Archive Collections American Indian Archives Cherokee Records

A Timeline of Records Of The Five Civilized Tribes Pertaining to the Cherokee Nation

As held in the OHS Research Division Collection

by William D. Welge, CA, Director of the Research Division

Legend

HC=Hard copy
MF=Microfilm
MS=Manuscript
VF=Vertical File

Pre-Removal Records

Census Records: 1817-1835

There is a mixture of paper or hard copy (HC) and microfilm (MF) material including:

1817 Reservees (HC) See Section X Cherokee Census
1817-1835 Emigration Rolls (HC) See File Drawer RR
1830-1833 Western Cherokees (HC) See File Drawer RR
1833 Emigrants since July 1833 (HC) See File Drawer RR
1835 Henderson Roll* (HC) See THOSE WHO CRIED in File Drawer RR & Microfilm cabinet.

Letters & Correspondence: 1806 to 1866

Gary Moulton Collection JOHN ROSS LETTERS 1806-1866 (HC) See Section X on shelf 7 cubic feet.
Cherokee Agency, West 1824-1836 (MF) National Archives M-234 series rolls #77 - 79. See Microfilm cabinet

Missionary Records: 1815 to 1862

1815-1836 Spring Place Mission (HC) See NEW ECHOTA
HISTORIC SITE MISSIONARY LETTERS Section X on shelf
1816-1859 Cherokee Mission/Arkansas Mission (MF) See American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions (ABC 18.3.1 Reels 736-754) Microfilm cabinet
1820-1826 Union Mission Journal (MF) See AMD 3 Micro-film cabinet
1821 Susan Comstock Requa Papers (MF) See AMD 3 Microfilm cabinet
1822-1862 Dwight Mission Church Records (MF) See AMD 3 Microfilm cabinet
1823-1831 Oothcalaga Mission (HC) See NEW ECHOTA HISTORIC SITE MISSIONARY LETTERS Section X on shelf
1825-1830's Samuel Worcester Diary (HC) See NEW ECHOTA HISTORIC SITE MISSIONARY LETTERS Section X on shelf
1826-1861 Baptist Missionary Letters (MF) See Micro-film cabinet
1831 Dr. Elizer Butler (HC) See MS 85.54
1834 Lt. Harris Journal (HC) See Section X-Cherokee Removal
1842-1845 Dwight Mission School (MF) See AMD 3 Microfilm cabinet

Indian Archives Records

1808-1838 Various letters and documents scattered throughout Section X especially Federal Relations; missions & Missionaries
1817-1839 Thomas Harrison Collection (HC & MF) See Section X- on shelf & microfilm cabinet* Use microfilm to make copies
1826-1884 Cherokee Letters & Documents (HC) See Foreman Transcripts (Blue cover) on Reference shelf
1829-1862 Commissioner of Indian Affairs Vol. 1 - 7, Foreman Transcripts (Red cover) on Reference shelf
1830-1849 War Department Files (HC) See Foreman Transcripts (Blue cover) Reference shelf

Removal & Pre-Civil War

Census Records: 1835-1860

1835 Henderson Roll (HC & MF) See File Drawer RR 1842 Cherokee Claims-Only 3 out of the 9 districts are represented here. They are: Saline; Skin Bayou* (later to become Sequoyah District in 1851); and Tahlequah
1851 Drennen Roll Cherokee Nation Oklahoma (HC & MF) RR
1860 Indian Lands West of Arkansas (HC) RR

Letters & Correspondence 1828-1854

1828-1854 Cherokee Emigration (MF) National Archives M-234 series rolls #113-116. See Microfilm cabinet
1830-1846 Gary Moulton Collection JOHN ROSS LETTERS (HC). See Section X-on shelf
1830-1860 Grant Foreman Collection (HC) See MS 83-229
1833-1879 John Thompson Adair Papers (HC) See Manuscript Collection (MS) 81-101
1834-1836 Fort Gibson Letterbook (HC) See MS 81-118
1834 Lt. Harris Journal (HC) See Section X-Cherokee Removal
1838-1851 Dr. I.I.W. Morrow Papers (HC) See MS 83.36
1846-1847 Stand Watie Papers (HC) See MS 82.04
1855-1861 Charles C. Torrey Papers (HC) See MS 85.55
1875-1915 Cherokee Removal, West (HC) See MS 85.61

