Sunday, April 21, 2013

Tweets Re Some of My Favorite Deceased Extraordinary Oklahoma Women


March was Women's History Month (womenshistorymonth.gov/about.html). During February 2013 -- which was African American History Month -- I had tweeted about extraordinary African American Oklahoma women. For March 2013 -- Women's History Month -- I decided to tweet on extraordinary Oklahoma women who are deceased. Below are those tweets:

Mildred Imach Cleghorn 1910-1997. Chair, Fort Sill Chiricahua/Warm Spring Apache Tribe 18 years ow.ly/j6SOK

Mona Sue Salyer Lambird 1938-1999. 1st female president of the Oklahoma Bar Association (1996) ow.ly/j6MfG

2nd female president of Oklahoma Bar Assoc = Stillwater attorney Melissa DeLacerda (2003)ow.ly/j6R5f ow.ly/i/1HJbx

Edith Kinney Gaylord 1916-2001. Pioneering journalist/philanthropistow.ly/j6GH3 ow.ly/j6GMK

Jeane Kirkpatrick 1925-2006. 1st woman appointed permanent US rep to United Nations (1981-85) ow.ly/j6FDP

Jessie Thatcher Bost 1875-1963. 1st woman graduate from Oklahoma A&M College - today's OSU - & OK's 1st woman graduate.

Read more about Oklahoma's Jessie Thatcher Bost at ohehs.org/hof/jessiebost…

Mary "Te Ata" Thompson 1895-1995. Chickasaw actress/storyteller. 1st person named Oklahoma State Treasure ow.ly/j6D88

Mabel Bassett 1876-1935 Politician, OK's 3rd Commissioner of Charities & Corrections 1923-1947 ow.ly/j6Com

Louise Fluke designed our state flag oksenate.gov/news/press_rel…

Pilot/Chickasaw legislator Pearl Carter Scottamazon.com/Never-Give-Up-…pearlthemovie.net

Eula Pearl Carter Scott 1915-2005. Chickasaw. Holds record of youngest pilot in US at the time of her 1st solo 9-12-29

"Sagebrush Artist" Augusta Metcalfe, 1881-1971, farmed 78 yrs in Cheyenne, OK; her paintings won nationwide acclaim

SxSW Google Glass panel included developer of contact lens version like in SIGHTvimeo.com/46304267 @leolaporte @TWiT@jeffjarvis

Lucille Mulhall 1885-1940 "America's Greatest Horsewoman;" her performance lead to coining the term "cowgirl" in 1905

Here are links to info on Okie horsewoman Lucille Mulhall: Book ow.ly/iub7w & good essayow.ly/iubi5

Ck out "Who's Rocking the Cradle?: Women Pioneers of Oklahoma Politics From Socialism to the KKK, 1900-1930" (S Schrems)...

Susan Ryan Peters from Anadarko, Oklahoma founded the Kiowa Indian School of Art ow.ly/iucZX...

Alice Brown Davis 1852-1935. Principal chief of Seminole Tribe 1922-1935; 1st woman to hold post ow.ly/iu8TE

Okie Mae Boren Axton had over 200 of her songs recorded. Her son was songwriter/singer/actor Hoyt Axton. ow.ly/iu78u

Mae Boren Axton 1914-1997. Songwriter best known for co-writing "Heartbreak Hotel," Elvis Presley’s 1st single on RCA

Bertha Teague, 1906-91. Basketball coach Byng HS Ada 1927-69. Career record 1,157 to 115; video ow.ly/iu5ld

Bertha Teague founded 1st girl's basketball clinic & camp in SW USA. Named Coach of the Decade for '30s, '40s & '70s ow.ly/iu5Ah

Perle Mesta 1890-1975. Socialite, Minister to Luxembourg 1949-1953. See "Perle: My Story" ow.ly/iu3MT

Perle Mesta was an ardent feminist, a member of National Women's Party, and helped start the World Women's Party.

