Mayor Holt proclaims May 23 as Kate Barnard Day
Barnard was a public servant, social reform advocate and first woman elected to major Oklahoma office
5/23/2025
Link to story
Link to Kate Barnard photo, courtesy of Oklahoma Historical Society
Link to Mayor Holt and Author Connie Cronley
Link to dedication group photo
Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt proclaims May 23 as Kate Barnard Day in honor of the social reformer’s 150th birthday and the legacy she left through her social justice advocacy and charitable work in Oklahoma.
“Kate Barnard is among the most influential people in Oklahoma‘s history, and we’re proud that her legacy was created in OKC,” Mayor Holt said. “She was a courageous advocate for so many who otherwise had no champions. To know the story of ‘our good angel Kate’ is to be inspired and amazed, and we hope on this milestone anniversary we can share that story with even more Oklahomans.”
Mayor Holt and a City-employee organization, WILLO, held a remembrance ceremony this morning near Barnard’s gravesite at Fairlawn Cemetery, 2700 N. Shartel Ave. Author Connie Cronley, who wrote “A Life on Fire: Oklahoma’s Kate Barnard,” shared stories about Barnard and her life’s work. After the ceremony, attendees honored her by laying white flowers on her headstone.
“One of my favorite quotes from [Cronley’s] book, Kate says, ‘Personally, I wish to see…all the races of the world excel mentally, morally, and physically, but my Utopia is a long way off’”, Sarah Boggs, WILLO Support Committee Chair, said. “As we hear many stories about Kate, I encourage everyone to be inspired to live a life full of meaning and purpose.”
About Kate Barnard
Catherine Ann "Kate" Barnard was born on May 23, 1875. She began her career as a teacher and later devoted herself to aid and charity work in Oklahoma City.
Barnard was elected and served two terms as Commissioner of Charities and Corrections in 1907, becoming the first woman to win a statewide elected office in Oklahoma and the eleventh woman to be elected to a statewide public office in the United States. Her election was historic because women were not allowed to vote in Oklahoma until 1918.
Barnard championed mental health care, criminal justice reform, fair labor standards, compulsory education, and above all, the welfare of children, declaring, “the child is the state’s most valuable resource.” She helped secure legislation establishing child labor protections and Oklahoma’s first juvenile justice system.
Most notably, Barnard fought for the rights of Native American children, authored the first official investigative report on the Osage Nation murders, and defended the oil, gas, and timber rights tied to Native Americans’ federal allotments.
A bronze statue of her is on display on the first floor of the Oklahoma State Capitol and she was inducted in the Oklahoma Women’s Hall of Fame in 1982.
Her work is still seen today through nonprofit organizations like the United Way of Central Oklahoma and Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City.
Learn more about Barnard’s accomplishments on oklahoma.gov and okhistory.org.
About WILLO
WILLO, which stands for Women Inspiring Leadership and Learning Opportunities, is an employee-led business resource group at the City of Oklahoma City committed to supporting, developing and connecting its members. With a vision to empower members to achieve their full potential, WILLO offers resources, programming and community-building opportunities that foster both professional and personal growth.
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Media Contact: Kristy Yager, (405) 297-2550, kristy.yager@okc.gov
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