Census CardsPertaining to Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole Tribes in Oklahoma |
Census Cards (Enrollment Cards)
The Dawes Commission prepared Census Cards for each "family group" to record information about the applicants and actions taken by the Commission and the Secretary of Interior.
Many researchers begin by examining Dawes Census Cards before searching Enrollment Jackets and Land Allotment Jackets. From the Census Cards, note following:
- Tribe and enrollment category - Click here for a listing.
- Census Card Number - Located in the card’s upper right hand corner.
- Enrollment Number - Found on the card’s left side, only found for approved applicants.
These details can be found throughout the various records created by the Dawes Commission. They will help to verify that you are tracking the same individual or family.
Locating the Index and Census Cards
- A digitized copy of the original Index to the Final Rolls of Citizens and Freedmen of the Five Civilized Tribes in Indian Territory (Dawes) is available online for free through the National Archives. This index provides the enrollment and Census Card number.
- The individual Census Cards are indexed, digitized, and available online at Ancestry.com (database titled Native American Enrollment Cards) and Fold3.com (database titled Dawes Enrollment Cards).
- Prior to digitization, these records were accessible via microfilm publication M1186, Enrollment Cards of the Five Civilized Tribes.
- Visit the National Archives Catalog for the full archival records description: National Archives Identifier 251747.
- The can provide copies of census cards for a fee. Please include the individual's or family's name, tribe, enrollment number, and card number.
Deciphering the Census Cards
Each sample includes both an original and an annotated copy.
