Oklahoma Church Records: Difference between revisions

Oklahoma Church Records (view source)

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-Church records and the information they provide vary significantly depending on the denomination and the record keeper. They may contain information about members of the congregation, such as age, date of baptism, christening, or birth; marriage information and maiden names; and death date. Records may include names of other relatives who were witnesses or members of the congregation. The members of some churches were predominantly of one nationality or ethnic group.
+<div style="float:right; margin:30px">
+{|
+|-
+|style="border:1px solid DarkBlue; margin:70px; background:GhostWhite; width 15%; padding-right:15px; padding-left:15px; height:50px "|
+<center>'''For greater success, use all the Wiki Articles in this series:'''</center>
+*[[What Can I Find in U.S. Church Records?|'''What Can I Find in U.S. Church Records?''']]
+*[[Determining the Church Your Ancestor Attended|'''Determining the Church Your Ancestor Attended''']]
+*[[How to Find Church Records in the United States|'''How to Find Church Records in the United States''']]
+*[[United States Church Records#Searching for Church Records by Denomination|'''Searching for Church Records by Denomination''' ]]
+*[[United States Church Records#Searching for Church Records by U.S. State|'''Searching for Church Records by U.S. State''']]
+|}
+</div>
+------
+==Historical Background==
 Before 1900 the largest religious groups in [[Oklahoma, United States Genealogy|Oklahoma]] were the Baptist, Roman Catholic, Disciples of Christ, and Methodist churches.<ref>Sydney E. Ahlstrom, ''A Religious History of the American People'' (New Haven, Conn.: Yale University Press, 1972). {{FHL|282712|item|disp=FHL Book 973 K2ah}}.</ref> An inventory of churches and church records is ''Preliminary List of Churches and Religious Organizations in Oklahoma''. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma: Historical Records Survey, 1942. {{FHL|146137|item}} book 976.6 K2h; fiche 6046945. This lists Southern Baptist, Disciples of Christ, Methodist Episcopal, Methodist, and Roman Catholic churches.
+==Information Found in the Records==
+To effectively use church records, become familiar with their content. Click on these links to learn about a specific record type:
+{|
+|-
+|style="vertical-align:top; padding-right:30px"|
+*[[What Can I Find in U.S. Church Records?#Baptisms or Christenings|Baptisms or Christenings]]
+*[[What Can I Find in U.S. Church Records?#Marriages|Marriages]]
+|style="vertical-align:top; padding-right:30px"|
+*[[What Can I Find in U.S. Church Records?#Funerals or Burials|Funerals or Burials]]
+*[[What Can I Find in U.S. Church Records?#Membership Lists|Membership Lists]]
+|style="vertical-align:top; padding-right:30px"|
+*[[What Can I Find in U.S. Church Records?#Minutes or Historical Narrative|Minutes or Historical Narrative]]
+|}
-The Family History Library has very few church records from Oklahoma. The library has histories of some local churches and congregations.
+==Finding the Records==
-===Online Records===
+===Look for online records.===
+'''Ancestry.com, FindMyPast.com, and MyHeritage.com can be searched free of charge at your local [https://familysearch.org/locations/ family history center] or the [https://familysearch.org/wiki/en/Family_History_Library Family History Library] in Salt Lake City, Utah.
+<br>
+{|
+|-
+|
+[[File:Caution sign.png|70px]]
+|
+Online databases are <span style="color:Red">'''incomplete'''</span>. This can lead to two common errors:
+#'''Near matches:''' Researchers might <span style="color:Red">'''mistakenly accept an entry very similar to their ancestor'''</span>, thinking it is the only one available. Only use information that matches your ancestor in date, place, relationships, and other details.
+#'''Stopping research''': Researchers might <span style="color:Red">'''assume the database proves church records do not exist'''</span>.  Actually the record is still out there, just not in this <span style="color:Red">'''incomplete'''</span> collection of records.  Keep searching!
