It doesn't take long for novice genealogists to discover the absence of the 1890 U.S. census, destroyed in a fire in the 1920s, but there's a geographical exception of which only those doing Oklahoma research are generally aware -- Indian Territory, in what is now eastern Oklahoma. The territory was divided into ten districts and the methods followed in the enumeration were the same as for the census at large, with 105 columns in six schedules. This transcription appears to include only the first two schedules: Native Cherokees, Shawnees, and Delawares, and adopted whites; and orphans under the age of sixteen. Information transcribed includes only page and line number, name, race, sex, age, marital status, occupation, and remarks (and there seem to be many more remarks by census-takers than one would expect in a state enumeration). Since Native American documentary resources are so slim, the researcher will want to pursue the more specialized schedules. It should be noted that most of the names as recorded don't sound "Indian." Edward Goodman is listed as a "Native Cherokee," and so is George Wilkerson, though you will also find listings for Sa-gi-ya Bearpaw and Seali Going Snake. As with any census, spelling of surnames varies considerably and Benge has made an effort to consolidate variant spellings in the index (though the researcher, of course, should not assume that two similar names actually are cognates). Happily, data is not alphabetized but is presented in the original recorded order. While I cannot judge the accuracy of Benge's transcription, I saw very few blanks or question marks, which may be either an indication of skilled reading or of exceptionally clear penmanship. While this is a very useful resource for the genealogist who has just uncovered Native American ancestry, I wish the compiler had included a much lengthier introduction and perhaps a few maps of the districts.

Frank Canton was sheriff of Buffalo, Wyoming in the 1880s and during the Johnson County War. Later he was a Deputy US Marshal in Oklahoma Territory, rising to high rank in Oklahoma law enforcement. He wrote an autobiography titled "Frontier Trails" that is a classic of western adventure about his life as a western lawman. Only, Frank Canton completely left out a significant part of his life history--his real name was Joe Horner and he was a convicted bank robber and murderer from Texas who had escaped from prison.

Alias Frank Canton fills in the blanks Canton left in his story, and does it very well. The reading was interesting and appeared to have been very well researched.

My aunt Shelly died in the explosion on April 19, '95. It was truly terror in the heartland. At that moment, 9:02 am. A bomb ripped through Shell and it ripped through me. Truely Angels did cry that day. I know I did. Emily Cullen

The same guys who were afraid of Virginia Woolf, that's who. Shirley Leckie has written a fine biography in the conservative biography tradition. It is published by the same press that gave Angie Debo the runaround back when she was doubting her own significance as a writer in mid-career. When she was in despair. Published by the same university, who, in the heyday of history department chauvinism, chose to groom and tenure by far less accomplished male scholars rather than to throw a crumb to Miss Debo, the one whose work would be of supreme importance. Leckie's version of the story is balanced in tone, raking no muck and slinging no mud, but the truth comes glimmering through, even so. Handled especially well is the relationship Debo shared with her mentor, Dale. He might have actually been a two-faced jerk who wouldn't have rescued her or her manuscripts from a criminal Faulkner fire. Leckie veers away from harsh judgement and leaves it to the reader to decide how much he really cared. Many things come to mind from reading this insightful book, especially the fact that men who ran history departments could get by with a lot of crap, like promoting their publish-nothing buddies while placing one of the century's outstanding and memorable historians such as Debo on the back burner. Is there any doubt that she may have scorched back there? Angie Debo was the last of the old maids in many respects. Never married, never encouraged flirtation. Lived with and lived for her mother in the little town of Marshall. Pretty much given the cold shoulder by the universities during her 30s and 40s. Finally, in her fifties, the Old Boys loosened up a little. Leckie does make it clear that Debo was more of a lone wolf than a team player, especially when the team-players were a little thick. And yeah, I guess I wanted more from a bio, wanted Debo to be more than an old maid, jilted by the academic system, as far as personal relationships go. Perhaps if the biographer had focused upon the truly intense relationship Angie Debo had for her own writing and research of the Creeks and Choctaw tribes, the drama of the bio would have been heightened. When the life and the work is one and the same, as it was with Debo, the life had to have higher highs and lower lows. I think her early childhood illnesses which nearly killed her probably altered her ways that the biographer did not explore. Maybe the Debo soup was actually a little thicker than that which has been served here. The biographer chose to be choosy, to write a tasteful and conservative assessment of a life. Maybe Miss Debo wouldn't want anymore said than that. Could it be I suffer from some kind of popular misconception about the life of such a significant writer, believing like Dolly Pardon, who said: "Some people think less is more, but I say more is more"?

