Sapulpa Showcase (February 2022)

Artifact of the Month:

The Artifact of the Month goes to the “The History of Our School: Lowrance” self-published book. It was written by students at the Lowrance School in 1940. The seventh and eighth graders of Lowrance School addressed the history of Sapulpa’s schools for the African-American community. The book details information of the territorial days, Olentine School (1908-1923), and Lowrance Industrial School (1923-1964). The book is very detailed about not only the lives of the students from pre-statehood until its publication in 1940, but it tells the lives of the pioneers. Pioneers of the book include: Mrs. Lucy Thomas, Mr. Abram Scott, and Mr. Henry Lowrance.
Mr. Henry Lowrance was born on April 30, 1863 from an enslaved family in Jackson, Tennessee. He moved between Arkansas and Tennessee until settling in Territory-Cherokee Nation in 1891. He married Mollie Butler in 1904, moving to Sapulpa, and began accumulating cattle and property. In 1908, Henry owned 160 acres of land; and in 1923, he had given 14 acres of land for a school plot. He additionally donated $1,200* for the building, furniture, and equipment. (*$18,500 in today’s money).
Mr. Lowrance was a philanthropist for the community. A self-educated man with passion and encouragement for others to complete their education. He also established the only black cemetery in Oklahoma (Tuskegee Cemetery). He passed away on March 7, 1950.