"In 1907, the Indian Territory became the State of Oklahoma. To qualify for the payments and land allotments set aside for the Five Civilized Tribes, the former slaves of these nations had to apply for official enrollment, thus producing testimonies of immense value to today's genealogists. The book shows where to find and how to use the Indian Freedman Records, discusses Black Indians and Tri-Racial groups from the Upper South, and has added two lists of family names: Freedman Surnames from the Final Rolls of the Five Civilized Tribes, and Surnames of Tri-Racial families of the South"--From back cover of book.