American Indian Genealogy Help Center
A Chronology of Records of the Five
Civilized Tribes of Indians
This chronology was developed from "Records Relating to Native American Research: The Five Civilized Tribes" by George J. Nixon and printed on pages 535 to 557 of THE SOURCE, First Edition.
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There are four primary repositories for the records pertaining to these tribes:
The Family History Library, Salt Lake City, UT (FHL)*
The National Archives (NA)
The National Archives Records Center in Fort Worth, Texas (NARCFW)
The Oklahoma Historical society (OHS) in Oklahoma City
*In the following list the initials of the repository of the record mentioned will follow the description. Seven-digit numbers following names of records, with or without "FHL" are film numbers for records in the collection of the Family History Library at Salt Lake City, UT. Such items can be ordered into local LDS Family History Centers (FHC). To find a local FHC, use the search engine at the LDS site, FamilySearch.org.
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- The Chronology -
1800-1815 - Records of the Agent of Dept. of War in TN FHL 1024431; Correspondence & Misc. FHL 1024418; ditto 1803-4 FHL 1024419; ditto 1805-7 FHL 1024420; ditto 1808-9 FHL 1024421; ditto 1810-1812 FHL 1024422; ditto 1813-1815 FHL 1024423; ditto 1816-1818 FHL 1022424; ditto 1819-20 FHL 1024425; ditto 1821-23 FHL 1024426; ditto 1823-1835 1024427; Fiscal 1801-1817 FHL 10224428-1022430
1801-1835 - Records of the Cherokee Agency in TN by Marybelle Chase FHL 1750756 item 23
1817: Cherokee Treaty of Turkey Town Rolls --Old Settlers NA (NDL) - Lists individuals (old settlers) who moved west from NC to MO
1817 - Cherokee - Register of Persons...under Treaty of 1817 (Tahlequah) - FHL 1666295 item 1
1817 -1819: Cherokee Register of Indians wishing to Remain in the East,
2 Vols. NARCFW NA(BIA-IRR) FHL 982251 item 4
1817-1821 - Records of Joseph McMinn, Agent for Cherokee Removal FHL 1024431
1817- 1838: Cherokee Register Indians Wishing to Migrate, 18 Vols.
NARCFW
1819 Feb 27 - Robert Armstrong's Survey of Cher Lands by James L. Douthat FHL 1598122 item 11
1819: Cherokee Applications for Reservations NARCFW NA(BIA-IRR)
1825-1906: Choctaw Removal Records NA(BIA-IRR)
Includes 1831 census list of reserves, 1856 census, emigration lists, claims
of reservations, statements of sales of Choctaw orphan lands,
miscellaneous.
1819-1838 Brainerd Mission of United Brethren, Hamilton Co., TN
1828: Cherokee Removal Records ~- Old Settlers NA(NDL) As a result of 1828 Treaty ceding land in AR for lands in OK.
1881-1882 - E. Cherokee Seminaries, Register of, 1881-1882 FHL 1025299 item 1
1828-1834 - Cherokee Phoenix 1828-1834 - New Echota, GA - FHL 825726
1831: Choctaw Census Before Removal NARCFW
1831 -1857: Choctaw Emigration Roll NARCFW
1832 -1836: Apalachicola, Seminole, Kickapoo, Ottawa, Potawatomi, Quapaw
Includes letters, census and muster rolls, abstracts of locations of lands,
reports of land sales and deeds, journal of expenditures, statements of
land sales.
1833: Creek Census NARCFW
1833- 1886: Creek Removal Records NA (BIA-IRR)
Includes 1833 census, index to reserves, location registers, contracts and
certificates, abstracts of contracts, reports on land of deceased reserves,
and remarks. Only list of whole Nation east of Mississippi.
1834-1894 - Cherokee Sec. X Removal to the West
1835 E. Cherokee Census of Indians East of the Mississippi River with Index - TN, AL, NC, GA (AKA Henderson Roll) FHL 1036829 item 8
1835- 1869: Cherokee Records of the First Board of Cherokee Commissioners
NA (BIA-IRR)
Includes letters, property valuations and changes, property abstracts and
returns, reservation claims and decisions, spoliation claims, debts and
judgements, certificates, etc.
