It is wise to acquaint yourself with any repository in Oklahoma which you might visit by writing to the appropriate archive or library in advance.
Most, if not all, Oklahoma repositories have published materials that introduce its collections and research policy.
Oklahoma archives and historical agencies also have Internet sites that provide the same information. Some even have downloadable databases for some or parts of their collections.
Oklahoma Archives
- Oklahoma Department of Libraries, Division of State Archives and Records, 200 N.E. 18th Street, Oklahoma City, OK 75105
- The agency holds the original permanent records generated by state government including Confederate pension applications and transcripts of minutes of the boards of county commissioners for forty-seven counties for 1886–89. The Records Center, a few blocks away at 125 N.E. 21st Street, maintains the non-permanent records for state government and has some records for Cleveland County.
- National Archives; Southwest Region, 501 West Felix Street, Building 1, Fort Worth, Texas 76115-3405; E-mail: ftworth.archives@nara.gov. Mailing Address: P.O. 6216, Fort Worth, Texas 76115-0216
Oklahoma Museums
- The Oklahoma Territorial Museum, 107 East Oklahoma, Guthrie, OK 73044
- It has a collection of early Oklahoma microfilmed records as well as a small collection of histories of the area.
Oklahoma Libraries
- University of Oklahoma Library, 630 Parrington Oval, Monnet Hall, Norman, OK 73019
- Genealogical materials including histories and general reference materials for public use are among the accessions for the library. Special interests are history of the West, development of the Trans-Mississippi West, and Native American cultures. Its Western History Collection includes the WPA Indian-Pioneer Papers (see Manuscripts). It maintains more than 1,500 collections pertaining to Oklahoma, Native Americans, and western frontier history. The Manuscripts Division houses over 5,000 maps of Indian Territory, Oklahoma Territory, and the Trans-Mississippi West. It also has more than 1,000 sound recordings, including the Doris Duke Indian Oral History Collection and other interviews with Oklahoma’s pioneers and leaders
- Oklahoma City Public Library, 131 Northwest Third Street, Oklahoma City, OK 73102
- The library has a genealogical collection. On request, the staff will check family histories free of charge, and materials are available through interlibrary loan.
Oklahoma Historical & Genealogical Societies
For almost every state there is a state genealogical society, a state genealogical council, or both. In addition to their own work, state-level groups sometimes help coordinate the efforts of local societies within the state. Their publications, newsletters and quarterlies, supplement those produced by the local societies.
- Oklahoma Historical Society, Oklahoma History Center, 2401 N. Laird Ave., Oklahoma City, OK 73105; 405-521-2492
- The society has a museum and a library with several major collections that do not circulate. It has federal census records, nearly 50,000 books including, but not limited to, the extensive collection of printed volumes belonging to the State Library of the Oklahoma Society of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, the collection of the Oklahoma Genealogical Society, and other standard genealogical reference materials. It has the largest collection of newspapers for the state, Oklahoma state records, and land records. The strength of its printed collections, however, concerns the counties formed from Oklahoma Territory. It maintains a surname file and a good collection of family histories. The Fred S. Bard Collection of genealogical material concerning pioneers and history is included. The Archives and Manuscripts Division houses some records for the counties of Comanche, Greer, Johnston, Kiowa, Logan, Muskogee, Osage, Payne, Potawatomie, and Swanson. The Indian Archives section of the division houses excellent resources for Native American research
- Oklahoma Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 12986, Oklahoma City 73157-2986
- Publishes a quarterly (see Periodicals)
- The Federation of Oklahoma Genealogical Societies, P.O. Box 2531, Ponca City, Oklahoma 74602
- Many county and city libraries have some genealogical collections, and most counties have genealogical or historical societies. The Federation of Oklahoma Genealogical Societiescan help locate currently operating ones
- Southwest Oklahoma Genealogical Society, Serving: Beckham, Caddo, Comanche, Cotton, Grady, Greer, Harmon, Jackson, Jefferson, Kiowa, Stephens, Tillman and Washita Counties
- Cherokee National Historical Society
- Oklahoma Pioneer Genealogical Society, Ponca City, Oklahoma
- National Genealogical Society, 4527 17th Street North, Arlington, Virginia 22207-2399; (703) 525-0050 or (800) 473-0060
- International Society of Sons and Daughters of Slave Ancestry, P.O. BOX 436937, CHICAGO, IL 60643-6937; Phone: (773) 238-2686
- Oklahoma Society of Daughters of the American Revolution
- Oklahoma Society of Sons of the American Revolution
