From a Slave Background to a Millionaire
By: Lioness Rue
Tags: History, Racism, Culture, Wealth, Slavery

From a Slave Background to a Millionaire

America’s richest black girl, Sarah Rector

Sarah Rector (1886–1957), taken inside the Rector Mansion in the 1920s. — Photo courtesy of the Rector descendants.

Born on March 3rd, 1902 in Taft, Oklahoma, United States, Sarah Rector, later on, became the richest black girl in America. She was the daughter of Joseph Rector and Rose McQueen. Rector grew up in quite a large family alongside her siblings, Roy, Rebecca, Rosa, Lillie, Joe Jr., and Lou Alice.

The Acts that changed everything

Sarah Rector’s land allotments on the Cimarron River is highlighted

on “Hastain’s Township Plats of the Creek Nation,” 1910. —Image courtesy of Diane Euston

Muscogee Creek Indians enslaved both Rector’s maternal grandmother and paternal great-grandfather.

However, in 1866, after the civil war and the abolishment of slavery, Rector’s ancestors became freedmen. Also, her ancestors became members of the tribes that had enslaved them.

In 1887, the Federal government introduced the Dawes Act. The act resulted in many Native Americans losing their land as it was deemed excess. The land was awarded to white settlers, free of charge.

Following the act, in 1898, the Curtis Act was passed. The new act resulted in the break up of tribal governments and communal lands in Indian territory. Thus, the legislation led to the formation of the new Oklahoma State.

The Curtis Act amended the Dawes Act and made it possible for local people to gain land from the previous Indian territory.

Rector was among the thousands of children that were awarded land along with her siblings. Rector’s assigned piece of land was approximately 159.14 acres.

Nonetheless, tribal members like Rector were awarded land that was unsuitable for farming due to its rocky and infertile nature. On the other hand, white settlers received more suitable and fertile land.

In any case, the federal government was unaware of the fact that the land received by most tribal children contained valuable crude oil underneath. One of those was Rector’s land that was located in Glenpool.

Wealth

The Rector Mansion at 2000 E. 12th St. — Image courtesy of Diane Euston

Since Rector’s parents were poor, her father found it difficult to keep up with the property tax charged on his children’s land. As a result, he tried to sell Rector’s land. However, this move was unsuccessful as Rector was still a minor.

In February 1911, Rector’s father signed an agreement with the Standard Oil Company. The deal meant that he would lease Rector’s land to the company and relieve himself of the annual property tax.

Following the agreement, a few years later, an independent oil driller, B. B. Jones drilled a well on Rector’s land. Jones managed the land, and in just a few months, Rector’s property was producing thousands of barrels of crude oil per day.

According to the Oklahoma legislation, Rector was assigned a white guardian, T.J. Porter, to assist with the management of her wealth. This law was enforced even though Rector’s parents were alive.

Rector received a fortune in the form of royalties from the crude oil produced by her assigned land. At the age of eleven, Rector earned thousands of dollars each month. According to newspaper reports, Rector’s income surpassed that of the presidents. This fortune awarded her the title, “The richest colored girl in America”.

They were still living in poverty

Top:” Home of the Creek Freedmen,” Oklahoma Territory, cir. 1900/ Bottom: The headline on November 29, 1913, in the Chicago Defender

—Image courtesy of the Records of the Office of the Secretary of the Interior

Despite the amount of money Rector received, she and her family continued to live in extreme poverty. This paradox led to many questions about the management of her wealth. Following an investigation on the management of Rector’s wealth, James C. Waters J.r stated that Sarah didn’t acquire any education and dressed in cheap clothes. However, her white guardian lived a luxurious life.

Following the investigations, the press became interested in Rector’s issue, and it issued many reports. Soon after Rector’s case was brought to light, Rector and her family moved to a five roomed cottage. Also, Rector started attending school along with her siblings.

Later Life

Later on, Rector transferred to a better school, the Tuskegee Institute children’s school. Because of her massive wealth, Rector was a target of kidnappings and violence.

By 1915, Rector’s assigned land was producing hundreds of thousands of barrels of crude oil per month. Rector’s daily income was more than the average annual salary for most Americans.

In 1917, Rector and her family relocated to Kansas City, Missouri. Later on, they moved into a luxurious mansion. At the age of eighteen, Rector was a millionaire.

In 1920, Rector married her husband, Kenneth Campbell. The couple gave birth to three children, Kenneth Campbell Jr., Leonard Campbell, and Clarence Campbell. However, Rector divorced her husband in 1930.

Following the depression, Rector lost most of her wealth. In 1934, Rector married her second husband, William Crawford. She died on July 22nd, 1967 from a cerebral hemorrhage.