Choctaw

Slavery in the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations

Slavery was an existing institution in the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations at the time of and prior to the treaties of 1830 and 1837, and the same general rule regarding the status of the offspring of slaves seemed to have prevailed there as in the neighboring States. Out of the social system thus existing various conditions arose resulting in the following classes: Where one parent was an Indian citizen (male or female) and the other a non-citizen having the status of a free person. In such the offspring were entitled to enrollment regardless of the race of the non-citizen parent. … Read more

Report of W. C. Pollock, January 15, 1912

This document is a report by W. C. Pollock, dated January 15, 1912, concerning the enrollment of citizens and freedmen of the Five Civilized Tribes. Pollock was tasked with investigating claims that eligible individuals were omitted from the final rolls. The report, addressed to the Secretary of the Interior, outlines the methods used to identify such individuals, including collaboration with the Commissioner to the Five Civilized Tribes, field investigations, and examinations of relevant records. It highlights the challenges and findings, listing those who might have been wrongly excluded, and suggests provisions for adding omitted names to the rolls.