Tulsa celebrates Oklahoma's first female state official on 150th birthday

People in Tulsa are celebrating the life of the first woman elected to a major state office in Oklahoma 150 years after she was born.

Kate Barnard was honored with a birthday party in Tulsa on Saturday at Oak Tree Books.

Kate Barnard's Life

Barnard was born in Nebraska on May 23, 1875, but it was here in Oklahoma where she would make history nearly three decades later in the state’s first days.

Barnard was elected to serve as the Commissioner of Charities and Corrections in 1907, more than a decade before women were given the right to vote.

She was responsible for laws against child labor, creating a juvenile justice system, and helping pass laws requiring school attendance.

Barnard was in state office for eight years from 1907-1915.

She died in Oklahoma City in 1930.

Statewide Rememberace

A representative from the office of Tulsa Mayor Monroe Nichols read a proclamation making May 24, 2025, “Kate Barnard Day,” in the city at her birthday party Saturday.

On Friday, Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt put flowers on Barnard’s grave and declared Friday, “Kate Barnard Day,” in the city there.

Barnard's Biographer

Connie Cronley wrote a book on Barnard’s life and accomplishments and says she was a pioneer.

"She was a trailblazer,” said Cronley. “She was a lone woman, small, not much bigger than a child, in this all-male political world of hard bare-knuckle politics."

Cronley says Barnard had strong morals and always fought to do what was right.

"Her compassion burned like a flame,” said Cronley. “But she also burned with love for children, she had no children of her own, for this young state, for the people of the state, for education, for care of the people."

She says Cronley overcame lots of challenges when she was in office.

"Although her department was absolutely crushed by the grafters who wanted the money from the Native American orphans, she was never defeated,” said Cronley. “She vowed, three days before she died, she was going to regain her health and run for national audience."

She says it means the world to her that Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt put flowers on her grave Friday.

"To have a public official, an elected official, in Oklahoma, lay flowers on her grave and say, thank you, Kate Barnard for your service,” said Cronley. “I think finally, after all these decades, we're recognizing her."

The Next Generation

Teenagers Mackenzie Day and Emberly Thompson worked on a school history project about Barnard and decided to travel from Canton, OKlahoma to Tulsa to be part of Saturday’s celebration.

"I thought it was really cool how Kate Barnard tried to do everything for the children,” said Thompson. “She tried to give them everything she could."

The teenagers hope others will see how important Barnard’s work was and will continue to be inspired by her for years to come.

"Kate Barnard did all she could for the children, even though she had her own problems going on through life, she put those problems aside to fight for them,” said Day.