(This page's most recent update is
July 2024)
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Institutional records are another class of collections that should be part of one’s genealogy research repertoire. Although most of your ancestors may not have spent time in an institution, I’ll bet that almost every family tree has several that have. So they are worth your effort to research.
Here are a few good primers for searching institutional records:
- FamilySearch – Institution and School Records
- Finding Your Ancestors in Poor House or Poor Farm Records
- Researching Ancestors in Asylums
What kind of institutions and types of records can we discover?
- Poorhouse
- Poor Farm
- Orphanage
- Orphan Train
- Mental Hospital
- Workhouse
- Almshouse
- Institutional School
- Sanitarium
- Asylums
- Correctional institutions
Acquiring records from each of these types of institutions may be difficult because of privacy concerns, but they are worth the effort.
Below you will find free online institutional records you can use to help you discover more about your relatives who have spent time in an institution.
Note: Some links listed take you to a FamilySearch Collection of digital images. Near the bottom of the page under Film/Digital Notes is the name of each sub-collection. If there is a camera icon at the right of the name (in the Format column) then the collections’ images are browsable. If there is a camera with a key icon, it is only available at a Family History Center or affiliated library. If there is a film reel icon, then it is only available in microfilm format, not digital. To take full advantage make sure that you are logged in to FamilySearch. The results may be different if you are signed in, rather than not.
Oklahoma Free Online Institutional Records
- Atoka County, Masonic Home 1900 Census
- Atoka County, Murrow Indian Orphanage
- Canadian County, Masonic Orphanage 1920 Census
- Carter County, Widows Pension Records, 1916-1932
- Cherokee Nation, Supplement to the Cherokee Orphan Asylum Press with Student Names
- Choctaw County, Oklahoma State Penitentiary Prisoner Cards
- Choctaw County, Poor Farm Cemetery
- Choctaw County, Poor Farm Cemetery
- Choctaw Nation, Atlanta Federal Penitentiary, 1880-1922
- Choctaw Nation, Fort Smith Criminal Case Files, 1866-1900
- Cleveland County, Central State Hospital or Rock Creek Road Cemetery
- Cleveland County, Widows’ Pension Record, 1915-1936
- Craig County, Eastern Oklahoma State Hospital Cemetery
- Creek County, Poor Farm Cemetery
- Fort Supply, Western Oklahoma Hospital for the Insane, Information for Undertakers
- Garfield County, Enid State School Cemetery
- Latimer County, Widows’ Pension Record, 1916-1931
- Logan County, Children’s Home Society
- Logan County, The Children’s Home Finder, Newspaper of the Children’s Home Society
- Marshall County, Aylesworth State Prison Farm, 1916-1925
- Mayes County, Cherokee Nation Orphan Asylum Cemetery
- Mayes County, Oklahoma Cherokee Orphans Asylum Cemetery
- Mayes County, Whitaker Children’s Home
- Mayes County, Whitaker State Orphans Home Cemetery
- Noble County, Widows’ Pension Records, 1917-1946
- Oklahoma County, Saint Joseph Orphanage Cemetery
- Oklahoma, Cherokee Orphan Asylum Press
- Oklahoma, Oklahoma School for the Deaf Alumni
- Oklahoma, State Penitentiary Photograph Cards and Fingerprint Cards
- Oklahoma, Union Soldier’s Home Collection Index
- Oklahoma, World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, Prisoners, Insane, Hospitalized, 1917-1918
- Pittsburg County, Central State Hospital Annex Cemetery
- Pittsburg County, Department of Corrections Prison Cemetery
- Pittsburg County, McAlester State Prison Cemetery
- Pittsburg County, McAlester State Prison Cemetery
- Tulsa County, Mental Health Records, 1950
- Woodward County, Fort Supply Hospital or Western State Hospital Cemetery
- Woodward County, Oklahoma Hospital for the Insane
- Woodward County, Prisoner Records, 1921-1926
Good Luck and Happy Hunting!