Archives & Special Collections

Common Resources

Common Resources are published works that can be found in many places, in contrast with the our unique collections that can be found only in the Special Collections, or have rare holdings elsewhere.

Oklahoma Collection  Books  Periodicals  Primary Resources

Oklahoma Collection

A core collection of Oklahoma history resources that provides state, county, city and family histories, biographies, geological and archaeological reports, and an impressive assortment of works on various Indian tribes and the development of education in Oklahoma.
 

Microfilm Holdings

Early newspapers for towns in Oklahoma Territory
Over 109 newspapers are represented in this collection.

Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps, 1867-1970 (21 reels)
Created originally for the fire insurance industry for risk assessment purposes, Sanborn maps have long been renowned for their detailed and comprehensive coverage of U.S. towns and cities. By the mid-1950's, more than 12,000 had been mapped. Included in this collection are maps illustrating the locations of schools, churches, business, and other structures in Oklahoma towns.

Indian Pioneer History Collection, Late 1930s (40 reels)
Contained in these reels of microfilm are the recorded memories of Indians and pioneers focusing on pre and early statehood days in Oklahoma. These are oral histories were collected by the WPA during the depression.

Letters Received by the Office of the Adjutant General, 1870-1889 (33 reels)
This collection contains correspondence relating to attempted removal of cattlemen from Indian Territory and problems related to the opening of Oklahoma to public settlement.

Returns From U.S. Military Posts 1800-1916 (26 reels mm)
Included in these records are personnel roster reports, and other papers relating to the operation of military posts in Oklahoma. An index guide booklet is available for searching these records.
 

Census Records

Census Population Schedule of the U.S., 1860 (1 reel)
This is the 8th census taken by the U.S. It includes Arkansas and parts of eastern Oklahoma, Indian Territory.

First Territorial Census, 1890 (1 reel)
This microfilm contains the 1248 pages of the first census taken in Oklahoma, covering seven counties in Oklahoma and Indian Territory.

Federal Population Census of Oklahoma, 1900 (54 reels)
This is the 12th census taken and includes all of Oklahoma Territory. The full index is included among these reels.

Federal Population Census of Oklahoma, 1910 (179 reels)
This is the 13th census, the first census taken after statehood and includes all of Oklahoma. The full index is included among these reels.

Federal Population census of Oklahoma, 1920 (192 reels)
This is the 14th Census taken and includes all of Oklahoma. The full index is included among these reels.

Dawes Rolls, 1900 (4 reels)
These are the final rolls of citizens & freeman of the so-called "Five Civilized Tribes" in Indian Territory. Also included is an index to the Dawes Rolls.

Book Collections

Book collections include the McConathy Collection, the Burchardt Collection, the Oklahoma Collections, the John George Collection, and the George Nigh Collection. The Archives and Special Collections also houses the libraries of several individuals whose personal papers are held here: John Simmons, William Edgar Gill, Reba Collins, Lucy Jeston Hampton, King/Howell, and Joe Jackson.
 

Major Collections

• Bill Burchardt Collection: This collection of fiction and non-fiction materials is predominantly Western and Southwestern in theme. Items in the collection include rare and out-of-print works, classics in Oklahoma history, award-winning titles, and recognized authors.
• John George Collection: This collection is one of the region's largest and most diverse collections on political extremist groups, including both "right wing" and "left wing" groups.
• Dale McConathy Collection: This collection includes 3,600 volumes covering a wide range of liberal arts subjects, many of which are extremely valuable art and art history books.

Periodical Collections

Periodicals in Archives contain newspapers, journals, newsletters, magazines, and other periodical literature of historical and research value.
 

Featured Periodical Holdings in Archives

• Edmond-focused periodicals such as Edmond Life & Leisure and publications from the Edmond Historical Society.
• Native American and early settlement-focused periodicals such as Bishinik, a Choctaw publication, Indian Territory Posse: Boots & Saddles, and Oklahoma Archeological Survey.
• Oklahoma-focused periodicals such as Chronicles of Oklahoma, Oklahoma Business, and Mistletoe Leaves, the publication of the Oklahoma Historical Society.
• The Oklahoma Almanac contains information on Oklahoma's state agencies, and the executive, judicial, and legislative branches of government. The Almanac also includes election results, county statistics, a tourism section, a wildlife and nature section, Oklahoma history, federal government contacts, lists of Oklahoma museums and statewide associations, and more.
• The Illustrated London News collection consists of original copies of the first illustrated newspaper in the world, starting in 1842. This online feature provides links to searchable indexes for the newspaper. This collection of Illustrated London News dates between 1856-1873. There are 29 volumes in all with the best coverage during the Civil War period in America.
   

Edmond Obituary Index

The obituary project was created for the purpose of providing an index to death notices, obituaries, and related biographical articles. Indexing includes all Edmond newspapers dating from July 1889 to within six month of current date. These newspapers are shelved under Oklahoma Reels on the fourth floor of the library.

Search the Obituary Index

Primary Resource Collections

Bensel Directory Company's Business Directory (1 reel)
This business directory includes cities and towns on the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe, and Chicago Rock Island & Pacific Railways.

Blacks In Oklahoma, 1889-1890 (23 sheets)
Written by John Worrack in the 1880s, this self-imposed study provides a history of African-Americans in the first years of Oklahoma's opening.

Camp Guthrie Records, 1889-1891 (2 reels)
Established to maintain order in Indian Territory, Camp Guthrie existed for only 2 years and was also known as Camp Arthur or Camp MacArthur, after commanding officer Captain Arthur MacArthur.

Cartographic Records, 1821-1921
These records contain over 200 negatives of Oklahoma boundaries, routes, and sites spanning 100 years.

Indian Territory Letters, 1879 (1 reel mm)
This reel contains letters, telegrams, and reports concerning army reinforcement of the 1879 proclamation by President Hayes forbidding emigrant trespassing in Indian Territory.

Interior Department Territorial Papers, 1889 (5 reels)
Contained in this collection are letters relating to the opening of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Strip and the Cherokee Outlet between 1889-1894.

Kay County Honor Roll and Service Record for WWI (1 volume)
This collection contains the photos and service records for members of the military service from Kay County, Oklahoma, during World War I.

Letters Received Fort Supply, 1869-1889 (1 reel)
Included in these records are letters received by the Department of Interior concerning various matters relating to the Indian Affairs in Indian territory including felonious activities.

Oklahoma Tract Books Index, 1889 (12 volumes)
These volumes track the acquisition of land during the land runs in Oklahoma. Actual claim files give homesteaders' names.

Rogers Vertical Files, 1900's (24 linear ft.)
This is a vertical file compiled by Jimmie Rogers, retired UCO Professor of Geography. Included in this collection are news clippings, maps, periodicals, pamphlets and statistics focusing on the geography of Oklahoma.

U.S. Army Military records, 1874-1875 (1 reel)
These records contain letters concerning the Army's attempts to have the Department of Interior grant approval to invade Kiowa, Cheyenne, and Comanche lands in Indian Territory.