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==== Tract books lead to case files ==== | ==== Tract books lead to case files ==== | ||
Federal tract books serve as a comprehensive reference to over ten million '''[[Land entry case files|land entry case files]]''' preserved at the [[National Archives and Records Administration]] in Washington, DC.<ref>Hawkins, 1.</ref> These case files show the application papers of each individual who attempted to obtain a private claim to some public land, whether they succeeded or not. '''''Successful claims ''''' received a patent (original title) and are indexed in the [ | Federal tract books serve as a comprehensive reference to over ten million '''[[Land entry case files|land entry case files]]''' preserved at the [[National Archives and Records Administration]] in Washington, DC.<ref>Hawkins, 1.</ref> These case files show the application papers of each individual who attempted to obtain a private claim to some public land, whether they succeeded or not. '''''Successful claims ''''' received a patent (original title) and are indexed in the [https://glorecords.blm.gov/search/default.aspx?searchTabIndex=0&searchByTypeIndex=0 BLM Land Patent Search] 1820-1908 for all [[United States Land and Property#United_States_federal_land_states|federal land states]]. '''''Unsuccessful claims ''''' still have case files, and tract books are one of the best ways to find the information needed to obtain a [[Land entry case files|case file]] from the two million otherwise '''unindexed''' land entry case files that were never finished, forfeited, rejected, or cancelled.<ref>Hone, 113-14.</ref> | ||
=== Content === | === Content === | ||
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:'''Sources which show the land description:''' | :'''Sources which show the land description:''' | ||
:*'''[ | :*'''[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. | ||
:*'''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. | ||
:*'''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> | ||
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