Rachel Caroline Eaton facts for kids

Rachel Caroline Eaton (born July 7, 1869) was a remarkable woman from the Cherokee Nation. She is known for being one of the first Native American women from Oklahoma to earn a high-level university degree called a Ph.D.. This means she studied a subject very deeply and became an expert in it. Rachel dedicated her life to education, both as a student and a teacher.

Rachel's Family History

Rachel Caroline Eaton was born on July 7, 1869, near Flint Creek in the Cherokee Nation. Her father, George Washington Eaton, was a veteran of the American Civil War. Her mother, Nancy Elizabeth Wared Williams, was part Cherokee. Nancy's mother had experienced the difficult journey known as the Trail of Tears.

Rachel grew up with three siblings: James Calvin, Martha Pauline, and John Merrit Eaton. Her brother, James Calvin, became a farmer in Oklahoma. Her sister, Martha Pauline, married James Morning York, who later became an important local official in Rogers County.

Rachel's Journey in Education

Rachel Eaton started her schooling in tribal schools. She then attended the famous Cherokee Female Seminary in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. This was a very important school for young Cherokee women. She graduated from the Seminary in 1887.

After the Seminary, Rachel continued her studies at Drury College in Springfield, Missouri. She then went on to the prestigious University of Chicago. Here, she earned her Ph.D. Her major research project, called John Ross and The Cherokee Indians, was published in 1921. This book became an important history of the Cherokee people.

Rachel's Career and Achievements

Rachel Eaton had a long and successful career as an educator. She taught in public schools within the Cherokee Nation. She also taught at the new Cherokee Female Seminary building, which was rebuilt after a fire.

Her teaching career took her to colleges across the country, including:

• Lake Erie College in Painsville, Ohio
• Industrial Institute and College in Columbus, Mississippi

Rachel also held a leadership position as the Dean of Women at Trinity University in Waxahachie, Texas.

In 1920, Rachel was elected to a very important role: Superintendent of Public Instruction for Rogers County, Oklahoma. She held this position for two years, overseeing the public schools in the county.

In 1936, Rachel Caroline Eaton was honored by being inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame. This recognized her as one of Oklahoma's most outstanding women. Rachel passed away on September 20, 1938, in Claremore, Oklahoma, after a long illness.