American Indian Archives Collection

The archives include federal records placed in the society’s custody in 1934 by an act of Congress. Containing more than 3.5 million documents and 6,000 volumes, the collection represents sixty-six tribal nations. These tribal nations either were relocated by removal or are native to the area. These records include a variety of official documents and information relating to tribes in Indian and Oklahoma Territory.

History
In 1893, Congress provided for the creation of the Commission of the Five Tribes (Dawes Commission) and authorized this body to meet with representatives of the Five Tribes to persuade them to consent to the extinguishment of title to their lands. This effort was met with resistance and rejection. In 1898, the Curtis Act stated that the commission prepare a new census for each of the Five Tribes. The census would be used to determine those individuals who were citizens of the Five Tribes and therefore entitled to allotment of land in severalty. It was necessary to acquire many of the national records of the tribes involved to carry out the commission’s responsibilities. These records were taken from the various national repositories to Muskogee, where the main commission office was located. The Curtis Act also provided that the five governments be abolished on March 6, 1906, prior to Oklahoma’s statehood. However, at this time, the commission’s work was not completed, and an act of Congress on April 26, 1906, provided for the continuance of the tribal government with limited autonomy.

The records, which were later stored in the federal building at Muskogee, caught the attention of Dr. Grant Foreman, who believed that they were of great historical value and should be inventoried, organized, and placed where they would be accessible to historians. He gained the permission of the Indian Office to direct the calendaring of the documents in 1929. Later, he and others were instrumental in having the collection placed in the Oklahoma Historical Building in Oklahoma City. An act of Congress on March 27, 1934, (H. R. 5631 Public No. 133) transferred the records to the Oklahoma Historical Society’s care, although ownership remained with the federal government.

The collection ranges from 1860 to 1930. Records after 1930 as well as records from the Osage Nation can be found at the Fort Worth branch of the National Archives.

The Research Division is an affiliate of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). These records are part of National Archives Record Group 75 (Bureau of Indian Affairs) stored at the Oklahoma Historical Society under An act of Congress, March 27, 1934, (H. R. 5631 Public No. 133) and through an Agreement with NARA. Additional Bureau of Indian Affairs records for Oklahoma may be found at the National Archives. For more information, see BIA Records: Oklahoma at archives.gov/research/native-americans/bia-guide/oklahoma.html

Access to the American Indian Archives
At this time, the American Indian Archives is being reprocessed. The staff and volunteers of the Manuscript Archives are replacing folders and boxes for preservation, updating the online catalog, and working to make the collection more available for research. During this process, we ask that you use the microfilm in the Research Center, as some boxes may not be available for research. A listing of microfilm can be found below. We apologize for any inconvenience that this may cause. If you have any questions, please contact the Manuscript Archives at 405-522-0876 or Mallory.Covington@history.ok.gov.

When requesting materials from the collection, make sure to include the tribe/agency and the box number. If the records have been microfilmed, we require patrons to use the microfilm unless the film is unreadable or access has been arranged with the archivist. This is to help protect the original records.

Digitization Status
The American Indian Archives Collection is being digitized on demand as requested by patrons or tribal entities. We have received permission from the National Archives to make digitized materials available on The Gateway to Oklahoma History. This is a work in progress, and additional materials will be added.

Tribal Nations with Records Included in the Collection

Records Removed from the Tribal Governments

Cherokee Nation
Chickasaw Nation
Choctaw Nation
Seminole Nation (mostly Mekusukey Academy records)
Muscogee (Creek) Nation

Bureau of Indian Affairs/Dawes Commission

Union Agency (mineral leases and removal of restriction records)
Dawes Commission (commission records, townsite records, correspondence)
Chilocco Indian School

Indian Agent/Agency Records
Cheyenne and Arapaho Agency – Includes Cheyenne, Arapaho, and combined records; also includes Cantonment, Red Moon, Seger school records

Kiowa, Comanche, and Apache Agency – Includes Kiowa, Comanche, Apache, Wichita and Affiliated Bands, Caddo, Delaware, Keechi, Tawakoni, and Waco. School records include Anadarko school, Kiowa and Comanche boarding school, Fort Sill Indian school, Rainy Mountain school, and Wichita/Riverside boarding school records.

