Oklahoma

Welcome to our Oklahoma family history research page. Here you'll find record collections, history, and genealogy resources to help you trace your Oklahoma ancestors.


Data Collections
Sorted by Oklahoma census & voter lists
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Oklahoma, U.S., Voter Registration Records, 1960-2023FreeUpdated2,281,185
Oklahoma and Indian Territory, U.S., Indian Censuses and Rolls, 1851-1959642,836
Oklahoma and Indian Territory, U.S., Dawes Census Cards for Five Civilized Tribes, 1898-1914388,204
U.S., Indexed Early Land Ownership and Township Plats, 1785-1898165,796
U.S., Native American Citizens and Freedmen of Five Civilized Tribes, 1895-1914104,657
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Data Collections
Sorted by Oklahoma birth, marriage & death
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U.S., Presbyterian Church Records, 1701-19704,566,787
U.S., Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Swedish American Church Records, 1800-19473,655,095
Oklahoma, U.S., County Marriage Records, 1890-19952,611,551
U.S., Dutch Reformed Church Records in Selected States, 1639-19891,868,002
U.S., Selected States Dutch Reformed Church Membership Records, 1701-1995465,389
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Data Collections
Sorted by Oklahoma military
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U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-194754,144,553
U.S., World War II Draft Registration Cards, 194214,501,913
Web: Oklahoma, U.S., Confederate Pension Index, 1915-1955Free11,999
U.S., Alien Draft Registrations, Selected States, 1940-19466,294
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Data Collections
Sorted by Oklahoma immigration & emigration
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Oklahoma, U.S., Naturalization Records, 1889-199175,739
U.S., Citizenship Case Files in Indian Territory, 1896-1897Free9,494
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Data Collections
Sorted by Oklahoma newspapers & periodicals
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Oklahoma, U.S., Newspapers.com™ Stories and Events Index, 1800's-current659,551,560
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Data Collections
Sorted by Oklahoma pictures
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Texas, U.S., Select Headstone Photos, 1850-200594,225
Oklahoma and Indian Territory, U.S., Indian Photos, 1850-19301,199
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Data Collections
Sorted by Oklahoma directories & member lists
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U.S., Selected States Dutch Reformed Church Membership Records, 1701-1995465,389
An Enduring Legacy26,448
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Data Collections
Sorted by Oklahoma court, land, wills & financial
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Oklahoma, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1801-2008421,587
Oklahoma and Indian Territory, U.S., Dawes Census Cards for Five Civilized Tribes, 1898-1914388,204
Oklahoma and Indian Territory, U.S., Land Allotment Jackets for Five Civilized Tribes, 1884-1934204,413
U.S., Indexed Early Land Ownership and Township Plats, 1785-1898165,796
U.S., Native American Applications for Enrollment in Five Civilized Tribes, 1898-191468,500
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Data Collections
Sorted by Oklahoma dictionaries, encyclopedias & reference
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Oklahoma, Historical Indian Archives Index, 1856-193380,327
Osage Indian Bands and Clans206
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Data Collections
Sorted by Oklahoma maps, atlases & gazetteers
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U.S., Indexed Early Land Ownership and Township Plats, 1785-1898165,796
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Data Collections
Sorted by Oklahoma stories, memories & histories
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Oklahoma, Historical Indian Archives Index, 1856-193380,327
Oklahoma and Indian Territory, Indian and Pioneer Historical Collection, 1937Free46,724
An Enduring Legacy26,448
U.S., Wallace Roll of Cherokee Freedmen, 1890-18933,806
The Oklahoma spirit of '17 : biographical volume456
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A genealogical history

Oklahoma in brief

Statehood: 16 November 1907
Capital: Oklahoma City
Largest City: Oklahoma City
Counties: 77
State motto: Labor Omnia Vincit (Labor Conquers All Things)
State nickname: Sooner State
Neighboring states: Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas, Texas, New Mexico, Colorado


White Wolf's camp, Comanche Nation, Indian Territory, c. 1891

Interesting facts

  • One of the youngest states (46th state in 1907), Oklahoma was explored by Francisco Vásquez de Coronado in 1541. The region was under the control of France and Spain at various points in history before becoming part of the Louisiana Purchase in 1803.
  • Between 1825 and 1842 the federal government forced relocation of the "Five Civilized Tribes" (Creek, Cherokee,Chickasaw, Choctaw, and Seminole) by way of what is now known as the "Trail of Tears" to the area that is now western Arkansas and eastern Oklahoma. The Native Americans set up their own governments and schools in the area, then known as Indian Territory. Following the Civil War, the federal government reduced the size of the previously alloted reservations and allowed other tribes to move into the area, and eventually non-Native American settlers.
  • Beginning in 1889 a series of land runs were held , where settlers raced into the central tract of Oklahoma, formerly known as "Unassigned Lands." The first run took place on 22 April 1889 and an estimated 50,000 settlers snatched up parcels of land, giving birth to towns like Oklahoma City, Guthrie, and Kingfisher.

Featured Oklahoma collections

Oklahoma, U.S., Creek Equalization Records, 1912-1921
Oklahoma, U.S., Voter Registration Records, 1960-2023
U.S., Oklahoma and Indian Territory, Dawes Census Freedmen Rolls, 1898-1914
U.S., Presbyterian Church Records, 1701-1970
Oklahoma, U.S., County Marriage Records, 1890-1995

Famous people

Orvon [Gene] Autry, 1920 Census, Achille, Bryan Co., Oklahoma

Radio broadcaster, Paul Harvey [Aurandt] in 1930 Census, Tulsa, Tulsa Co., Oklahoma

Help and advice

 

Resources

Oklahoma Census Research

Residents of Indian Territory other than Native Americans were enumerated in the federal census of 1860 in the schedules for "Indian Lands.

The first federal census for Oklahoma was taken in 1890, but the records were lost when the census was destroyed by fire. A special territory-sponsored census was taken in June 1890 for the seven territorial counties, including Beaver, Canadian, Cleveland, Kingfisher, Logan, Oklahoma, and Payne.  The Cherokee Nation took its own censuses in 1880 and 1890. Originals are at the Indian Archives, where microfilm copies are available for sale but not for interlibrary loan.

Federal census records for Oklahoma begin in 1900, when the present-day state was divided into Oklahoma Territory and Indian Territory. The enumerations for both Oklahoma and Indian territories are on separate microfilm reels, and are enumerated in separate districts in the 1900 U.S. census on Ancestry.com. The area called "Oklahoma" includes only the Oklahoma Territory counties, Oklahoma Territory Indian Reservation, and military and naval jurisdictions. The 1900 census for Indian Territory is grouped separately in microfilm reels following the territories.

In addition, a 1907 census of Seminole County is available.

 

Oklahoma Vital Records
Statewide recording of births and deaths for Oklahoma began in October 1908, although compliance was incomplete for as long as two decades. Registration was required in 1917, but it was another ten years before 90 percent compliance was achieved.

 

Oklahoma Research Resources

The organizations listed below provide information about Oklahoma history and genealogy. In addition to these state-level resources, many counties and towns maintain important genealogical collections in local libraries, genealogical societies, or historical societies, so check for a local resource when researching.