Marriage Records
A Research Guide from the Oklahoma Historical Society
Important Note
To obtain original marriage documents, contact the county clerk’s office of the county in which the marriage took place.
General Sources for Marriage Information
- Newspaper announcements
- County and family histories
- Military records
- Federal census records
- Dawes Roll census card and application packet (Five Tribes only)
Search the Oklahoma Historical Society’s online catalog to locate marriage information for a specific county or town.
Marriages in Oklahoma Territory and After Statehood
Prior to statehood, Oklahoma was divided into two territories. Oklahoma Territory included seven counties: Logan, Oklahoma, Cleveland, Canadian, Kingfisher, Payne, and Beaver. After the land runs, marriages performed in Oklahoma Territory were recorded in the county clerk’s office of the respective counties.
County Marriage Books in the Research Center
- Cherokee County marriages, from statehood
- Cotton County marriages, 1912–1933
- Oklahoma County marriages, 1890–1949
- Pottawatomie County marriages, 1892–1898
Marriage of Tribal Citizens Before Statehood
Prior to statehood in 1907, if a bride or groom was a citizen of a Native American tribe, their marriage records may be included in the Five Civilized Tribes National Records or the Agency Records for the Plains and Woodland Tribes. These records vary according to the tribes, districts, and counties.
OHS Agency Record Holdings
- Cherokee National Records
- Chickasaw National Records
- Choctaw National Records
- Creek National Records
- Seminole National Records
- Cheyenne and Arapaho Agency Records
- Kiowa Agency Records
- Osage Agency Records
- Pawnee Agency Records
- Quapaw Agency Records
- Sac and Fox Agency Records
Other Sources for Native American Marriages
- Cherokee intermarriages, 1865–1887
- Cherokee Goingsnake District marriages, 1860–1910
- Cherokee Guion Miller Roll, 1800s–1909
- Choctaw marriages Skullyville, 1876–1902
- Creek marriages, 1903–1907
- Osage marriages, 1820–1886
Prior to 1907, Indian Territory was officially open to only Native Americans, but there were some non-Natives living in the territory. Depending on a couple’s circumstances and the time frame, they may have traveled to a neighboring state or back home to marry. Those who married in Indian Territory had multiple options. Ranking officers at nearby forts and ministers at early Christian missions were licensed to perform marriages. There were multiple non-Native towns located in Indian Territory, and many had a church. In all of these instances, the license was given to the couple, and it was up to them to take it to a courthouse outside of Indian Territory to be recorded.
Prior to 1890 there was no place within Indian Territory to record marriages. From about 1890 until statehood, marriages of white and African American citizens in Indian Territory were recorded in the various Recording Districts of the United States Federal Courts.
In 1890, three Judicial Districts were established in Indian Territory. Non-Natives needed to travel to one of these districts to record a marriage:
- First District - included the Cherokee and Muscogee (Creek) Nations. The court seat was Muskogee.
- Second District - covered the Choctaw Nation. The court seat was South McAlester.
- Third District - included the Seminole and Chickasaw Nations. The court seat was Ardmore.
In 1895, the Indian Territory Judicial Districts were divided further. Marriages in Kansas, Arkansas, and Missouri may have also utilized these courts:
- Northern District - included the area of Muscogee (Creek), Seminole, and Cherokee Nations. The court seats were Vinita, Miami, Tahlequah, and Muskogee.
- Central District - included the Choctaw Nation. The court seats were South McAlester, Atoka, Antlers, and Cameron (moved to Poteau).
- Southern District - included the Chickasaw Nation. The court seats were Ardmore, Purcell, Pauls Valley, Ryan, and Chickasha.
Locating the Records
A number of present-day court clerk offices have custody of territorial marriage records. The following table shows a list of the counties where these records were originally kept, the number of volumes, and the period of time covered. Some of these records have been transcribed, published, or microfilmed.
| County | Volumes | Period of Time Covered | Where to Find Records |
|---|---|---|---|
| Muskogee | 28 | July 1890–November 1906 | OHS has these records on microfilm; originals are held by the Muskogee County Court Clerk in Muskogee. |
| Carter | 12 | April 1895–February 2, 1934 | These records have been microfilmed by the LDS Church and are available at the OHS Research Center. Mary Kinard’s index is also available in the Research Center. Originals are held by the Carter County Court Clerk in Ardmore. |
| Pittsburg | 13 | June 1890–November 1907 | These records are in the custody of the OHS and available on microfilm. Microfilm of volumes 7–13 is available at the Pittsburg County Genealogical Society. Several volumes have been published by Ellen Tiffee of McAlester. |
| Craig | 10 | July 1902–October 1909 | Records are in the custody of the Craig County Court Clerk in Vinita. |
| Atoka | 3 | June 1897–November 1907 | Records are in the custody of the Atoka County Court Clerk in Atoka. Lynda Stout Massey and Clara Massey Nash have published Marriages Southern District Oklahoma Indian Territory, Book One 1897–1901. |
| Bryan | 2 | July 1902–October 1905 | In the custody of the Bryan County Court Clerk in Durant. |
| Latimer | 1 | July 1906–November 1907 | Records are believed to be in the custody of the Latimer County Court Clerk in Wilburton. |
| LeFlore | 3 | June 1897–November 1907 | Records are believed to be in the custody of the Le Flore County Court Clerk in Poteau. The Poteau Valley Genealogical Society has published at least two volumes of the marriage records. |
Contact Us
Oklahoma Historical Society Research Center
Oklahoma History Center
800 Nazih Zuhdi Drive
Oklahoma City, OK 73105
405-522-5225
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