1835 -1869: Indian Census Rolls NA(RCD)
1835 Henderson Roll Index FHL 1036829 item 8; Henderson Roll FHL 847743
1835 Henderson Roll TN List FHL 1728882 item 3
1837 -1839: Chickasaw Census and Muster Roll NARCFW
1837- 1845: Cherokee Records of the Second and Third Boards of Cherokee
Commissioners NA(BIA-IRR) (See First Board details)
1841 -1949: Payments to Indian Tribes & Individuals NA (BIA-RFD)
959 Volumes including annuity payment rolls and miscellaneous unbound
papers
1842-1853 - Records Relating to Claims (p. 118, Hill); claims against the Old Settler Cherokee for services rendered, good furnished, and damages suffered, 1842-53 (including claims for compiling the Drennen Roll for per capita payment in 1851) - NARA
1844-1856 - Cherokee Advocate 1844-1856 Tahlequah FHL 989202 item 7; 1865-1l11 OKHS
1846- 1847: Cherokee Records of th Fourth Board of Cherokee Commissioners
NA (BIA-IRR) (See the First Board details)
1847- 1873: Indian Traders' Register of Licenses NA (BIA-RMD)
1848: Cherokee Mullay Roll NARCFW
First census of Eastern Band of Cherokee after removal; listed individuals
and families in NC in 1836 who had not removed to the West or had not
received commutation for removal and subsistence; children born after
1836 not included; whites married to Cherokees after 1836 not included;
Cherokees outside NC in 1836 not included; persons who had died since
included and deathdate given; includes1557 Cherokees; number, name,
age remarks; family relationships, date of death, conditions.
1851: Cherokee Drennan Roll NARCFW
1851: Cherokee Emigrant Roll NARCFW
Enumeration of Eastern Cherokee who moved west after 1835 and resided
in Indian Territory by 1851.
1851: Cherokee Old Settler Roll NARCFW
Lists individual by district with children unless mother was emigrant
Cherokee; if migrant, children were listed with mother on Drennan Roll; 44
families listed as non-residents; used by Guion Miller.
1851: Cherokee Silar Roll NARCFW - FHL 847743
Census of Cherokees east of Mississippi to see who would be eligible for
per capita payment based on 1835 treaty; lists 1959 individuals by state
and county in NC, TN, AL, GA; also includes disputed cases; categories;
number ,name, age, relationship to head of household, sex, blood, remarks.
1851: Cherokee Chapman Roll NARCFW
List of payments made as result of Silar Roll; lists 2134 individuals;
categories; number, name, amount received, signature of recipient;
individuals listed by family groups and state and county; these individuals
included on Guion Miller Roll.
1851 - Cherokee Emigration Roll - John Duncan's List of Illinois District for Payments at Ft. Gibson - FHL 1666295 item 11
1851 - Cherokee Emigration for Saline Dist with some Illinois Dist, IT - FHL 1666218 item 12
1852 - Cherokee of Flint Dist., IT, Emigrants FHL 1666295 item 9; 1666218 item 9; Going Snake Dist. item 13
Cherokee Emigration from NC (Tahlequah) - FHL 1666218 item 3,5
1856: Choctaw Cooper Census Roll NARCFW
1861-1864 - Indian Home Guards - Indian Territory - FHL 1666295 item 16
1865-1887 Intermarried Whites in Cherokee Nation by A.H. Murcheson FHL 6038979 (1)
1865- 1898: Indian Traders' Licenses NA (BIA-RMD)
1866: Choctaw and Chickasaw claims for Civil War Damages NA (BIA-RRICWC)
1867: Chickasaw Annuity Roll NARCFW
1867- 1869: Creek Census of Freedmen NARCFW
1867: Cherokee Powell Roll - List of Cherokees in the Cherokee Nation - NARCFW
1867: Cherokee Index to Freedmen on Tompkins' Roll NARCFW
1868: Choctaw and Chickasaw Receipt Book for Civil War Claims NA (RRICWC)
1868: Cherokee Swetland Roll NARCFW - FHL 847743
List based on Mullay Roll to enroll individuals living and heirs or legal
representatives of deceased; includes separate census of all Eastern
Cherokees living in NC and adjoining states; appraisals of value of
property, farm products, horses, cattle, etc.; categories; families, number,
name, age sex, blood, estate, horses, mules, cows, oxen, cattle, hogs,
sheep, wheat, corn, oats, rye, literacy, parents living or dead, remarks.
