen
Creek Freedmen
Seminole Freedmen
4) Examine the Pre-Dawes Categories of Other Freedmen:
Cherokee National Records
Census Rolls CHN02-CH07
Marriages Rolls CHN22-CHN50
5) Utilize the Federal Census Records Extensively
1860 Slave Schedule
1870 Border communities of Arkansas, Texas, Kansas
1910 Special Indian Census
6) Explore Holdings at NARA Ft. Worth
Equity Case 7071
Joe & Dillard Perry Case Files
7) Utilize University of Oklahoma Holdings
Western History Collection
- Indian Pioneer Papers
-Doris Duke Collection
-Native American Manuscripts
8) Study Old Oklahoma Newspapers-Muskogee Cimeter
-Dailey Ardmorite
-Choctaw Intelligencer
9) Read and Study Essential Texts by Daniel F. Littlefield
-Africans & Creeks
-Africans & Seminoles
-Cherokee Freedmen from Emancipation to Citizenship
-Chickasaw Freedmen-A People Without a County
10) Examine Two Critical Non-Dawes Collections
-Mississippi Choctaw MCR Files (Rejected Cases) from Indian Territory
-Guion Miller Applications (Eastern Cherokee) from Indian Territory