Perle Mesta's social skills (aka Hostess with the Mostess) were inspiration for Irving Berlin's "Call Me Madame" ow.ly/iu4gY

Tulsan Sadie Adwon was 1st woman general manager of an Oklahoma TV station (KTUL). OK Broadcasters Hall of Fame 1989

Lamar Looney, 1871-1935. 1st woman elected to the Oklahoma Senate; served 4 terms (1920-1927) ow.ly/iu3pi

In 1926, Lamar Looney ran unsuccessfully for US Senate. She supported women's right to vote and, at age 52, was admitted to Oklahoma bar.

Bessie McColgin 1875-1972. 1st woman elected to Oklahoma House of Representatives (1920). See ow.ly/iu1Mv

Alma Bell Wilson 1917-1999. 1st female appointed (1982) to OK Supreme Court. See video vimeo.com/51239249

Alma Wilson earned her JD from University of Oklahoma in 1941 when less than 3% of US lawyers were women. See bio ow.ly/iu0oB

Winnie M. Sanger was Oklahoma's first female doctor (1904).

Alice Mary Robertson 1854-1931. 2nd woman in USA to serve in US Congress; 1st from Oklahoma ow.ly/itZ65

"Angie Debo: Pioneering Historian" by Shirley Leckie; PBS's great documentary "Indians, Outlaws, and Angie Debo" ow.ly/itYpZ

Angie Debo 1890-1988. Teacher, leading historian, scholar, & author on Indian history. See "And Still The Waters Run"

Kate Barnard, 1874-1930: 1st women in US elected to statewide office (OK Commissioner of Charities & Corrections 1907)

Zora Brown 1949-2013: Advocate 4 cancer research & breast cancer awareness among minorities ow.ly/isubS ow.ly/isujh

Okie songwriter Mae Boren Axton, 1914-1997, co-wrote Elvis Presley’s 1st RCA single "Heartbreak Hotel." 200+ of her songs were recorded.

Oklahoman Mae Boren Axton wrote the book "Country Singers As I Know ‘em." Her son was songwriter/singer/actor Hoyt Axton.

Sunday, April 14, 2013

BOOK: Buckskin Calico and Lace: Oklahoma's Territorial Women




























In this book, Glenda Carlile profiles 18 Oklahoma women .. and.. an all women town, the Pioneer Woman statute and the Sisters of Mercy Catholic order. This fun read was   
   published in 1900 and reissued in 2008. Here is a link to the book on Amazon.com/. 

Sunday, April 07, 2013

First Women in Oklahoma Government Positions

Please let me know who I have left off this list! Thanks! 


1907 - Head of Charities and Corrections – Kate Barnard (elected)
1921 - State Senate
– Lamar Looney (elected)
1921 - State House of Representatives – Bessie McColgin (elected)
1921 - US House of Representatives – Alice Mary Robertson (elected)
1946 - Secretary of State – Katherine Manton (appointive position)
1963 - State Auditor and Inspector – Imogene Holmes (appointed)
1979 - Corporation Commissioner – Norma Eagleton (appointed, then elected)
1982 - Oklahoma Supreme Court Justice - Alma Wilson (appointed)
1985 - Oklahoma Court of Civil Appeals - Carol Hansen (appointed)
          (Judge Hansen became first woman to serve as chief judge on any appellate court in Oklahoma)
1991 - Attorney General - Susan Loving (appointed)
1991 - State Insurance Commissioner – Cathy Weatherford (appointed)
1991 - State Treasurer – Claudette Henry (initially appointed?)
1991 - Superintendent of Public Instruction – Sandy Garrett (elected)
1993 - Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals - Reta Strubhar (appointed)
1995 - Commissioner of Labor – Brenda Reneau Wynn (elected)
1995 - Lieutenant Governor – Mary Fallin (elected)

2011 - Governor - Mary Fallin (elected)

Organizations Serving Oklahoma Women & Girls

Here are some organizations in Oklahoma that support and/or promote women or girls in Oklahoma. Click on the title to view their Internet site. Please nominate other organizations; they don't have to have an Internet site to be listed.

Oklahoma National Organization for Women


Sunday, March 03, 2013

Some Extraordinary Oklahoma Black Women

I took a sabbatical but I am back. Here are some items that I posted last month on my Twitter account  --  @jeanwarner  -  during Black History Month. They are all remarkable Oklahoma women who happen to be black. Tell me who I overlooked!
Interesting reading: Oklahoma City African-American Discovery guide by Kendrick Moore


In 2001, State of Oklahoma officially apologizes for 1921 Tulsa race riot; endorses reparations for the riot victims.

