Tract Books: Difference between revisions

Tract Books (view source)

Revision as of 10:55, 13 June 2025

464 bytes removed , 13 June

m

Text replacement - "http://www.glorecords.blm.gov/" to "https://glorecords.blm.gov/search/default.aspx"

Approver, Batcheditor, Moderator, Patroller, Protector, Reviewer, Bots, Bureaucrats, editor, Interface administrators, pagecreator, pagedeleter, Page Ownership admin, Push subscription managers, smwadministrator, smwcurator, smweditor, Suppressors, Administrators, Upload Wizard campaign editors, Widget editors

795,753

edits

@@ Line 71: / Line 71: @@
 '''What it helps to know.''' To begin your search of federal tract books it is helpful to know (or guess) the following:
-{{Block indent|*Name of the entryman (person who filed the claim) }}
+:*Name of the entryman (person who filed the claim)
-{{Block indent|*State }}
+:*State
-{{Block indent|*Land Office (not needed for many tract books)}}
+:*Land Office (not needed for many tract books)
-{{Block indent|*County (not needed for many tract books)}}
+:*County (not needed for many tract books)
-{{Block indent|*Land location (section, township, and range) '''See [[Rectangular surveys]]''' for an explanation of these terms.}}
+:*Land location (section, township, and range) '''See [[Rectangular surveys]]''' for an explanation of these terms.
 ==== Search strategies  ====
@@ Line 81: / Line 81: @@
 '''1. Find the land description.''' The best strategy is to first find an ancestor's land description.
-{{Block indent|'''Sources which show the land description:'''}}
+:'''Sources which show the land description:'''
-{{Block indent|1=*'''[https://glorecords.blm.gov/search/default.aspx?searchTabIndex=0&searchByTypeIndex=0 BLM land patent search].''' The online index to eight million land patents 1820-1908 and [[US Military Bounty Land Warrants|military bounty land]] shows each entry's land description. However, this index does '''not''' include the two million [[Land entry case files|case files]] which were rejected or cancelled. |2=1}}
+:*'''[https://glorecords.blm.gov/search/default.aspx?searchTabIndex=0&searchByTypeIndex=0 BLM land patent search].''' The online index to eight million land patents 1820-1908 and [[US Military Bounty Land Warrants|military bounty land]] shows each entry's land description. However, this index does '''not''' include the two million [[Land entry case files|case files]] which were rejected or cancelled.
-{{Block indent|*'''Land patent.''' If your family still has the patent (original title) for a piece of property, that patent will show the land description. }}
+:*'''Land patent.''' If your family still has the patent (original title) for a piece of property, that patent will show the land description.
-{{Block indent|*'''Seven states index.''' The ''seven states index'' at the [[National Archives and Records Administration|National Archives in Washington, DC]], also gives each entry's land description for Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Florida, Louisiana, Nevada and Utah for pre-1908 [[Land entry case files|case files]] both patented and unpatented.<ref>Hawkins, 3-4.</ref> }}
+:*'''Seven states index.''' The ''seven states index'' at the [[National Archives and Records Administration|National Archives in Washington, DC]], also gives each entry's land description for Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Florida, Louisiana, Nevada and Utah for pre-1908 [[Land entry case files|case files]] both patented and unpatented.<ref>Hawkins, 3-4.</ref>
-{{Block indent|*'''Use search engines like''' '''Google''' to identify state land record indexes that could reveal land descriptions. Selected states may have indexed their own tract book records. ''For example'', see the [https://history.nebraska.gov/collections/nebraska-homestead-land-records Nebraska 1860-1954 Tract Books Index].}}
+:*'''Use search engines like''' '''Google''' to identify state land record indexes that could reveal land descriptions. Selected states may have indexed their own tract book records. ''For example'', see the [https://history.nebraska.gov/collections/nebraska-homestead-land-records Nebraska 1860-1954 Tract Books Index].
 '''2. Search tract books page-by-page.''' If you only have an approximate idea where your ancestor lived, then search page-by-page through the tract books for that area until you find his or her name.
@@ Line 97: / Line 97: @@
 *'''''FS Catalog description.''''' For a detailed list of this collection's '''contents by film number''', see the FamilySearch Catalog entry:
-{{Block indent|1=United States, Bureau of Land Management, ''{{FSC|607931|item|disp=Tract Books}}'' (Washington, D.C.&nbsp;: Records Improvement, Bureau of Land Management, 1957). {{WorldCat|866217989|item|disp=At various repositories (WorldCat)}}; {{FSC|607931|item|disp=On 1,265 FS Library Films starting with 1445277}}.<br><br>|2=2}}
+::United States, Bureau of Land Management, ''{{FSC|607931|item|disp=Tract Books}}'' (Washington, D.C.&nbsp;: Records Improvement, Bureau of Land Management, 1957). {{WorldCat|866217989|item|disp=At various repositories (WorldCat)}}; {{FSC|607931|item|disp=On 1,265 FS Library Films starting with 1445277}}.<br><br>
