Search the Dawes Final Rolls
About the Dawes Rolls
Officially known as The Final Rolls of the Citizens and Freedmen of the Five Civilized Tribes in Indian Territory, the Dawes Rolls list individuals who chose to enroll and were approved for membership in the Five Civilized Tribes (Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole.) Enrollment for the Dawes Rolls began in 1898 and ended in 1906.
What kind of information will I find on the Dawes Rolls?
The Rolls list the individual's name, age, sex, blood degree, census card number and page, enrollment number, and tribe.
In most cases the ages indicated on the rolls are the age of individuals around 1902. Those listed as "newborns" and "minors" were born after the initial enrollment began in 1898, but before March of 1907.
Tribal association will be listed as "By Blood," "Intermarriage," or "Freedmen." Intermarriage indicates the person was married to a citizen of the tribe. You may also see the letters "I W" for Intermarried White. Freedmen were the former slaves of the Five Civilized Tribes and their descendants.
What information do I need before I search?
Basic information includes the name of a person who was alive and living in the Indian Territory during the enrollment period. If the individual was a married woman, you should look for her under her married name.
I have located my ancestor in the index. What next?
The Oklahoma Historical Society collections include the Dawes census cards and enrollment packets, if available. Census cards list information about the enrollee, and may include information about their family members.
Enrollment packets may provide further details about the individual and their family, including marriage, birth, and death information. Enrollment packets vary in length, and may be up to 100 pages.
To obtain copies of these materials, submit a research request to the Oklahoma Historical Society. Be certain to include the information listed in the index, including the individual's full name, census card number and enrollment number. See our order & fees page for pricing information.
For further information about tribal citizenship, contact the tribe directly.
I cannot locate my ancestor in the index. What should I do now?
Look for your ancestor on the 1900 U.S. Census. If your ancestor did not live in Indian Territory, it is extremely unlikely they will be on the rolls. If they were living in Indian Territory check the available lists for rejected Dawes applications. Consider the possibility your ancestor belonged to another tribe or preferred not to be recognized as Indian.