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Arkansas Research Outline |
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Table of Contents
Records Of The Family History Library
Family History Library Catalog
Archives And Libraries
Bible Records
Biography
Cemeteries
Census
Church Records
Court Records
Directories
Emigration And Immigration
Gazetteers
Genealogy
History
Land And Property
Maps
Military Records
War Of 1812 (1812-1815)
Civil War (1861-1865)
World War I (1917-1918)
Naturalization And Citizenship
Newspapers
Periodicals
Probate Records
Taxation
Vital Records
For Further Reading
Comments And Suggestions
LAND AND PROPERTY When the United States organized the Missouri Territory in 1812, it agreed to recognize the private land grants previously issued by Spain and Mexico. Most of these are in Arkansas and Desha Counties. A preemption law of 1814 gave those already living on the land the first right to claim the land. Private land claims Another helpful publication is First Settlers of the Missouri Territory, 2 vols. (Nacogdoches, Tex.: Ericson Books, 1983; FHL book 977.8 R2f). Volume l has the grants from the American State Papers, class 8, public lands. Volume 2 has the grants in the present states of Missouri, Arkansas, and Oklahoma.
As the various Indian tribes were removed from the area, their land became the public domain Records of the land offices are located in:
See the “Military Records” section of this outline for information about land in Arkansas that was given for service in the War of 1812 Subsequent transfers of land between private owners were recorded by the clerk of the circuit or county court. Some counties have two courthouses where the documents could have been filed. The Family History Library has microfilm copies of most of the county deeds and indexes. From Pulaski County, for example, the Family History Library has 57 microfilms of deeds (1819-86) and land indexes (1819-1919).
The Family History Library has a number of Arkansas maps. County maps are also found in the Arkansas Township Atlas listed in the “Gazetteer” section of this outline.
The University of Arkansas has a large collection of maps, atlases
Many military records are found at the Family History Library, the National Archives, and other federal and state archives. The U.S. Military Records Research Outline (34118) provides more information on the federal military records and search strategies. For Arkansas the following sources are also very helpful:
Bounty land
Soldiers from Arkansas served in both the Union and Confederate armies. Indexes and the compiled military service records are available at the Family History Library and the National Archives.
Arkansas pension records for Confederate veterans are located at the Arkansas History Commission. Pension records for Union veterans are available only at the National Archives. The Family History Library has an index of Union pensioners.
In 1911 a special census was taken of Confederate veterans. Returns are available for 40 of the 75 counties. Abstracts of the questionnaires have been published in Bobbie J. McLane and Capitola H. Gazner, Arkansas 1911 Census of Confederate Veterans, 3 vols. (N.p.: Arkansas Ancestors, 1977-1981; FHL 976.7 X2m; fiche 6019335). An index has been published by the same authors (FHL 976.7x2m index). All of these censuses are at the Arkansas Historical Commission, and most are on microfilm at the Family History Library.
World War I draft registration cards United States. Selective Service System. Arkansas, World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918
commissions were established to process these claims. Private claims to 1837 in the American State Papers are indexed in Phillip W. McMullin, Grassroots of America (Salt Lake City: Gendex Corp., 1972; FHL book 973 R2ag index; fiche 6051323).
. The land was surveyed and sold by the United States government through land offices, in a process called land-entry. The first general land offices were established in 1818.
Arkansas State Land Commission Office
Patents are located at:
State Capitol
Little Rock, Arkansas 72201
Telephone: 501-324-9222
Bureau of Land Management
Land-entry case files and applications of those who settled in Arkansas after the Homestead Act of 1862
Eastern States Office
7450 Boston Blvd.
Springfield, VA 22153
Telephone: 703-440-1600
Fax: 703-440-1609
are in the National Archives. All of the above files are arranged according to legal descriptions of the land. The Family History Library has the land tract books and original survey plats on microfilm.
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MAPS
, and gazetteers.
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MILITARY RECORDS
War of 1812 (1812-1815)
in Arkansas, Illinois, and Missouri was granted to soldiers who served in the War of 1812. Copies of the bounty land warrants are available at the Family History Library (FHL films 983163-77 index on 983163). They provide the name of the soldier, rank, unit, and date of warrant. A list of 6,600 grantees, arranged by county name, is in Katheren Christensen, comp., Arkansas Military Bounty Grants (War of 1812) (Arkansas Ancestors, 1971; FHL book 976.7 R2c).
Civil War (1861-1865)
World War I (1917-1918)
for men age 18 to 45 may list address, birth date, birthplace, race, nationality, citizenship, and next of kin. Not all registrants served in the war. For registration cards for Arkansas, see:
To find an individual's draft card, it helps to know his name and residence at the time of registration. The cards are arranged alphabetically by county, within the county by draft board, and then alphabetically by surname within each draft board.
Most counties had only one board; large cities had several. A map showing the boundaries of individual draft boards is available for most large cities. Finding an ancestor's street address in a city directory will help you in using the draft board map. There is an alphabetical list of cities that are on the map. For a copy of this map see:
United States. Selective Service System. List of World War One Draft Board Maps. Washington, D.C.: National Archives. (FHL film 1498803.)
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