Mrs. Tate to be inducted into Oklahoma Historians Hall of Fame

Juanita Tate Chickasaw elder, artist and author Juanita Keel Tate has been selected for induction into the Oklahoma Historians Hall of Fame.

 

The Awards Committee of the Oklahoma Historical Society has selected Mrs. Tate as one of four individuals to be inducted into the Oklahoma Historians Hall of Fame.

 

Along with Mrs. Tate, of Ardmore, inductees will include Jim Argo, of Edmond; Sandie Olson, of Waynoka; and Al Turner, of Noble.

 

Born in Ardmore in 1910, Mrs. Tate is a revered Chickasaw elder who has devoted a lifetime to the preservation of Chickasaw and family history. As a child she became a custodian of family memorabilia. As an adult, she has used her skills as an artist to paint portraits of leading Chickasaw and Choctaw men and women and historic Chickasaw structures. She became renowned as a researcher of Chickasaw family history, and, at age 98, published her book "Edmund Pickens (Okchantubby): First Elected Chickasaw Chief, His Life and Times."

 

Mrs. Tate has long been active in Chickasaw tribal affairs. She has held offices in the Chickasaw-Choctaw Confederation and the Atoka Treaty Rights Association, the Tifahaya Inter-tribal Club and the Ohoyohoma Club. She has also been a long-time member of the Chilocco National Alumni Association and was inducted into the Chilocco Indian School Hall of Fame in 1987.

 

In addition, she has been active as a member of the Bloomfield-Carter Seminary Alumni Association

 

Always full of pride for her heritage, she turned her energies toward genealogy in 1961. Since then, she has devoted herself to the study of her ancestry and has encouraged family and friends to study their genealogy and preserve as much of their history as possible. She is passionate about the preservation of Chickasaw history and culture and has encouraged Chickasaws to have pride in their past.

 

The induction ceremony will be conducted during the Oklahoma Historical Society Annual Awards Luncheon at the Cherokee Strip Conference Center in Enid at 12:15 p.m., Friday, April 29, 2011.

 

The cost of the Luncheon is $18 and reservations for the luncheon must be made in advance. A letter of invitation and registration form has been sent to each member of the OHS.

 

Non-members may purchase luncheon reservations by contacting Alma Moore at 405-522-5242 or Shelly Crynes at 405-522-0317.

 

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