1868- 1879: Creek Index to Freedmen NARCFW
1869: Creek Claims for Civil War Damage NA (BIA-RRICWC)
1869 -1870: Creek Annuity payments on the Union Side NARCFW
1869 -1870: Creek Abstracts of Civil War Claims NA (BIA-RRICWC)
1869 -1871: Cherokee Swetland enumeration of Sequoyah District of Cherokee
Nation in Indian Territory NARCFW
1870: Creek Orphans and Payments to be Made NA (BIA-RFD)
1870: Creek Census of Orphans and Heirs NARCFW
1873: -1875: Indians, Soldiers & Citizens Killed or Captured NA (BIA-RCD)
of Entries Under Settlers Relief Act NARCFW
1875 -1876: Cherokee Census Roll NARCFW
1875- 1889: Cherokee Citizenship Letters NA (BIA-RLD)
1876-1897 - Cherokee - Letters - Removal to the West
1876- 1882: Indian Trader's Licenses NA (BIA-RMD)
1878: Chickasaw Annuity Roll NARCFW
1878- 1880: Indian Traders' Licenses NA (BIA-RMD)
1878- 1880: Cherokee Commission on Citizenship list of rejected claimants
NARCFW
1878- 1884: Choctaw Letters Received Relating to Freedmen NA (BIA-RREEC)
1879- 1880: Cherokee Receipt Roll NARCFW
1880: Cherokee Census of 1880 NARCFW - FHL 989204 (includes a few Delaware)
Important in preparing Dawes Rolls; any Indian or intermarried white listed
was accepted without challenge; notation on 1902 census card showed
location and name by which enrolled on 1880 census.
Arranged by District within Cherokee Nation; categories; Cherokee citizens
including native, adopted white, Shawnee, Delaware, freedmen, orphans
under sixteen; persons rejected; citizenship claims pending; "intruders;"
permitted squatters; name by family group, age, race, occupation, sex, roll
number.
1880 - Cherokee - Supplemental Roll of those left off the roll of 1880, Tahlequah per capita (1883) - FHL 1666218 item 6
1881 - Cherokee - Receipt Roll of Per Capita Payment 14 May - FHL 1666218 item 2
1882: Cherokee Hester Roll NARCFW
An accounting of all persons on the Mullay, Siler, Chapman and Swetland
Rolls noting relationship to head of family, age, ancestor on previous rolls,
relationship to ancestor, present place of residence, remarks; used by
Guion Miller.
1881 - Cherokee - North Carolina Immigrants Allowed Per Capita Under Act of 1881
1883: Cherokee Census of 1883 NARCFW
Authorized for base of per capita payment of monies received from leased
land; arranged by districts like 1880 Census; includes orphans' roll, those
in national prisons, supplemental roll with name and age of individuals;
receipt roll shows individual's name and roll number, total number in
household, total amount paid each household, name of person receiving
payment, name and witness to payment.
1883: Cherokee Freedmen Roll: AKA Wallace Roll NARCFW
1885-1895 - Other Records of the Land Div. (p. 97, Hill); printed matter concerning attorneys' claims against the Old Settler Cherokee 1885-1895- NARA
1885: Choctaw Freedmen Roll NARCFW
1885- 1898: Roster of Licensed Traders NA (BIA-RMD)
1885- 1909: Roster of Licensed Traders NA (BIA-RMD)
1886: Cherokee census of 1886 NARCFW
Virtually the same as the Cherokee Census of 1883 with the following
important additions: gives relationship of individuals to head of household.
