Sarah Rector – A Rich Negro Woman
According to BlackAmericaWeb, Sarah Rector, a former slave, became one of the richest little girls in America in 1914. The headlines would read: “Oil Made Pickaninny Rich – Oklahoma Girl With $15,000 A Month Gets Many Proposals – Four White Men in Germany Want to Marry the Negro Child That They Might Share Her Fortune.”
$15,000 a month back then is probably the equivalent to millions a month now. I came across the most fascinating article the other day about Sarah Rector. Below is a short excerpt from the article and the link.
When she was born, Rector was given a rough, hilly allotment, considered worthless agriculturally, in Glenpool, 60 miles from where she and her family lived. Her father had petitioned the Muskogee County Court to sell the land, but he was denied because of certain restrictions placed on the land, for which he was required to continue paying taxes.
In 1913, when she was ten years old, large pools of oil were discovered on Rector’s land. One year later, her land produced so much oil that she had already yielded $300,000; her fortune was increasing at a rate of $10,000 per month. Her mother had died years earlier from tuberculosis. In 1914, her father died in prison, leaving her orphaned.
Even before her father’s death, Rector was appointed a guardian who was responsible for managing Rector’s money and providing for her education and care. The law at the time required full-blooded Indians, black adults and children who were citizens of Indian Territory with significant property and money, to be assigned “well-respected” white guardians who often cheated them out of their lands. There are stories of swindlers, oil tycoons and other unscrupulous types who kidnapped and murdered the children and adults to get their land.
Click on the link to read more: http://www.thedefendersonline.com/2009/02/18/sarah-rector-the-richest-colored-girl-in-the-world/comment-page-1/#comment-2773
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Tagged with: Black History • Sarah Rector
Filed under: History
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Interesting piece of history.
Thanks for sharing.
Shelia Reply:
February 18th, 2010 at 11:21 am
You’re welcome. This was my first time hearing about her so when I ran across the article, I had to share.
Val Reply:
February 27th, 2011 at 2:48 pm
Kelvin Rector has written a trilogy about this, the true story of his family, his aunt was Sarah Rector, the “Richest Colored Girl in the world” http://kelvinrector.com
His writings go from 1866 when 16,000 slaves were turned over to the Creek Nation till now and how it relates to who he is today and how it has effected his life, a very compelling story. .
Shelia Goss Reply:
February 28th, 2011 at 12:20 am
I will check out his site and book.
Thank you for sharing. I have enjoyed the facts you have provided this month.
Shelia Reply:
February 18th, 2010 at 11:21 am
Thanks Lashonda.
Oh wow! This is a great story, and excellent fodder for a historical romance. Thank you for blogging about Sarah Rector.
From rags to riches..can’t beat that deal. LOVING THIS
Sheila,
I would like to take the opportunity to thank you for sharing this article on Sarah Rector on your blog. Sarah was my grandmother so of course it is wonderful to see her life shared with others. Stacey Patton presented a true and wonderful peice on her. She is a very talented writer so it was an honor to read her article. The Campbell/Rector families are currently putting together information regarding Sarah’s life in an colabrative effort to share her history. I thank you again for your post.
Sarah A. Campbell