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Appendix A - Dawes Commission Records
Comparatively few people have any idea of the magnitude of the records of the
Dawes Commission. Beginning at an early date after its creation the Dawes
Commission began the work of securing data relative to the status of claimants
for membership as citizens of the Five Civilized Tribes together with the value
of the land and the improvements thereon. The census cards, later enrollment,
and the patents to the individual members was the sequel of this work.
The Commission first began to enroll members of the Creek Tribe of Indians, and
its procedure was not systematized to the extent adopted when the work of
enrollment of the other Tribes began. As a result in a very large percentage of
the Creek enrollment cases we find no record or transcript of the testimony
adduced before the Commission, as a basis for enrollment. Testimony was taken,
before the Commission, in every case but this testimony was not transcribed and
kept in the files, and as a result there is now no record of it. However, in a
large number of cases, and in all contested enrollment cases the testimony was
transcribed, and a copy of the same may now be found in the enrollment jackets.
Persons seeking to buy, or lease, allotted lands in any of the Five Nations
should see to it that there is presented to them with the abstract of title a
certified copy of the census card, a certified allotment plat, and, in case
there be any doubt as to the age of the allottee, a certified copy of the
enrollment record, or so much thereof as tends to show the age of the allottee.
You will note that in this last statement we suggest that you secure "So much of
the enrollment record as tends to show the age of the allottee." We say this for
the reason that in many instances the enrollment records cover hundreds of pages
of testimony, possibly only three or four pages of which or three or four lines
of which show anything tending to fix the age. It would he useless, for you to
secure the entire record, and it would work a great hardship on you not only in
original cost, but in having it inserted in any court record, and paying for
copies thereof thereafter in a case-made on appeal. In a very large percentage
of cases you had best get the entire record, but there are cases in which you
should make your order specific and request only such parts of this record as
tends to show the age of the citizen whose age you are seeking to know. In such
cases as these last referred to the office of the Superintendent will
undoubtedly charge an additional fee for making the investigation and culling
out from the record and evidence in the office such portions as will tend to
show the age of the particular allottee. This matter, however, should first be
taken up with the Superintendent. Remember this, always that the ages given on
the census cards are not to be taken as a verity. The law says that the
"enrollment record" is the evidence of the age and you must get this from the
office of the Superintendent to the Five Civilized Tribes. You can get it
nowhere else.
It is interesting to know that in the making of these enrollments and allotment
records the Dawes Commission went over Indian Territory with a fine-tooth comb
and gradually gathered in all letters, bills of sale, notes, mortgages, birth
affidavits, death affidavits, marriage licenses, marriage certificates, and
other such data, and these are now on file in the office of the Commission, and
are attached as Exhibits to the record, in enrollment and allotment contest
cases. The purpose of this was to show the status of the citizen or land he was
seeking to allot. In certain cases it may be necessary for you to search back
through these old records, but such cases will be rare. This search must be made
by some one of the office force and on proper request and proper showing of
reasons for wanting the search made, the Superintendent will detail some one
familiar with the files to make the search and you can then purchase such
certified copies as you desire.
An idea of the cost of certified copies
may be seen from the following:
| Deeds, Census Cards |
$1.00 each |
| Birth and death affidavits |
$1.00 |
| Application for allotment |
$1.00 |
| Miscellaneous records, per
hundred words (Minimum charge
.50) |
.10 |
| Copy of Approved Roll (For
each name) |
.25 |
| Plats, (showing one
allottees land in one section) |
.25 |
| Tribal Rolls, (1866, 1888,
1896, one name) |
.50 |
| Plats unallotted land, (per
tract) |
.25 |
| Schedules unallotted land
per tract, (Name and
address-purchaser) |
.
.25 |
| Allotment certificate stubs |
.50 |
| Lease, (Printed form) |
$1.25 |
| Lease (typewritten) |
$2.50 |
| Stipulation |
.50 |
| Assignment |
.50 |
| Ledger Sheet (full page) |
$2.50 |
| Ledger Sheet (˝
page or less) |
$1.50 |
| Proof of Heirship |
$1.00 |
| Removal of Restrictions
Certificate |
.25 |
| Order of Removal of
Restrictions |
$1.00 |
| Lease Certificate |
.25 |
| Miscellaneous records, per
hundred words (Minimum charge
25c) |
.10 |
| Town Lot Plats |
$1.00 |
With your remittance for each certified
copy, for the present, send 10c additional
for documentary stamp, under the recent
Internal Revenue Law. This will avoid delay.
Send all communications at present to Gabe
E. Parker, Superintendent to the Five
Civilized Tribes, Muskogee, Oklahoma, and
make your remittances by bank draft, or
money order, payable to W. M. Baker,
Cashier.
Campbells Abstract
Campbell's Abstract of Creek Indian Census Cards, 1915
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