1886: Cherokee Delaware payroll NARCFW
1888- 1897: Choctaw miscellaneous court cases and marriage licenses
NARCFW
1889: Cherokee Rolls of Shawnee Cherokee NA (BIA-RLD)
1889- 1890: Cherokee Citizenship Affidavits NA (BIA-RLD)
1889- 1890: Cherokee Census Roll Drafts NA (BIA-RLD)
1889 -1891: Cherokee Citizenship Affidavits of Questioned Freedmen
NA (BIA-RLD)
1889- 1905: Indian Traders' Licenses NA (BIA-RMD)
1890 -1893: Cherokee Indexes to revised Wallace Roll Freedmen NA (BIA-RLD)
1890 -1896: Cherokee revised Wallace Rolls NA (BIA-RLD)
1890: Cherokee Census NARCFW
Arranged by district and includes six categories: native Cherokees and
adopted whites, Shawnees, Delawares; orphans under sixteen; those
denied citizenship; citizenship claims pending; "intruders;" permitted
squatters; 105 columns of detailed information.
1890: Cherokee census NARCFW
1890: Cherokee Delaware payroll NARCFW
1890: Cherokee receipt roll NARCFW
1890: Cherokee Welfare Rolls NA (BIA-RLD
1890: Chickasaw Census of Pickens & Pontotoc Counties NARCFW
1890: Choctaw index to enrollment cases NARCFW
1890: Creek Annuity Roll NARCFW
1891 -1892: Cherokee Supplemental Census Rolls NA (BIA-RLD)
1891 -1893: Cherokee Citizenship Affidavits NA (BIA-RLD)
1892- 1899: Indian Traders' Applications for Licenses NA (BIA-RMD)
1893: Cherokee Census NARCFW
Lists Cherokee citizens by blood, adopted whites, freedmen, Shawnees,
Delawares, intermarried persons, Creeks; arranged by district; categories:
individual's name, age, sex, admission reference, name of guardian.
1895 - Records Concerning Tribal and Individual Indian Moneys and Payments to Indians - Census Roll of Old Settlers in I.T., 1895- NARA
1895: Cherokee Old Settler Census Roll NA (BIA-RFD) + 1851 Payroll FHL 1698148 item 6
1895: Creek Census of Coweta, Deep Fork, Eufala, Muscogee, Okmulgee and
Wewoka Districts NARCFW
1895: Creek Census by Towns NARCFW
1895 -1896: Creek Citizenship Cases NARCFW
1896: Cherokee Index to Old Settler Payment Roll NA (BIA-RLD)
1896: Cherokee Rolls of Shawnee Cherokee NA (BIA-RLD)
1896: Cherokee Payment Roll NARCFW
1896: Chickasaw Census NARCFW
Based on 1851 Old Settler Roll; names of those still living listed first; then,
those who died and their heirs each heir's relationship; categories.
1896: Choctaw Census with index NARCFW
Choctaw national warrants (no date) NARCFW
1896- 1897: Cherokee Roll of Freedmen NA (BIA-RLD)
1897: Cherokee Index to Freedmen Payment Rolls NA (BIA-RFD)
Cherokee Freedmen Payment Roll NA (BIA-RFD)
1897: Cherokee Index to Supplemental Payment Roll for Freedmen NA (BIA-RFD)
1897: Cherokee supplemental Roll for Freedmen NA (BIA-RFD)
1897: Cherokee Exhibits for Freedmen Payment Rolls NA (BIA-RFD)
1897: Cherokee Roll NARCFW
Taken from 1894 "Strip Payment" roll; lists enrollment number, name, age,
sex, occasionally mentions deceased parents or names used on earlier
rolls
.
1897: Cherokee list of Colored Persons NARCFW
BIA Censuses - Cherokee, Eastern
FHL 573868 - 1898, 1899, 1904, 1906, 1909-1912, 1914
FHL 573869 - 1915-1922
FHL 573870 - 1923-1929
FHL 573871 - 1930-1932
FHL 573872 - 1933-1939
1899: Choctaw Indexes and Records of Testimony by Mississippi Choctaw
NARCFW
1899: Creek Citizenship Admissions NARCFW
1900: Seminole Census NARCFW
Listed by blood (clan) bands of Thomas Palmer, Echo Emarthoge, Simon
Brown, Yaha Harjo, Tusekia Harjo, Kinkehe, Thomas little, Obtiarche,
Echoille, William Cooper, Nuthcup Harjo, Asaske Harjo; freedmen listed in
Doser Barkus and Caesar Bruner bands.
