In this entry, Lucille (or Lucile) S. Brannon talks about her uncle Spencer Stephens, the first superintendent of the Cherokee National Female Seminary when it reopened in 1889 after a fire destroyed the building on April 10, 1887.

The New Female Seminary was built in north Tahlequah, beginning on Nov. 3rd, 1887. Completed in April 18th, 1889. A modern brick building on a lovely site supplied with water from the “Big Spring” with steam heat and inside toilet. The pride of the Cherokee Nation, where were gathered 250 Cherokee girls, and looking about for the right man, to superintend this beautiful, high-class institution of learning—Spencer Stephens was chosen when given an appropriation to select the proper appointments for the school. Uncle Spencer went to St. Louis, and among other things, selected real linen table cloths and napkins, and silver dish and knives and forks for the 14 long tables in the dining room. Some complained that he was spending the Nation’s money needlessly[. H]e told them, that “young ladies of the best families demanded the best.” But politics put him out after that 1st term as Superintendent. There is a tablet in the entrance hall perpetuating his memory, and educational efforts.

He was an ideal Superintendent. I remember when passing through the halls, he found pencil marks on the wall, going up the back stairs and he called Miss Bushy-head’s attention to it, and told her to find the culprit and make her scrub the marks off. And another time when he went to Aunt Sarah’s room on the 2nd floor, he found greasy finger marks around the knob; he called Aunt Sarah, and told her to scrub around the knob. He was so alert that everything was just right; every employee was required to bring in their orders for supplies for the day, to his desk by 9 o’clock in the morning, and he ordered needed supplies for the day.¹

Endnotes

¹ Lucille S. Brannon, “Cherokee National Female Seminary,” Interview 0000, vol. 10, 332, Indian Pioneer Papers, Western History Collections, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Okla.