Pawnee, Ponca, Otoe, and Missouria Agency – Includes Pawnee, Ponca, Otoe, Missouria, Kansa, Kaw, NS Tonkawa

Quapaw Agency - Quapaw, Cayuga, Delaware, Citizen Potawatomi, Kansas, Miami, Modoc, New York, Nez Perce, Oneida, Ottawa, Peoria Seneca, Wyandotte; also Miami, Modoc, Ottawa, Peoria, Quapaw, and Seneca-Shawnee. School records include Miami school, Modoc school, Ottawa Mission school, Peoria Indian School, Quapaw school, and Seneca-Shawnee-Wyandotte school (SSW school) records.

Sac and Fox and Shawnee Agency - Sac and Fox, Shawnee, Absentee Shawnee, Kickapoo, Mexican Kickapoo, Citizen Potawatomi, Iowa, Otoe, Ottawa, Oneida, and Tonkawa. School records include Sac and Fox School, Haskell Institute, St. Benedict's Indian School, St. Mary’s Academy, Sacred Heart Mission, Absentee Shawnee School, and Shawnee Indian Training School

Additional Resources

Maps
Cherokee; Chickasaw; Choctaw; Muscogee (Creek); Seminole; Cheyenne and Arapaho; Kiowa, Comanche, and Apache; Otoe and Missouria; Indian Territory; and government reports

Microfilm
Microfilm of the collection are included with tribal or agency records. These are additional materials related to the collection and include indexes to Cherokee, Choctaw, and Chickasaw, and Muscogee (Creek) records.

Microfilm Guides (digital and physical copies) - Listing of microfilmed materials with a general description of items associated with the tribal/agency records as well as the National Archives microfilm available in the Research Center

Indexes - Several indexes have been created to help navigate the records. These are available on the Oklahoma Historical Society website, including:

Dawes Commission school reports
Plains tribes individual Indian files
Removal of Restrictions for personal and townsite purposes
Partial index of the card file (A–D is available now with more due in the future)
Chilocco Indian School index
American Indian census on microfilm

Records of the Five Tribes

The records of the Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Muscogee (Creek), and Seminole date from 1856 to 1906. These records contain primary documentation of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches as well as district and county records. Included are census records, accounts of legislative sessions, court dockets, correspondence, election records, treasurer’s records, materials relating to land allotment and leases, and school records. Extensive information about agriculture, citizenship, education, American Indian-white relations, law enforcement, and a variety of aspects of life in Indian Territory can be found in these documents.

Microfilm Guides
Many documents in the American Indian Archives have been microfilmed. Use the links below to find out what records are available on microfilm in the OHS Research Center. All guides are in PDF format.
Cherokee National Records Microfilm Guide
Chickasaw National Records Microfilm Guide
Choctaw National Records Microfilm Guide
Creek National Records Microfilm Guide
Seminole National Records Microfilm Guide
National Archives Records Microfilm Guide (includes multiple tribes)

Indian Agency Records

Indian Agency Records on Microfilm

Many documents in the American Indian Archives have been microfilmed. Use the microfilm guides linked below to find out what records are available on microfilm in the OHS Research Center. The guides also include records microfilmed by the National Archives. All guides listed below are in PDF format.

Cheyenne and Arapaho Agency Records Microfilm Guide

Kiowa Agency Records Microfilm Guide
Includes Apache, Caddo, Comanche, Delaware, Kichai, Kiowa, Tawakoni, Waco, and Wichita Tribes

Osage Agency Records Microfilm Guide
Includes Osage and some Kaw records

Pawnee Agency Records Microfilm Guide
Includes Eastern Shawnee, Confederated Peoria, Nez Perce, Ottawa, Pawnee, Ponca, Quapaw, Seneca, and Wyandotte Tribes

Quapaw Agency Records Microfilm Guide
Includes Cayuga, Chippewa, Citizen Potawatomi, Delaware, Kaskaskia, Kaw, Miami, Modoc, Munsee, Nez Perce, Oneida, Ottawa, Peoria, Piankashaw, Ponca, Quapaw, Seneca of Sandusky, Seneca of Lewiston, Shawnee, Wea, and Wyandotte Tribes

Sac and Fox–Shawnee Agency Records Microfilm Guide
Includes Absentee Shawnee, Citizen Band Potawatomi, Ioway, Mexican Kickapoo, and Sac and Fox Tribes

National Archives Records Microfilm Guide
Includes records for multiple tribes