Choctaw

Report Relating to the Enrollment of Citizens and Freedmen of the Five Civilized Tribes

This report, compiled by Joseph W. Howell on March 3, 1909, addresses the complex process of enrolling citizens and freedmen of the Five Civilized Tribes in accordance with various acts of Congress and treaties. Submitted to the Secretary of the Interior, the report meticulously evaluates the claims of individuals asserting rights to land and monetary benefits associated with tribal distributions. Howell discusses the historical and legal challenges that arose during and after the enrollment process, which officially concluded on March 4, 1907. The report sheds light on the intricate legal and administrative issues encountered, revealing the difficulties in accurately identifying rightful beneficiaries amidst widespread legal and political debates. Howell’s detailed account emphasizes the importance of this work, outlining both the procedural undertakings and the broader implications for the tribes and their members, suggesting further actions to address unresolved issues and ensure equitable treatment of all claimants.

Report of Secretary Adams, July 17, 1912

The document is a report from the Department of the Interior, dated July 17, 1912, addressed to Hon. John H. Stephens, Chairman of the Committee on Indian Affairs. It discusses H.R. 22334, a bill concerning the enrollment of certain persons omitted from the final rolls of the Five Civilized Tribes by March 4, 1907. The report details three classes of persons with claims to enrollment, references previous reports by the department, and comments on sections of the bill related to the sale of unallotted lands and the distribution of tribal funds. It is signed by First Assistant Secretary Samuel Adams and approved by Secretary Walter L. Fisher.

Political and Social Conditions which followed Removal to the Indian Territory

Subsequent Effect Of Same Upon Citizenship Matters The removal of a whole nation from one portion of the country to a remote region difficult of access during the period of 20 year which preceded the Civil War and the reestablishment of that nation after such removal, necessarily had a demoralizing effect upon the institutions and governments of the people affected. This result was accentuated by the fact that the work of removal was accomplished by the Government of the United States, not at any one time, not within the period agreed upon in the treaty. but” throughout a long period … Read more

Letter of Tams Bixby

On January 24, 1903, Tams Bixby, Acting Chairman of the Commission to the Five Civilized Tribes, submitted a detailed letter to the Secretary of the Interior regarding the enrollment status of Bettie Lewis as a citizen of the Choctaw Nation. The letter addressed the department’s previous requests for information and detailed the commission’s exhaustive efforts to obtain accurate tribal rolls from the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations. Bixby highlighted the challenges faced due to the lack of authenticated rolls prior to 1893 and the commission’s ongoing efforts to rectify incomplete and inaccurate records. The letter underscored the complexities of verifying citizenship claims and the necessity for further investigation to ensure fair and accurate enrollment.

Letter of Secretary E. A. Hitchcock, March 17, 1903

This letter from the Department of the Interior, dated March 17, 1903, addresses the eligibility of half-blood children of identified full-blood Mississippi Choctaws for enrollment. The Commission to the Five Civilized Tribes had previously opined that only full-blood individuals or those proving compliance with the 1830 treaty should be enrolled. However, the letter argues that descendants of identified full-blood Choctaws, regardless of mixed ancestry, should be entitled to the same rights. It concludes that excluding mixed-blood children of full-blood Choctaws would contradict the intent of the legislation. The letter is signed by E. A. Hitchcock.