Good morning! Since I do lookups for the Carter Co.,OK. page, and have had many questions concerning marriage records, thought I would post some information which might be helpful. This from PIONEERS OF CHICKASAW NATION, INDIAN TERRITORY, by Nova A. Lemons, which, in this writer's opinion, is the absolute authority on pre statehood (particularly Carter County) that I have found. I believe Nova still has copies available for sale, if anyone would like a great source. Marriage Records... "Several white and Indian marriages were recorded in missionary records. Non-citizen marriage records were not included in tribal records. Many white people crossed the state lines into Arkansas and Texas to get married. Border town records should be checked into as they offer a wealth of Indian Territory marriages. It also may be a good idea to check the "end of railroad" towns for the bride would travel by train to meet her groom, get married then go to their new home by wagon of horseback. Marriage records were also carried (and lost) by the circuit riding preacher back to his original home. By 1895, marriages of Indians and non-Indians were recorded in the various Recording Districts of the United States Federal Court. Ardmore (first entry in April 1895) and Durant (first entry in July 1902) were two of them. The records from April 1895 to statehood at the Ardmore Courthouse were microfilmed by the Latter Day Saints (LDS) in 1982 and erroneously listed as "Marriage Records of Pickens Co., I.T. 1895-1907" in their indexes. While they do contain Pickens County marriages, the cover of the actual book lists them as Southern District records which also covers Old Pontotoc, Tishomingo and Panola Counties of Chickasaw Nation. These rolls of microfilm are numbered LDS # 1313668 through 1313674. Starting with # 1313675, the rolls are Carter County records only except for roll #1313691 which includes some naturalization records for the time period 11 December 1897 to 8 June 1905. Most of the marriage records between Indians and whites were kept. Most were obtained from church records and have been published in the Chronicles of Oklahoma, Vol. 6, covering the years 1865 to 1887. Marriage announcements were rarely published in early newspapers. After statehood, check at the courthouse in the county where the marriage took place. There is also a great site which lists many Marriages of Chickasaw Nation, 1855-1907, if you need to find someone: http://www.flash.net/~kma/m_index.htm hope this helps.....Wendy