 *'''''Index'''''. Or, if you have access to the National Archives in Washington, DC, use the '''''Index to Tract Books, RG 49, MLR# UD2321''''',<ref>Index to Tract Books, RG 49, MLR# UD2321, maps arranged by state. Copies of these maps are available for consultation in room G28 of the National Archives Building, Washington, DC, as cited in Hawkins, page 6.</ref> to each state's tract books which allows researchers to identify the tract book number that covers the area in which they are interested.<ref>Hawkins, 4.</ref>
@@ Line 107: / Line 107: @@
 To browse the 28-state online federal tract book collection 1820-1980, [http://familysearch.org/search/image/index#uri=https://familysearch.org/recapi/sord/collection/2074276/waypoints click here].
-{{Block indent|⇒Select the "State"<br>}}
+:⇒Select the "State"<br>
-{{Block indent|⇒Select the "Volume." In some states the land office is mentioned with the volume number. Clicking on a volume takes you to the images.<br><br>}}
+:⇒Select the "Volume." In some states the land office is mentioned with the volume number. Clicking on a volume takes you to the images.<br><br>
 '''Options depending on what you know.'''
-{{Block indent|*''If you'' '''''know''''' ''the land description'', locate land entry in the appropriate tract book volume under the appropriate numbered section, township, and range listed on the left side of each page in the volume. }}
+:*''If you'' '''''know''''' ''the land description'', locate land entry in the appropriate tract book volume under the appropriate numbered section, township, and range listed on the left side of each page in the volume.
-{{Block indent|*''If you'' '''''do NOT know''''' ''the land description'', browse each appropriate tract book volume line-by-line and page-by-page for the name of an ancestor in order to '''find''' the accompanying land description. Use "Appendix A" in ''Land and Property Research in the United States''<ref>Hone, 213-67.</ref> to help determine which tract books cover a given county.}}
+:*''If you'' '''''do NOT know''''' ''the land description'', browse each appropriate tract book volume line-by-line and page-by-page for the name of an ancestor in order to '''find''' the accompanying land description. Use "Appendix A" in ''Land and Property Research in the United States''<ref>Hone, 213-67.</ref> to help determine which tract books cover a given county.
 === Using the Information  ===
@@ Line 120: / Line 120: @@
 Once you find an ancestor's tract book land entry, be sure to
-{{Block indent|*'''''photocopy <u>both</u> tract book pages&nbsp;''''' (left and right) of the entry }}
+:*'''''photocopy <u>both</u> tract book pages&nbsp;''''' (left and right) of the entry
-{{Block indent|*write down the '''''exact title, volume number, and page number&nbsp;''''' (source information) of the tract book volume in which the ancestor's entry was found}}
+:*write down the '''''exact title, volume number, and page number&nbsp;''''' (source information) of the tract book volume in which the ancestor's entry was found
 This information is important to helping the National Archives retrieve the [[Land entry case files|land entry case file]] for you.
@@ Line 131: / Line 131: @@
 '''Follow-up sources.''' Then use the new information from the tract book to help find further records. For example:
-{{Block indent|*'''Case files.''' Every entry in a tract book should have a corresponding [[Land entry case files|case file]]. Use the tract book information to order copies of the land entry case files from the National Archives. For $50 the National Archives will copy a land entry case file if you properly complete [http://www.archives.gov/forms/pdf/natf-84.pdf Form NATF-084] (pdf) and submit it. They prefer online orders but will accept mail orders. Instructions are on the form. }}
+:*'''Case files.''' Every entry in a tract book should have a corresponding [[Land entry case files|case file]]. Use the tract book information to order copies of the land entry case files from the National Archives. For $50 the National Archives will copy a land entry case file if you properly complete [http://www.archives.gov/forms/pdf/natf-84.pdf Form NATF-084] (pdf) and submit it. They prefer online orders but will accept mail orders. Instructions are on the form.
-{{Block indent|*'''Other related files.''' Case files are usually only part of the iceberg. Patents, warrants, surveys, and newspaper notifications are among the kinds of records that '''''may&nbsp;''''' be found outside of case files. Look for extra land records at the federal, state, or county levels. }}
+:*'''Other related files.''' Case files are usually only part of the iceberg. Patents, warrants, surveys, and newspaper notifications are among the kinds of records that '''''may&nbsp;''''' be found outside of case files. Look for extra land records at the federal, state, or county levels.
-{{Block indent|*'''Disposal of the property.''' Find out how your ancestor disposed of the property as a way of finding clues about possible relatives. For example, your ancestor may have sold or given land to his or her heirs before death, or the heirs may have sold the land after the individual died. For daughters, the names of their husbands are often provided. For sons, the given names of their wives may be included. Heirs may have sold their interest in the land to another heir even though the record may not indicate this. }}
