Annual Reports of Oklahoma's Territorial Governors

The Governors of Oklahoma Territory issued annual reports from 1891 through 1907, when Oklahoma became a state. These reports, submitted to the Secretary of the Department of the Interior, vary from a few pages to many pages, and report on anything and everything that the current Governor believed to be important. A few examples:

* the 1892 report states "There is a growing feeling of unrest among the people of Oklahoma as to whether the policy of allotting the Indians on the choicest lands of our Territory, and making those lands inalienable and nontaxable for twenty-five years, is fair and just to us."

* the 1892 report notes that there are "...inexhaustible quantities of gypsum in the western part of the Territory." It also noted that no mines had been opened yet in Oklahoma, a situation that would soon change.

*the 1901 report records the number of fraternal organizations in Oklahoma, which included 2,512 Masons, 1,500 Confederate Veterans, and largest organization in the state, 6,100 Odd Fellows.

* the 1901 report notes that the Chilocco Indian Industrial School in Kay County "...is preeminent as the best equipped institution in the Indian service for imparting a practical knowledge of agriculture so much needed by the majority of Indian boys."

* the 1901 report also notes that "...the Territorial Library was provided for by legislative enactment. The justices of the supreme court, who have the direction and management of the library, have seen fit up to this time to limit it to strictly a law library. There are upon the shelves of the library at this time about 7,000 volumes."

*the 1907 report, the last report of its kind before statehood, records the number of votes for Oklahoma's first governor--Democrat 134,162; Republican 106,507; and Socialist 9,740.

*the 1907 report gives a number of 3,220 schools, with an average teacher's salary of $40.22 per month to men and $36.61 to women.

Be prepared to find more historical information about the history of Oklahoma than you knew was ever recorded!

For other papers and documents from the pre-statehood administrations of the territorial governors check our State's Archives Division.

Disclaimer: The Oklahoma Department of Libraries presents these documents as part of the record of the past. These primary historical documents reflect the attitudes, perspectives, and beliefs of different times. The Oklahoma Department of Libraries does not endorse the views expressed in these collections, which may contain materials offensive to some readers.