Indian Archives Records

1828-1846 Various letters and documents scattered throughout Section X, especially Federal Relations
1828-1856 Thomas Harrison Collection (HC & MF) See Section X-on shelf and microfilm cabinet
1858-1861 Cherokee National Records (HC & MF)* See Microfilm Catalog *USE MICROFILM COPIES ONLY
1937-1938 Indian Pioneer History Collection - 112 Volumes

Rebellion Records

Census

1867 Thompkins Roll (HC & MF)

Letters & Correspondence

1861-1865 JOHN ROSS LETTERS (HC) See Gary Moulton Collection Section X - on shelf
1861-1865 Robert S. Boyd Collection (HC) See MS 82.59
1861-1866 Thomas Mitchell Buffington Collection (HC) See MS 84.04
1862-1866 Kenneth N. Phillips Collection (HC) See MS 81.135
1862-1864 Stand Watie Papers (HC & MF) See MS 82.04
1862-1865 Second &'Third Indian Regiments (HC) See MS 82.23
1863 George L. Washington Letter (HC) re: Gen. Stand Watie See MS 81.128
1864-1865 Senseney Collection (HC) See MS 81.119

Missionary Records

1861-1865 Nearly all of the mainline denominations withdrew from Indian Territory with the out break of the Rebellion. Therefore, no documents will be found in this collection for that time period. There would be resumption of missionary efforts after 1865.

Indian Archives Records

*1861-1865 Cherokee National Records (HC & MF) Most notably documents will be found in civil war; Federal Relations; and National Council.* Use Microfilm copies only
1861-1865 Section X Vertical files (HC) See War, Civil; Federal Relations; and National Council
1865 First, Second & Third Regiments, Indian Home Guard Muster Rolls (HC) See Section X on shelf
1928 HISTORY OF THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES IN THE CONFEDERATE ARMY; Volumes 1 and 2 compiled by Grant Foremen (MF) Covers 1862-1863 period. See- IAD-5 Microfilm cabinet
1937-1938 INDIAN-PIONEER HISTORY COLLECTION, 112 vols. See RR

Post Civil War Records

Census - There will be a mixture of hard copy and microfilm copy in this material.

1880 Lists all family members; age; sex; and district
1886 Lists name and district
1890 Lists all family members; age; sex; and district
1893 Lists all family members; district
1896 Lists all family members; age and district

Letters & Correspondence: 1866-1896

There will be a number of manuscript collections which will have pertinent data for this period.

1822-1870 Dwight Mission church Records (HC & MF) See MS 82.05
1833-1879 John Thompson Adair Papers (HC) See MS 81.101
1846"1884 Stand Watie Papers (HC & MF) See MS 82.04
1851-1890 Flint District Court Records (HC & MF) See MS 82.18
1866-1896 Grant Foreman Collection (HC) See MS 83-229 Various files under Cherokee Indians for that period
1866-1970 Worcester Academy (HC) See MS 82.44

Missionary Records: 1866-1896

Records for this time frame are limited.
1833-1893 Presbyterian Historical society Missionary Correspondence (MF) See Microfilm cabinet

Indian Archives Records: 1858-1905

The post Civil War period was one of intense growth for the Cherokee Nation. However, there were numerous attempts to dissolve the nation during this period.

1858-1900 Cherokee National Records (HC & MF) The some 130 plus cubic feet of records cover all aspects of the life; culture; language; and politic's of the nation. See Microfilm catalog for specific references
1866-1900 Section X Vertical Files
1866-1900 Emmet Starr Collection (HC & MF) See MS 81.103 & 81.104

Dawes Commission Records 1896-1906

Census: 1900-1909

1900-1906 Dawes Commission Final Rolls for the Cherokee and Freedmen. This consists of the Index and Roll compiled by the commission. This will include the name of the enrollee; age; gender; degree of Indian blood and related family information. Also, the application packet or testimony is included by using the census card number. (MF) See Microfilm cabinet
1906-1909 Guion Miller Roll of Eastern Cherokees. This is a payroll to descendants of Eastern Cherokees. Presently, we only have the index and brief synopsis of whether the applicant was enrolled or rejected.

Letters & Correspondence: 1896-1906

Very few collections will cover this period.

Missionary Records

Very spotty records mostly related to individual churches.

Indian Archives: 1896-1906

1896-1906 Cherokee National Records in particular the Minute book of the Cherokee Delegation to the Dawes Commission. (HC) See Cherokee Vol. 385* This volume has not been microfilmed as of January 3, 1995
1896-1906 Section X Vertical Files
1937-1938 INDIAN-PIONEER HISTORY COLLECTION 112 volumes