+:*'''Disposal of the property.''' Find out how your ancestor disposed of the property as a way of finding clues about possible relatives. For example, your ancestor may have sold or given land to his or her heirs before death, or the heirs may have sold the land after the individual died. For daughters, the names of their husbands are often provided. For sons, the given names of their wives may be included. Heirs may have sold their interest in the land to another heir even though the record may not indicate this.
-{{Block indent|*'''Nearby property transactions.''' Look for your ancestor acquiring, or disposing of nearby property. Also, look to see if the ancestor disposed of property at a previous residence before moving to this property. }}
+:*'''Nearby property transactions.''' Look for your ancestor acquiring, or disposing of nearby property. Also, look to see if the ancestor disposed of property at a previous residence before moving to this property.
-{{Block indent|*'''Neighboring people.''' Use tracts books, other land records, and censuses to find neighbors. Neighbors sometimes turn out to be relatives. }}
+:*'''Neighboring people.''' Use tracts books, other land records, and censuses to find neighbors. Neighbors sometimes turn out to be relatives.
-{{Block indent|*'''Other non-land sources.''' Use the residence and names to locate other records in the area such as church and census records. }}
+:*'''Other non-land sources.''' Use the residence and names to locate other records in the area such as church and census records.
-{{Block indent|*'''Similar surnames.''' Search for records of people in the area who shared a similar surname. These may have been the couple’s parents, uncles, or other relatives. Your ancestor may have been an heir who sold inherited land that had belonged to parents or grandparents. }}
+:*'''Similar surnames.''' Search for records of people in the area who shared a similar surname. These may have been the couple’s parents, uncles, or other relatives. Your ancestor may have been an heir who sold inherited land that had belonged to parents or grandparents.
-{{Block indent|*'''Earlier or later time periods.''' Search the land records for years before and after an ancestor's land transaction. Families are sometimes part of a chain migration. In such cases one family moves into an area and some years later their old neighbors or relatives join them, or leave for another new home. Studying older and newer land records may help show this.}}
+:*'''Earlier or later time periods.''' Search the land records for years before and after an ancestor's land transaction. Families are sometimes part of a chain migration. In such cases one family moves into an area and some years later their old neighbors or relatives join them, or leave for another new home. Studying older and newer land records may help show this.
 === Can't find your ancestor?  ===
@@ Line 153: / Line 153: @@
 Internet digital versions of federal tract books, microfilms, and originals exist:
-{{Block indent|*'''''Internet.''''' Digital copies of federal-land-state's tract books are available in FamilySearch Historical Records online at [http://familysearch.org/search/collection/2074276 United States Bureau of Land Management Tract Books, 1820-1908] }}
+:*'''''Internet.''''' Digital copies of federal-land-state's tract books are available in FamilySearch Historical Records online at [http://familysearch.org/search/collection/2074276 United States Bureau of Land Management Tract Books, 1820-1908]
-{{Block indent|*'''''Microfilms''''' of tract books are also on 1,265 films for each federal-land state at the National Archives in Washington, and the FamilySearch Library in Salt Lake City, Utah. }}
+:*'''''Microfilms''''' of tract books are also on 1,265 films for each federal-land state at the National Archives in Washington, and the FamilySearch Library in Salt Lake City, Utah.
-{{Block indent|1=*United States Bureau of Land Management, ''Tract Books'' (Washington, District of Columbia&nbsp;: Records Improvement, Bureau of Land Management, 1957). {{WorldCat|866217989|item|disp=At various libraries (WorldCat)}} {{FSC|607931|item|disp=1,265 FS Library Films starting with 1445277}}.|2=2}}
+::*United States Bureau of Land Management, ''Tract Books'' (Washington, District of Columbia&nbsp;: Records Improvement, Bureau of Land Management, 1957). {{WorldCat|866217989|item|disp=At various libraries (WorldCat)}} {{FSC|607931|item|disp=1,265 FS Library Films starting with 1445277}}.
 '''Storage of the originals.''' The [[National Archives and Records Administration|National Archives in Washington, DC]] has the original tract books for the western states: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Eastern State Office, 7450 Boston Blvd, Springfield, VA 22153 has custody of the tract books for eastern states: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Ohio, and Wisconsin.<ref>Hawkins, 4-5.</ref>