Dusty, I was surprised to read what my cousin mailed. It appears to me that this has more to do with John W. Crutchfield than it does with my GGgrandmother Matilda Elizabeth Manning. I had supposed her application for Dawes enrollment would include such items as testimony and affidavits from people who would know that she was 1/2 Choctaw - aunts, uncles, for instance, who were sisters/brothers of her parents and would know of their blood quantum. So, I am 'soliciting' your expertise about whether I should regard this as THE packet or if I should write the Archives in Ft. Worth. Thanking you in advance - for ALL the good work you do, Angelyn ------ Original Message ----- From: Jleflore65@aol.com Sent: Wed, Aug 21, 2002 7:25pm To: <angelync@msn.com>; <ddeupree@sbcglobal.net>; <plreplogle@hotmail.com> Subject: Matilda- Penny- read this Penny, this is long, but you must read it. Angelyn, I didn't get anything re the "Martha" thing you forwarded, except the email messages - sounds like it might be a picture, but didn't get one. WHAT A DAY !!! I went to OHS today and got a copy of the "packet" on Matilda Eliz. This is all that is in her Dawes file. First of all, you know that "Choctaw Nation. Choctaw Roll" sheet that we have that begins at the top of the page giving the County as Blue and the Post Office as Caddo, I.T. - and it starts out with the number 11015 Manning, Matilda - and lists under her name Charles A., Thomas (? initial), Arthur F. and # 11018 is Crutchfield, Gertrude - and the name below hers is Crutchfield, John W., husband of No.5. These are the people listed in Matilda's Dawes file. And Gertrude Crutchfield is the married name of Gertrude Thompson (Matilda's granddaughter who she raised). The women at OHS said this is the very same thing that they have in Fort Worth and to not spend the money they require for copies fromFort Worth when they have it all at OHS. The number of the microfilm is 3923. It starts out "Record in the matter of the application for the enrollment as a citizen by inter! marriage of the Choctaw Nation of JOHN W. CRUTCHFIELD, 7-D-709." I asked if there was anything just for Matilda and they said this was all she had. But the file covers all the people listed on the first page I just wrote about (Choctaw Roll). The next page is "Examination by the Commission" and this is the testimony part where they ask Crutchfield questions and he answers them and this goes through page 3. The next page isn't numbered but is also "Examination by the Commission" and also consists of questions & answers. Many of the questions are repeats of ones on the first page of questions, but this one has a statement by the stenographer to the Commission to the Five Civilized Tribes and is notarized. The next page is the "Decision" saying Crutchfield should be enrolled as a citizen by intermarriage. The next page is a letter to Crutchfield from the Commissioner in Charge advising of the decision of the commission. The next page is a letter from the attorneys for t! he Choctaw & Chickasaw nations telling of the decision and advising his name will be placed on the roll as being intermarried. The next page is titled "MEMORANDA" and is a form that lists Matilda Manning & her 3 kids plus Elizabeth. It is difficult to read. The next page pertains to Charles A. Manning and is an Affidavit of Relative from Forbis Manning (31 years old) stating he is a brother of Charles. The next thing is a copy of the Marriage License for Crutchfield & Gertrude. The next thing is something also pertaining to the marriage of Gertrude. There is a letter to Crutchfield attorney. Then there is a letter to Matilda saying they learned that Charles A. Manning had died since being listed for enrollment and for her to fill out a form saying if it was true or not. Then there is letter to Forbis Manning regarding his affidavit about the death of Charles A. And the last page is advising that a Proof of Death was filed and the enrollment card #3923 had been noted! that Charles was dead. I got a list of all the people with the following names who are listed on the Dawes Final Rolls: Davis Brashears Fisher Hays Hayes LeFlore Manning Sacra These are supposed to cost $1.50 per page and there are 27 pages of Davis's alone. However, I got a deal on them. AND - Phyllis came up with the original old book listing information on the people who were hired as writers for the Indian Pioneer Papers and the people they interviewed. This old book is 11 X 17" - big - and is literally falling apart. They will be putting it on microfilm shortly and won't let the public see the actual book. My grandmother, Amelia, wrote articles on enough people to fill 2 1/2 of those large pages of the book, approximately 100 people - from March, 1937 to March, 1938. Her interviews would probably average about 15 pages per interview, but one or two were as much as 104 pages Iong. I didn't have time to look any of them up, but I will. They also had an old file on the project itself (a WPA project), and Grant Foreman was the Director of the program. I haven't read what I copied yet, but it appears to be a report on the project. And there is a "WORKS PROGRESS ADMINISTRATION - The Manual of Indian-Pioneer History Project for Oklahoma". It tells all ! about the project, what subjects were covered, duties of the staff and writers, forms that they used, etc. And I got the name of the writer's organization Amelia was supposed to have been so active in + her paintings (so much so she didn't have time to be a mother - according to Katsy). ISN'T THAT WONDERFUL !!!! WHAT A DAY!! Gotta go read some of this "stuff". Do you all want me to copy the Dawes file for Matilda - or do you want to write to Fort Worth for it? Will be back later. Love yas, Suzie