I've been researching in old newspapers from circa 1907 -1910 on two different people who were "City Marshals". On one of them it mentions that he was elected to the position. On the other one it doesn't mention anything about his appointment/election to the position, but I did come across several items on elections in the year 1910 and some were for "City Marshal".

My question is this: where would I find the records covering "city marshals" for a certain town.Would those records be in the courthouse, in the city hall records of the town they served, or would they be in the county or state election board offices. Is a "city marshal" akin to the deputy sheriff?

Frawg, City Marshals are the same as Chief of Police. A few of the smaller towns in western Oklahoma still use the term City or Town Marshal. Olustee, in Jackson County, changed to Chief of Police from City Marshal around 2001 at the request of the then City Marshal. He thought City Marshal sounded old fashion and something out of the wild west. City Marshal records should be maintained by the city or town government. You didn't ask, but if you're not aware, some cities in Oklahoma still elect the Chief of Police or Marshal. Altus has an elected Chief of Police.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Jim Avance,

Thanks for the clarification - Chief of Police makes sense in the realm in which the term "city marshal" was used.

One of the individuals in the 1930s was elected to "Chief of the Capitol Police" so it all fits.

My appreciation.

Re your question, you'll find city marshal records wherever the town keeps it's records. After statehood, as Jim says, these men were city elected employees. You might also be confused by the use of constable as some cities used this term to describe their policemen, but in reality, constables were employees of the J. P.'s. In another forum posting there is a discussion of how the J.P's were set up.