In 1980, President Ronald Reagan appointed Ms. Lennie Tolliver to be Director of the U.S. Commission on Aging.

Freddye Williams served on OK City Board of Education 1975-1979, OK House of Reps 1981-1990 ow.ly/hlYZj

1958 - Clara Luper and students participate in the first lunch counter sit-ins at Katz Drug Store in Oklahoma City.

Valree Fletcher Wynn. 1st black to teach at Lawton High School and at Cameron University. ow.ly/hlFMv

In 1970, Coretta Banks becomes the first African American to participate in the Miss Oklahoma Beauty Pageant.

Betty Hopkins Mason, 1928- Tulsan, 1st black & 1st woman Supt of OK City Public Schools, 1992-95 ow.ly/hlAez

Book: Journey Toward Hope: A History of Blacks in Oklahoma by Jimmie Lewis Franklin

Mazola McKerson. Owner Gourmet Restaurant, Ardmore. 1st black/woman elected to City Council & Mayor...

Willa Johnson-1st black woman elected 2 OK City Council, Ward 7; now OK County Commissioner. See ow.ly/hlDfA

1970, Coretta Banks becomes first black to participate in the Miss Oklahoma Beauty pageant.

Leona Mitchell, 1949- . Renowned African-American and Chickasaw operatic soprano. OCU graduate. ow.ly/hlEZy

Marie Rogers Gray (1900-1999). A life-long educator, she founded schools in Fay, Geary, & Eudora, Oklahoma.

Maxine Horner- With Vicki Miles-LaGrage,1st Black woman elected to OK Senate (1987). Helped found OK Jazz Hall of Fame

Anita Hill. Law professor's testimony addressed sexual harassment at Clarence Thomas hearing ow.ly/hlCG7

Judith Horton, told she couldn't use Guthrie's white library, founded 1st black library, Excelsior Library, in 1908.

In 1982, Democrat Shirley Darrell in Oklahoma County became the first black elected as a county commissioner.

Rubye Hibler Hall 1912-2003 1st black appointed to OK State Regents for Higher Education (1974-80) ow.ly/hlBu0

Okie Vicki Miles-LaGrange is Chief US District Judge for the Western District of Oklahoma ow.ly/hl65D

Dorothy Moses DeWitty, 1926-2012, 1st black woman principal of Tulsa school & Tulsa City Council. ow.ly/hlaKz

Zelia Page Breaux 1880-1956 Musician/educator, influenced Charlie Christian. Co-owned Aldridge Theater ow.ly/hllmq

Juanita Kidd Stout, 1919-1998, 1st black woman admitted to OK Bar, served on PA Supreme Court ow.ly/hjI7v

Cleora Butler, 1901-1985, famed Tulsa caterer/restaurateur. Author "Cleora’s Kitchens" ow.ly/hlfa3

Emma Jones-Freeman won lawsuit against OK City School Board resulting in equal pay for teachers regardless of race

Check out this lovely interview with Rosa Parks on the Academy of Achievement site:achievement.org/autodoc/page/p…

Nancy Randolph-Davis educator, activist, 1st black student to enroll at OK State University ow.ly/hldwI

Hannah Diggs Atkins (1923-2010) 1st black woman in OK House of Reps. OK Secty of State, more: ow.ly/hlabl

Opaline Deveraux Wadkins 1912-2000 health activist helped desegregate nursing schools in Oklahoma ow.ly/hlcFB

Evelyn LaRue Pittman, 1910-1992, music teacher, choral conductor, composer of music drawn from black history

Beulah Jacobs Ponder was 1st black to work in Office of Governor; receptionist for Henry Bellman ow.ly/hlZkT

Lena Lowery Sawner, 1874-1949, principal of segregated Douglass HS in OKC, one of Oklahoma's first black activists.

Okie Bessie Coleman (1892-1926) was the world's 1st licensed black aviator. Read about her at ow.ly/hjH44

Okie educator Clara Luper (1923-2011) was pioneer in American Civil Rights Movement. Watch video ow.ly/hl6SC