- Alfalfa County Historical Society, 117 West Main, Cherokee 73728
- Arbuckle Historical Society, 210 South 4th, Davis 73030
- Atoka County Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 245, Atoka 74525
- Bartlesville Genealogical Society, c/o Bartlesville Public Library, Bartlesville 74003
- Bristow Genealogical Society, 612 West 6th, Bristow 74010
- Broken Arrow Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 1244, Broken Arrow 74013
- Bryan County Heritage Assn., P.O. Box 153, Calera 74730-0153
- Bryan County Heritage Society, 618 N. 19th Street, Durant 74701
- Canadian County Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 866, El Reno 73036
- Carter County Historical And Genealogical Society Of, P.O. Box 1326, Ardmore 73402
- Cherokee National Historical Society, P.O. Box 515, Tahlequah 74465-0515
- Cleveland County Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 6176, Norman 73070
- Coal County Historical And Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 322, Coalgate 74538
- Cushing Genealogical Society, Cushing
- Delaware County Genealogical Society, 206 South Elk Street, Grove 74344
- Delaware County Historical Society, Rt. 1, Box 467, Grove 74344
- Edmond Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 1984, Edmond 73083-1984
- Elk City Genealogical Society Of Western Oklahoma, 1119 Crestview Drive, Elk City 73644
- Family Finders Genealogy Club, P.O. Box 738, Nowata 74048
- Federation Of Oklahoma Genealogical Societies, P.O. Box 26151, Oklahoma City 73126
- Ft. Gibson Genealogical And Historical Society, P.O. Box 416, Ft. Gibson 74434
- Garfield County Genealogists, P.O. Box 1106, Enid 73703
- Garfield County Historical Society, P.O. Box 3337, Enid 73702
- Goingsnake District Heritage Association, P.O. Box 180, Westville 74965
- Grady County Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 792, Chickasha 73023
- Grant County Historical Society, P.O. Box 127, Medford 73759
- Haskell County Genealogical Society, 405 Ne 6th Street, Stigler 74462
- Indian Territory Genealogical And Historical Society, Northeastern State University, Tahlequah 74464
- Kiamichi Genealogical Society, Rt. 3, Box 53, Wilburton 74578
- Lake Eufaula Area Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 1035, Eufaula 74423
- Logan County Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 1419, Guthrie 73044
- Love County Historical Society, P.O. Box 134, Marietta 73448
- Major County Genealogical Society, Box 24, Rt. #2, Okeene 73763
- Mangum Genealogical Society, 312 North Tittle, Mangum 73554
- Mayes County Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 924, Chouteau 74337
- Mayes County Historical Society, Rt. 1, Box 231, Chouteau 74337
- Mcclain County Historical And Genealogical Society, 203 W. Washington Street, Purcell 73080
- Mccurtain County Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 1832, Idabel 74745
- Muldrow Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 1253, Muldrow 74938
- Muskogee County Genealogical Society, 801 West Okmulgee, Muskogee 74401
- Noble County Genealogical Society, 601 12th Street, Perry 73077
- Northeast Oklahoma Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 484, Vinita 74301
- Northwest Oklahoma Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 834, Woodward 73802
- Okfuskee County Oklahoma Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 507, Okemah 74859
- Okmulgee County Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 805, Okmulgee 74447
- Ottawa County Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 1383, Miami 74354
- Pawhuska Genealogical Society, 301 East 6th, Pawhuska 74056
- Payne County Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 2708, Stillwater 74076
- Payne County Historical Society, P.O. Box 194, Stillwater 74074
- Pioneer Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 1965, Ponca City 74602
- Pittsburg County Genealogical And Historical Society, 113 East Carl Albert Parkway, Mcalester 74501
- Pontotoc County Historical And Genealogical Society, 221 West 16th Street, Ada 74820
- Poteau Valley Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 1031, Poteau 74953
- Pottawatomie County Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 3526, Shawnee 74801
- Pushmataha County Historical Society, P.O. Box 285, Antlers 74523
- Sapulpa Genealogical Association, P.O. Box 2244, Sapulpa 74066
- Sequoyah Genealogical Society, 101 East Cherokee, Sallisaw 74955
- Stephens County Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 1850, Duncan 73534
- Stratford Roots Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 696, Stratford 74872
- The Geary Genealogical Society, 106 W. Main, Geary 73040
- Three Forks Genealogical Society, 102 1/2 South State Street, Wagoner 74467
- Tillman County Historical Society,
- Tulsa Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 585, Tulsa 74101-0585
- Western Plains Weatherford Genealogy Society, P.O. Box 1672, Weatherford 73096
- Western Trails Historical And Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 574, Altus 73521
- Woods County Genealogists, P.O. Box 234, Alva 73717
