In Oklahoma Territory
If your family filed a claim in Oklahoma Territory, documentation of the actual date the farm or ranch was occupied is easy to obtain by following these steps:
- Complete the Federal Tract Books of Oklahoma Territory Form listed here (Federal Tract Books of Oklahoma Territory Form). Information needed to complete this form is available at:
- Oklahoma Historical Society Library
Oklahoma History Center
2401 North Laird Avenue
Oklahoma City, OK 73105
If you are unable to look the information up yourself, fill in the name of the ENTRYMAN and the LEGAL DESCRIPTION and mail the form to the Historical Society Library, and the staff will look the information up for you. If the date recorded is a minimum of 100 years ago, a copy of the appropriate page will be sufficient documentation to qualify your property for the Centennial Farm & Ranch Program.
- Oklahoma Historical Society Library
- If the date is less than 100 years, contact the National Archives (at the address below) and request a National Archives Order for Copies of Land Entry Files form. Complete the form, return it to the National Archives, and they will send you a copy of the Homestead Application, which will contain proof of your family's occupation of the land. The National Archives will bill you for the copying costs (contact the Archives for cost). It takes approximately eight to ten weeks to obtain the information from the National Archives. We encourage you to contact the National Archives regardless to receive this information for your own family files.
- To obtain copies of the original case files for Homestead Entry Application, please write to:
Textual Reference Branch-Land (NWDT1)
National Archives & Records Administration
7th & Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, D.C. 20408
For record copies of the patents, contact:
National Archives & Records Administration
Denver Regional Branch
Building 48
Denver Federal Center
Denver, Colorado 80225
Please send all numbers and full land description when writing to either agency. - To obtain copies of the original case files for Homestead Entry Application, please write to: