LAWTON – In celebration of Black History Month, Lawton Public Library has created a handout listing Black local legends, the library said in a news release.
The library has previously created 12 other local legends bookmarks to promote community history.
Library staffers looked through local historical documents and tried to create a well-rounded list with people who have contributed to the community in various ways, according to the news release. The list was capped at 20 people.
Those names are:
- Leila Milford Barfield.
- Brig. Gen. (retired) Jesse R. Cross.
- The Rev. Vernon Cross.
- The Rev. Jesse Davenport.
- Lt. Henry O. Flipper.
- Raymond L. Gates.
- Albert Johnson Sr.
- The Rev. Louis Kato Jones.
- The Rev. Nathaniel Harmon “N.H.” Jones.
- Herbert C. “Prof” King.
- Lawrence P. Kuykendall.
- William M. Lee.
- David B. Lewis.
- Adam Mathews Jr.
- Dr. Eugene Augustus Owens.
- Sarah Elizabeth “Betty” Owens.
- William Robert Patterson.
- Tahronon Wayne “T.W.” Shannon.
- The Rev. Charles William Whitlow.
- Dr. Valree F. Wynn.
“We know there is local history just sitting in boxes in people’s closets and garages,” Library Director Kristin Herr said in the news release. “We now have a Digital Memory Center that we hope citizens will utilize to digitize documents and photos. The library would appreciate it if citizens donated copies of key historical documents.”
The 20 notable local Black local legends handouts are available at both libraries. Bulk amounts are available, but please call ahead for bulk requests.
For more information, contact community engagement librarian Tanya Organ at 580-581-3450, ext. 1711, or at tanya.organ@lawtonok.gov.