+|}
+----
 *[https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/2790264 '''1897-1984''' - Oklahoma, Church Records, 1897-1984], index and images, incomplete.
-===Missions===
+===Look for digital copies of church records listed in the FamilySearch Catalog. ===
+[[File:Family History Library.jpg|right|thumb|<center>'''Family History Library'''<br>'''Salt Lake City, Utah'''</center>]]
+*The [[Family History Library|Family History Library]] (FHL) has a substantial collection of original church records and transcripts on microfilm for churches in the United States.
+*Online church records can be listed in the FamilySearch Catalog under the state, county, or town.
+*If you find a record that has not yet been digitized, see [https://beta.familysearch.org/help/helpcenter/article/how-do-i-request-that-a-microfilm-be-digitized '''How do I request that a microfilm be digitized?''']
+*Some records might have viewing restrictions, and can only be viewed at a [https://familysearch.org/locations/ '''Family History Center'''] near you, and/or by members of supporting organizations.
+*To find records:
+:::a. Click on the [https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/results?count=20&placeId=360&query=%2Bplace%3A%22United%20States%2C%20Oklahoma%22 '''records of United States, Oklahoma'''].
+:::b. Click on '''Places within United States, Oklahoma''' and a list of counties will appear.
+:::c. Click on your county if it appears.
+:::d. Click on the '''"Church records"''' topic. Click on the blue links to specific record titles.
+:::e. Click on '''Places within United States, Oklahoma [COUNTY]''' and a list of towns will appear.
+:::f. Click on your town if it appears, or the location which you believe was the parish which served your town or village.
+:::g. Click on the '''"Church records"''' topic. Click on the blue links to specific record titles.
+:::h. Some combination of these icons will appear at the far right of the listing for the record. [[File:FHL icons.png|75px]].  The magnifying glass indicates that the record is indexed. Clicking on the magnifying glass will take you to the index. Clicking on the camera will take you to an online digital copy of the records.
+-----
-Tallahassee Mission
+===Consult available finding aids.===
-===Denominations===
+'''These aids generally provide lists of records that are known to exist and information on their location.'''
+----
-Many denominations have collected their records in central repositories. You can write to the following addresses to learn where their records are located:
+===Correspond with or visit the actual churches.===
+Some records are still held in the local churches. Contact the current minister to find out what records are still available.
+*'''Make an appointment''' to look at the records. Or ask the minister of the church to make a copy of the record for you.
+*To find church staff available, you might have to visit on Sunday.
+*Ask for small searches at a time, such as one birth record or a specific marriage. Never ask for "everything on a family or surname".
+*A '''donation''' ($25-$40) for their time and effort to help you would be appropriate.
+*If the church has a website, you may be able to '''e-mail a message'''.
+*See the [[Letter Writing Guide for Genealogy|'''Letter Writing Guide for Genealogy''']] for help with composing letters.
+*Each [[United States Church Records#Searching for Church Records by Denomination|'''denomination page''']] offers an [[United States Church Records#Searching for Church Records by Denomination|'''online address directory of local churches''']] for that denomination.
+===Check the church records collections in archives and libraries.===
+Some church records have been deposited for preservation in government archives or in libraries. Watch for links to '''digitized, online records''' offered by the archives. Some archives provide '''research services''' for a fee. For others, if you cannot visit in person, you might hire a [https://algensoc.org/main/researchers.html '''researcher.''']<br>
+<br>
+<span style="color:DarkViolet">'''Here you will find archive information unique to the state. Many more archives are kept by denomination. For denominational  archives, go to  [[United States Church Records#Searching for Church Records by Denomination|'''Searching for Church Records by Denomination.''']]</span>
 ===Baptist===
@@ Line 30: / Line 96: @@
 Their catalog is available on their Internet site.