This is an easily readable and well balanced biography of a man whose love of the land where he was born enabled him to guide the development of the state to its economic heights of today. Tthe author is a history professor at Arizona State. He has well researched his material and had access to Goldwater's papers as well. A fine gift for Democrat or Republican or anyone interested in the development of the state.

Sturm provides thought-provoking insights into tribal indentity and shows how the idea of "race" changes and evolves over time. A variety of perspectives, sometimes quite humorous, into the obsession of blood quantum. Her stories throughout the book are welcome breaks from the sometimes stuffy academic writing. I think she neglects to mention that government documentatin of people's blood quantum is arbitrary and often incorrect, usually placing people's blood quantum lower than it actually is. Sturm also seems inexplicably harsh on the Cherokee Nation and in particular Ross Swimmer. Other than these complaints, this book is a great exploration of varying viewpoints.

This book is about the women of the Oklahoma Territory. There are many stories of women that range from Outlaws to Bible Thumpers. It told of their adventures and some of the problems that they ran into. There was one character that I could relate to, Kate Barnard. She held a special place in her heart for children, especially the orphaned, sick, insane, and poor.
I really enjoyed this book. My favorite part was how it showed all the parts of the history, not just the good, but it also talked about people like Big Anne (which was a whore), and Belle Starr (an outlaw's girl). So if you enjoy history, you need to check this one out. Oh, and it's a short book.

This exquisite book is one of a series whose purpose is to help school children understand complex Native American cultures. Others in the series deal with Comanche, Iroquois, Ojibwa, Seminole, and Pomo Indians. The format, photography and text are all excellent, designed to capture and hold the young reader's attention while teaching facts about Cherokee myths, legends, religion, history, social and political organization, and daily lives. Included are many "odds and ends" of useful information, including relevant internet sites. The author shows surprising restraint when discussing Andrew Jackson and the Trail of Tears (perhaps too much from this Cherokee's biased perspective): " President Andrew Jackson used the U.S. Army [to remove Cherokees from their homes.] The army captured all the Cherokees they could find. They forced them to move to Oklahoma. Most Cherokees had to walk the entire distance. . . . More than 4,000 died on the journey. This is why it is called the Trail of Tears. (17)" One mild criticism: the "Words to Know" section seems inadequate, even condescending. A simple lexicon of Cherokee words would have been nice. Nonetheless, THE CHEROKEE INDIANS is a must for every elementary school library.

Julie Roy Jeffrey's achievement is a must for anyone interested in the history of the American frontier. It tells the tragic tale of a clash between two incompatible cultures and consequently highlights the complexity of the frontier experience. Here all notions of European conquest or Native American savagery are replaced by a reality of failed coexistence.

As a native Oklahoman who has returned after a 35 year absence I found The Culture of Oklahoma to be very enlightening. The essays reinforced each other in an image of a state full of people who undervalue their strengths and whose devotion to individualism and populism keep them underachieving relative to much of the rest of the country. The same culture creates people who are warm, helpful, friendly and perservering. An image which stands out is the contrast of the "dust bowl" image with the reality of a state which is, by and large, lush, green and water rich. One hopes that younger generations of Oklahoma will grow out of the backwards parts of their past while retaining the positives.