Baker Roll

1924 - 1929

The Baker Roll was created between 1924 and 1929 as the final official record of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians in North Carolina. It served to document tribal membership and determine eligibility for tribal enrollment and land allotments under federal regulations. The roll is considered the base membership roll for the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) and continues to be used for tribal enrollment purposes today.

After the Trail of Tears (1838–1839), some Cherokee people evaded forced removal and remained in North Carolina, forming what is now the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI).
The Eastern Band was formally recognized as a separate group from the Cherokee Nation in Oklahoma, requiring its own roll for legal and administrative purposes.
The Baker Roll, named after Fred A. Baker, the Special Commissioner in charge of its compilation, aimed to formalize tribal membership and address disputes over land ownership and inheritance.

Who It Covers:

Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI): Members residing primarily in North Carolina, particularly in the Qualla Boundary area.
Descendants of Cherokee who avoided removal during the Trail of Tears and remained in the Southeastern U.S..
Applicants claiming Cherokee ancestry and seeking recognition, even if they were ultimately rejected.
The roll includes 3,146 individuals approved for membership and 3,546 rejected applicants. Information recorded: Name, Age, Gender, Family relationships (spouses, parents, children), Degree of Cherokee blood quantum, Residency information
Blood Quantum Requirements: Modern EBCI enrollment requires a minimum 1/16th blood quantum, which may exclude some descendants even if they appear on the roll.
Rejections: Many applicants were denied inclusion due to insufficient documentation or inability to prove lineage, leaving gaps in some family histories.
Geographic Focus: Focuses only on the Eastern Band, excluding Cherokee Nation members in Oklahoma or descendants covered by the Dawes Roll.

Baker Roll: 1924 - 1929

To find records for the Baker Roll, which is the final roll of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians in North Carolina and was compiled in 1924, you have several options for research, both online and through direct inquiries:

Baker Roll Records

Records for the Baker Roll, which is the final roll of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians in NC
National Archives and Records Administration	Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians
Index to application numbers and Names in the Baker Roll - PDF

Ancestry.com
Baker Roll

FamilySearch
Baker revised roll, 1967	Henderson roll, 1835
Baker roll, 2nd copy, 1924	Henderson roll index, 1835
Baker roll, 1924	Miller roll, 1909
Churchill roll, 1908

OHS
Oklahoma Historical Society (OHS)