Dedication Planned for New Kate Barnard Historical Marker in Guthrie
September 17, 2026
Contact: Dr. Matthew Pearce
Oklahoma Historical Society
Office: 405-522-8659
[email protected]
okhistory.org/markers
GUTHRIE, Okla. — The Oklahoma Historical Society will dedicate a historical marker commemorating the life of Kate Barnard at Guthrie City Hall on Thursday, October 1, at 11 a.m. Barnard was the first woman elected to state office in Oklahoma, and Guthrie is the historic site where she and other state officials were inaugurated on November 16, 1907, when Oklahoma was admitted to the Union as the 46th state.
A brief ceremony will feature Trait Thompson, OHS executive director; Connie Cronley, author of the award-winning book “A Life on Fire: Oklahoma’s Kate Barnard”; and Lexi Kruse, a high school student at Morrison Public Schools. Kruse will perform “She Would Not Be Silent: Kate Barnard and the Cost of Reform,” which earned first place nationally for individual performance at the National History Day competition in Maryland.
Catherine Ann “Kate” Barnard (1875–1930) was the only woman invited to address the Oklahoma Constitutional Convention in Guthrie. “Kate’s planks,” as they were called, prohibited child labor, enacted a compulsory education law and created the office of Commissioner of Charities and Corrections, to which she was elected in November 1907. She was the first woman in Oklahoma elected to state office and was responsible for inspecting more than 300 hospitals, orphanages and correctional institutions.
Light refreshments will be provided. A limited number of copies of Cronley’s book will be available for sale. Guthrie City Hall is located at 101 N. 2nd St. in Guthrie.
About the Historical Marker Program
The Historical Marker Program officially launched following World War II, when it was directed to select 100 people, places or events important to state history. Today, the Oklahoma Historical Society maintains records for over 700 historical markers sponsored by the OHS or other organizations and individuals. In 2024, the OHS began replacing damaged or missing markers sponsored by the OHS with money from the Legacy Capital Financing Fund. The OHS accepts applications for new historical markers twice yearly (May 15 and October 15). Visit okhistory.org/markers for more information.
About the Oklahoma Historical Society
The mission of the Oklahoma Historical Society is to collect, preserve and share the history and culture of the state of Oklahoma and its people. Founded in 1893 by members of the Territorial Press Association, the OHS maintains museums, historic sites and affiliates across the state. Through its research archives, exhibits, educational programs and publications, the OHS chronicles the rich history of Oklahoma. For more information about the OHS, please visit okhistory.org.
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