-===The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons)===
-{| style="float:right;	"
-|-
-|{{MormonLDSRemoval}}
-|}
-Early church records for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, for&nbsp;Oklahoma Wards and Branches, can be found on film and are located at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. The film numbers for each ward can be located through the [https://www.familysearch.org/#form=catalog FamilySearch Catalog] or by referring to Jaussi, Laureen R., and Gloria D. Chaston, ''Register of Genealogical Society Call Numbers'', 2 vols. Provo, Utah: Genealogy Tree, 1982. (FHL book 979.2258 A3j; fiche 6031507). These volumes contain the film numbers for many (but not all) membership and temple record films.
 ===Disciples of Christ===
@@ Line 71: / Line 129: @@
 The diocese includes the counties of: [[Adair County, Oklahoma Genealogy|Adair]], [[Atoka County, Oklahoma Genealogy|Atoka]], [[Bryan County, Oklahoma Genealogy|Bryan]], [[Cherokee County, Oklahoma Genealogy|Cherokee]], [[Choctaw County, Oklahoma Genealogy|Choctaw]], [[Coal County, Oklahoma Genealogy|Coal]], [[Craig County, Oklahoma Genealogy|Craig]], [[Delaware County, Oklahoma Genealogy|Delaware]], [[Haskell County, Oklahoma Genealogy|Haskell]], [[Hughes County, Oklahoma Genealogy|Hughes]], [[Latimer County, Oklahoma Genealogy|Latimer]], [[LeFlore County, Oklahoma Genealogy|LeFlore]], [[McCurtain County, Oklahoma Genealogy|McCurtain]], [[McIntosh County, Oklahoma Genealogy|McIntosh]], [[Mayes County, Oklahoma Genealogy|Mayes]], [[Muskogee County, Oklahoma Genealogy|Muskogee]], [[Nowata County, Oklahoma Genealogy|Nowata]], [[Okfuskee County, Oklahoma Genealogy|Okfuskee]], [[Okmulgee County, Oklahoma Genealogy|Okmulgee]], [[Osage County, Oklahoma Genealogy|Osage]], [[Ottawa County, Oklahoma Genealogy|Ottawa]], [[Pawnee County, Oklahoma Genealogy|Pawnee]], [[Payne County, Oklahoma Genealogy|Payne]] [[Pittsburg County, Oklahoma Genealogy|Pittsburg]], [[Pushmataha County, Oklahoma Genealogy|Pushmataha]], [[Rogers County, Oklahoma Genealogy|Rogers]], [[Sequoyah County, Oklahoma Genealogy|Seqyoyah]], [[Tulsa County, Oklahoma Genealogy|Tulsa]], [[Wagoner County, Oklahoma Genealogy|Wagoner]] and [[Washington County, Oklahoma Genealogy|Washington]].<ref name="rome" />
+==Next, go to the Wiki article for your ancestors' denomination. ==
+There are frequently additional, nationwide or regional archives and online collections for each denomination.  Find the article for your ancestors' denomination and follow the instructions there to access these sources.
+{{Template:US-church-sidebar}}
+<br>
+==Carefully compare any record you find to known facts about the ancestor==
+You will possibly find many different people with the '''same name as your ancestor,''' especially when a family stayed in a locality for several generations, and several children were named after the '''grandparents or aunts and uncles'''. Be prepared to find the correct church records by organizing in advance as many of these exact details about the ancestor '''as possible''':
+*'''name''', including '''middle name and maiden name'''
+*names of all '''spouses''', including middle and maiden name
+*exact or closely estimated '''dates of birth, marriage, and death'''
+*names and approximate birthdates of '''children'''
+*all known places of '''residence'''
+*'''occupations'''
+*'''military''' service details
+<br>
+[[File:Dark_thin_font_green_pin_Version_4.png|50px]]'''Carefully evaluate''' the church records you find to make sure you have really found records for your ancestor and not just a '''"near match"'''. If one or more of the details do not line up, be careful about accepting the entry as your ancestor. There are guiding principles for deciding how to resolve discrepancies between records that are seemingly close. For more instruction in evaluating evidence, read the Wiki article, [[Evaluate the Evidence|'''Evaluate the Evidence'''.]]
 ==References==