More resources for your Cherokee genealogy research

The Cherokee Nation doesn’t do genealogy or family history research for the public. However,there are many places that do. Many other locations for information on genealogical research may be found on the internet.

Remember that there is a great satisfaction in doing the research yourself, and remember the burden of proof lies with you, the applicant.

For further information or to receive a hard copy of Cherokee Nation citizenship application(s) by U.S. Postal mail please contact the Registration Department at registration@cherokee.org or by calling 918-458-6980, during normal business hours, Monday-Friday, CST.

The Cherokee FIRST program has a volunteer initiative for free Dawes Roll lookups by email. You may send Dawes Roll lookup requests to rolls@cherokee.org.

You are welcome to visit the Registration Department and research the index and rolls yourself from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. The index and rolls are also available at other locations. For the research facility nearest you, please consult the Cherokee Nation office or you may wish to contact a professional genealogist or your local library for help with your research.

Helpful Research Sites

To search the Guion Miller and Dawes/Freedman rolls yourself (no waiting on an email reply), please visit:
Dawes/Freedman Roll Search – NARA Archival Information Locator (NAIL):
www.archives.gov

You can also search the Dawes Rolls at Access Geneology

The Cherokee Heritage Center also has a genealogist available to assist people in researching their Cherokee ancestry for a fee. You can reach them at 918-456-6007 or by visiting their website at www.cherokeeheritage.org

If tracing to an ancestor that came from around Tennessee, Georgia, Eastern Alabama or South Carolina, you may want to correspond instead with:

The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians
Qualla Boundary
PO Box 455
Cherokee, NC 28719
828-497-4771
www.cherokee-nc.com

For additional researchers, you may request a list of professional, certified genealogists who specialize in Indian research from the following website:

The Board for Certification of Genealogists
https://www.bcgcertification.org/associates/index.php

If you need further genealogy assistance at other times, the Muskogee Public Library, 801 West Okmulgee, Muskogee, OK, may be able to help. 918-682-6657 (68-BOOKS). It contains most of the Cherokee Dawes applications & the Miller Roll applications, as well as additional federal census records.

Mon – Thurs: 9 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Friday: 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Saturday: 9a.m. – 5:30 p.m.

General Contact for Cherokee Nation Registration
registration@cherokee.org 918-458-6980 OR 800-256-0671