They made history; they’re making history

Women have had a tremendous impact on the history of Oklahoma, and many hail from Adair, Delaware, Cherokee, Muskogee, McIntosh, and Sequoyah counties, including renowned artists and musicians, to famous tribal leaders, trendsetters, and historic politicians, educators, and activists. We share a few highlights here about notable women from area communities and their accomplishments.

There is much more history to be found about the region in the Eastern Oklahoma Library District’s collection. There are a large selection of historical resources, including books, of course, at www.eols.org/catalog. Other great resources in online databases include NewspaperArchive to search historical Oklahoma newspapers,  ProQuest History Vault, and Voices of Oklahoma—all and more available at www.eols.org/research.

LOCAL INDUCTEES INTO THE OKLAHOMA WOMEN’S HALL OF FAME

The Oklahoma Women’s Hall of Fame has inducted notable women on odd years since 1982. According to the website, the “purpose of the Oklahoma Women’s Hall of Fame shall be to provide highest honor to Oklahoma women who reside in Oklahoma or were former residents of the state, and who provided outstanding service benefiting the lives of women and families in Oklahoma, the nation, or elsewhere in the world.”

Among those women are many who hailed from or lived in Northeastern Oklahoma, including:

Kate Frank, who was born in Muskogee in 1890. She was the first female president of the Oklahoma Education Association and advocated for senior citizens’ rights.

Betty Durham Price grew up in Muskogee and served as Executive Director of the Oklahoma Arts Council from 1983 to 2007. She is an accomplished artist and educator who advocated successfully for public art and support for the arts in public schools.

Grace Elizabeth Hudlin was born in Morris, Oklahoma in 1908. She was the first woman to head an electric cooperative, Lake Region Electric, in Oklahoma. She also served as co-chair of the Oklahoma Democratic State Central Committee.

Wilma Mankiller, from Tahlequah, Oklahoma, was the first female Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation. She is the recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom and has co-authored a number of books including Mankiller: A Chief and Her People and Every Day is a Good Day: Reflections of Contemporary Indigenous Women.

Ruthe Blalock Jones is a renowned Native American artist who is also Director Emeritus of Bacone College in Muskogee, Oklahoma. Jones served as the college’s first female art director in 1979.

Sandy Garrett, from Muskogee, was the first woman elected Oklahoma State Superintendent of Public Instruction. She was inducted in the Oklahoma Women’s Hall of Fame in 2001.

Dana Tiger, whose gallery is located in her hometown of Muskogee, Oklahoma, is a renowned Creek Artist of Creek/Seminole and Cherokee descent and “a women’s rights, minority rights and AIDS advocate.”

Suzanne Edmonson was a volunteer literacy tutor at Eddie Warrior Correctional Center in Taft. She “created programs such as Tales for the Rising Moon and is the founder of Friends of Eddie Warrior (FEW) Foundation.”

Cherokee National Treasures

Many women have been awarded the title of Cherokee National Treasure thanks to their skills, devotion, and outstanding accomplishments in preserving language, arts, and culture for the tribe. According to Cherokee women in charge : female power and leadership in American Indian nations of eastern North America, written by Karen Coody Cooper, Anna Mitchell, born in 1926, was a renowned Cherokee potter.Stella Livers, born in 1911, was a speaker of the language and made traditional buckbrush baskets. Ella Mae Blackbear, born in 1930, was a well-known basketmaker. Martha Berry, a Cherokee bandolier bag maker, is a National Treasure. Wanda Lou Barton, born in 1932, produced turtle-shell shackles for tradititional dances. Virginia Stroud, Miss Indian America in 1970, is a dressmaker and artist.