Home | About OHS | Historical Marker Program

Historical Marker Program

Search Results

Your search returned 6 results.

Boley

Okfuskee County
Location: in community of Boley
Coordinates: 35.493390, -96.484182
Sponsored by: Oklahoma Historical Society
Material: Other (Interpretive Panel)
Topics: Ethnic Diversity, Government, Urban Development, Territorial Period 1861–1907, American Indians, Transportation

Boley is one of thirteen All-Black towns, out of more than fifty that once existed, remaining in Oklahoma. While Tullahassee is reportedly the oldest, most were established between 1889 and 1907 as African Americans sought security and control of their own destiny in a segregated world. Boley was established in 1903 on land owned by a Creek Freedwoman, Abigail Barnett. Boley was incorporated on May 11, 1905. By 1911 it boasted more than 4,000 citizens (25,000 in surrounding areas) and many businesses, including two banks and three cotton gins. The town hosts the oldest African American community-based rodeo every Memorial Day weekend.

Boley, Oklahoma

Okfuskee County
Location: on US-62 in Boley
Coordinates: 35.488219, -96.484095
Sponsored by: Oklahoma Historical Society/Town of Boley
Material: Aluminum
Topics: Ethnic Diversity, Government, Urban Development, Territorial Period 1861–1907, American Indians

Boley, Creek Nation, Indian Territory, established as an all Black town on land of Creek Indian Freedwoman Abigail Barnett. Organized by T.M. Haynes first townsite manager. Established August 1903. Incorporated May 11, 1905. Declared National Historic Landmark May 15, 1975.

Clearview

Okfuskee County
Location: on ground of Clearview School in Clearview
Coordinates: 35.398074, -96.190880
Sponsored by: Oklahoma Historical Society
Material: Other (Interpretive Panel)
Topics: Ethnic Diversity, Government, Mass Communication, Territorial Period 1861–1907, Urban Development

Clearview is one of thirteen All-Black towns, out of more than fifty that once existed, remaining in Oklahoma. While Tullahassee is reportedly the oldest, most were established between 1889 and 1907 as African Americans sought security and control of their own destiny in a segregated world. Clearview was founded in 1903 along the tracks of the Fort Smith and Western Railroad. J. A. Roper, Lemuel Jackson, and John Grayson platted the townsite and formed the Lincoln Townsite Company to attract settlers and advertise settlement.

Okfuskee County, Rosenwald Schools, and Boley

Okfuskee County
Location: on US-62 in Boley
Coordinates: 35.488227, -96.484178
Sponsored by: Jewish American Society for Historic Preservation/Town of Boley
Material: Aluminum
Topics: Education, Ethnic Diversity, Religion/Philosophy, Early Statehood 1907–1941

In 1911, Booker T. Washington, head of Tuskegee Institute in Alabama, asked Julius Rosenwald, a Jewish Philanthropist, to serve on the board of directors at Tuskegee. Rosenwald's desire to help, nurtured by Dr. Washington, led to the creation of the Rosenwald Fund. Between 1917 and 1932, the Rosenwald Fund built 5,340 schools for Black-American children. One hundred and ninety-nine Rosenwald schools were built in Oklahoma: fourteen schools and three teacher's homes were in Okfuskee County. Boley High School, a beneficiary of Rosenwald funding, provided generations of young people opportunities to better lives.

Paden

Okfuskee County
Location: on Main Street in Paden
Coordinates: 35.506979, -96.567939
Sponsored by: Paden Community Council/Paden High School Student Council
Material: Granite
Topics: Government, Urban Development, Territorial Period 1861–1907

In 1903, the town was founded by and named for deputy US Marshal Paden Tolbert who served the federal court in the Western District of Arkansas presided over by Judge Isaac C. Parker, the "hanging judge."

Woody Guthrie

Okfuskee County
Location: on West Broadway Street in Okemah
Coordinates: 35.431312, -96.304030
Sponsored by: Friends of Libraries U.S.A./Grammy Museum
Material: Other (Brick with bronze plaque)
Topics: Social/Culture, Arts, Folklore/Folklife, Early Statehood 1907–1941, Industrial Period 1941–1982

There are two historical markers commemorating the birthplace and hometown of Woody Guthrie at this site. Woody Guthrie was born in Okemah on July 14, 1912. A renowned folk singer and writer, Guthrie penned This Land is Your Land and numerous other songs, poems, and books. Guthrie's music inspired subsequent generations of musicians of every genre. There is another marker on site dedicating the park in memory of Dale Wolfe and Lawrence Powers.

(Page 1 of 1)

Search for Markers

Search by keyword or browse by county to learn about more than 700 historical markers created to recognize key locations, events, and people in Oklahoma history.

Please note that some markers listed in this database may have been moved, damaged, or are no longer standing.

Topic/Name

Subject Group

County

Browse by County

Latimer County
Le Flore County
Lincoln County
Logan County
Love County
Marshall County
Mayes County
McClain County
McCurtain County
McIntosh County
Murray County
Muskogee County
Noble County
Okfuskee County
Oklahoma County
Okmulgee County
Osage County
Ottawa County
Pawnee County
Payne County
Pittsburg County
Pontotoc County
Pottawatomie County
Pushmataha County
Roger Mills County
Rogers County
Seminole County
Sequoyah County
Stephens County
Texas County
Tillman County
Tulsa County
Wagoner County
Washington County
Washita County
Woods County
Woodward County

Contact Us

If you have questions, please contact:
Matthew Pearce
Oklahoma Historical Society
800 Nazih Zuhdi Drive
Oklahoma City, OK 73105
405-522-8659
matthew.pearce@history.ok.gov