Someone gave you a NUMBER to go with your ancestor's name!!

WOW! How exciting. Now, WHAT do you do with it?

Well, first, do you know what the number is? It could be ANYTHING, but it is important to know EXACTLY WHAT IT IS!

IS IT?

• A Dawes Number? This is the individual's number on the Dawes Roll, and while it
                is very important it is the Census Card Number that will give you the
                most information.
• A Dawes Census Card Number? This is the Red Letter Number and the one you will               need to obtain a copy of the Dawes Packet. The packet will contain family
                information and the Census Card will contain information as to the
                enrollment of the family in previous rolls.
• A Dawes Case Number?
• A Miller Application Number? This is the Red Letter Number for the Miller Roll.
                The application will contain name of spouse, children, parents, siblings,
                grandparents, aunts and uncles. Where the family resided in 1851, when
                and where the parents were born and died.
• A Miller Roll Number? Important for the number but basically a "placement"
                number because the roll is arranged alphabetically by the name of the
                head of the family.
• A Hester Number?
• A Baker Number?
• etc., etc., etc., etc.

YOU DON'T KNOW?

Did they forget to tell you that?

A Native American's "official" identity is made up of NUMBERS. Those numbers are their places on a given roll or any of its components. If you don't know what roll, you REALLY DO NOT KNOW ANYTHING!

Don't go rushing off to order material from the National Archives, the Tribal office, or anyplace else you may be able to get the information until you know what you are really looking for.

Many people ask for "lookups" for their particular ancestor's name. The person who is kind enough to look up this information may think you know what you are getting.

And when they tell you that it is a "Dawes" Roll number (or whatever) and you don't understand what that means, BE SURE TO ASK THEM!

By their willingness to help in looking up the name, they are apparently willing to explain to you what the source is and what it means. If they don't know, and sometimes they don't, they can then tell you and together you can seek out someone who will know.

We will be exploring the various rolls and their components throughout these pages. You will learn what each number is and it's significance. Please pass the information on to the next new person you come across. We all learn by sharing and experience.

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This Page updated created by Jerry Wright Jordan