Estelle Chisholm Ward facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Estelle Chisholm Ward
|
|
|---|---|
June 19, 1938
|
|
| Born |
Estelle Chisholm
June 18, 1875 Chism, Chickasaw Nation, Indian Territory
|
| Died | December 9, 1946 (aged 71) |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | educator, journalist, publisher and political activist |
| Years active | 1900–1946 |
| Known for | first Chickasaw woman to represent the tribe's interests in Washington, D. C. |
Estelle Chisholm Ward (June 18, 1875 – December 9, 1946) was an amazing woman from Oklahoma. She was a teacher, a journalist, and even published her own magazine! Estelle was very involved in politics, both in her local community and with her tribe. She made history as the first woman to represent the Chickasaw Nation in Washington, D.C..
Contents
Estelle Chisholm Ward's Early Life
Estelle Chisholm was born on June 18, 1875. Her birthplace was Chism, a town in the Chickasaw Nation of Indian Territory. Her parents were Julia Ann (née McLish) and William Chisholm. The town of Chism was actually named after her father!
Estelle's family had a rich history. Her grandfather was Jesse Chisholm. He was a famous trader who was part Cherokee and part Scottish. The well-known Chisholm Trail was named after him. Estelle had many siblings, including a half-sister and seven full siblings.
Estelle's Education and Learning
Estelle went to school at the Bloomfield Academy. After she graduated, she taught there for a few years. She then continued her education at Kidd College in Sherman, Texas, from 1894 to 1895. Later, she moved to Bowling Green, Kentucky, to study at Potter College.
Estelle Chisholm Ward's Career and Public Service
After finishing her studies, Estelle Chisholm became a teacher. She taught at Burris Chapel School, which was part of the Chickasaw education system. The school was located near Tishomingo.
On December 23, 1896, Estelle married William Thomas Ward in the Chickasaw Nation. William later became an auditor for the Chickasaw tribe and a deputy United States clerk. They lived on their farm near Tishomingo and raised their children there. Later, they also had a home in Oklahoma City.
A Journalist and Publisher
Estelle was a talented writer. She wrote articles for newspapers both in Oklahoma and other states. She was also a member of the National Bureau of Women Speakers. In Oklahoma City, Estelle published and edited her own magazine. It was called The Super Civilized Indian.
Involvement in Politics
Estelle Ward was very active in politics. She was elected as the Treasurer for Johnston County, Oklahoma. She also helped with many campaigns for Republican candidates.
In 1928, Estelle attended an important meeting in Ardmore. This meeting brought together members of the Choctaw and Chickasaw tribes from all over Oklahoma. They met to talk about money issues and problems caused by new laws. These laws included the Indian Citizenship Act and the Burke Act. The tribes were worried about getting money that the government owed them for their coal and asphalt lands.
Representing the Chickasaw Nation in Washington, D.C.
The tribes at the Ardmore convention chose a special committee. This committee was tasked with finding a solution to their problems. All the committee members were men, except for two women: Czarina Conlan for the Choctaw tribe and Estelle Ward for the Chickasaw tribe.
The committee decided to send Czarina Conlan and Estelle Ward to Washington, D.C.. This was a very important moment! It was the first time that women had been sent to Washington to represent either of these tribes. Their job was to support a new bill. This bill was proposed by U.S. House Representative Wilburn Cartwright. It aimed to allow the sale of the tribes' coal and asphalt lands. It also wanted to keep rules in place that protected Indian lands from being sold too easily.
Estelle Chisholm Ward passed away on December 9, 1946, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. She was buried at the City Cemetery in Tishomingo, Oklahoma.