1901: Choctaw Additional Evidence to 1899 Testimonies NARCFW
Choctaw Index to Mississippi Choctaw children (undated) NARCFW
1901: Seminole Annuity Payroll NARCFW
1901 -1907: Choctaw Applications for Admission to Mississippi Choctaw NA
(BIA-RREEC)
1900: Cherokee equalization payroll NARCFW
Cherokee index to Delaware Cherokees payroll NARCFW
1900: Choctaw Rolls and Lists of new Choctaw citizens in South McAlester and
Ardmore NARCFW
1902 -1907: Choctaw and Chickasaw Indexes NARCFW
1902: Choctaw "proceedings of identity" for Mississippi Choctaws NARCFW
Includes alphabetical index, index to applications, rejected appeals for
citizenship (Choctaw & Chickasaw)
1902: Choctaw Roll of Freedmen NARCFW
1903: Choctaw Roll and Index NARCFW
1904: Cherokee per capita payroll for Delawares NARCFW
1904: Creek Roll of Original Emigrants and Heirs NARCFW
1904: Creek Annuity Payments on Union side NARCFW
1905: Chickasaw Roll for the "leased district" NARCFW
1906: Choctaw per capita payrolls NARCFW
1906: Creek Annuity Payments on Union Side NARCFW
1907 -1908: Choctaws & Chickasaws at Murrow Indian Orphan Home NARCFW
1907 -1908: Choctaw Land Lottery NARCFW
1908: Cherokee Churchill Roll of Eastern Cherokee NA (BIA-RREEC)
Contains fewer names than Miller roll; roll was disputed due to exclusion of
some people and inclusion of others.
1908: Seminole Miscellaneous Roll NA (BIA-RCFW)
1909: Cherokee Guion Miller Roll of Eastern Cherokee NA (BIA-RREEC)
29 volumes of which ten are transcripts of testimony listed chronologically,
exceptions to findings; printed copy of completed roll with two 1910
supplements; copies of Drennen, Chapman, "Old Settler" rolls;
consolidated index for Chapman and Drennen rolls; separate index for Old
Settler Roll; listed under Records of the United States Court of Claims; roll
of Eastern Cherokee 1909; correspondence, reports, Eastern Cherokee
Enrollment 1907- 1916; index to council roll of Eastern Band of Cherokee
1907- 1908.
1910: Cherokee Supplement to the Guion Miller Roll NA (BIA-RREEC)
1910 -1928: Choctaw and Chickasaw Per Capita Payments NARCFW
1913: Choctaw Per Capita Payrolls NARCFW
1917 -1929: Choctaw Annuity Payrolls NA (BIA-NDL)
1918: Creek Annuity Roll NA (BIA-NDL)
1925- 1928: Eastern Cherokee Applications and Related Records
NA (BIA-RREEC)
1926 -1928: Eastern Cherokee Decisions on Enrollment NA (BIA-RREEC)
1927- 1928: Eastern Cherokee Transcripts of Testimony NA (BIA-RREEC)
1928: Eastern Cherokee Roll NA (BIA-RREEC)
1929: Eastern Cherokee Index to enrollment Records NA (BIA-RREEC)
1929: Eastern Cherokee Alphabetical Index to Names Appearing in Testimony
NA (BIA-RREEC)
1930: Eastern Cherokee Report of the Commissioners of Indian Affairs
NA (BIA-RREEC)
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ABBREVIATIONS FOUND IN THIS SECTION
FHL = Family History Library micro film or fiche number or book call number
NA = National Archives, Washington, D.C.
NARCFW = National Archives Record Center, Fort Worth, TX
OHS = Oklahoma Historical Society, Oklahoma City, OK
(BIA = Bureau of Indian Affairs section of National Archives
(RREEC) = Records Relating to Enrollment of the Eastern Cherokee
(RFD) = Records of the Finance Division
(RLD) = Records of the land Division
(RMD) = Records of the Miscellaneous Division
(RRICWC) = Records Relating to Indian Civil War Claims
(IRR) = Indian Removal Records
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