Book review: “A Life on Fire: Oklahoma's Kate Barnard”

I read “A Life on Fire: Oklahoma's Kate Barnard” while I was in quarantine for COVID-19 in late June. This biography on Kate Barnard (1875-1930) is the third biography written about this unique woman. Kate Barnard was the first woman to be elected to a state-wide office in the United States in 1907. This was before women had secured the right to vote, which occurred in 1920. Barnard was a progressive who worked toward social reform. She was very influential in Democratic party politics and was also involved in the creation of the Oklahoma state constitution.  

One aspect about Barnard that interested me was that she was a Roman Catholic. It is not clear from this biography, or the other two biographies, of how much her Catholicism impacted her social reform ideas. Pope Leo XIII had written his social justice encyclical in 1890, “Rerum Novarum,” and she would have had the opportunity to read it. She did not have a college education, but she attended Catholic schools in Oklahoma City. 
    
Kate Barnard was a fiesty woman. She was not very tall and did not weigh much. She was considered almost hyperactive and that is expressed in this biography. She traveled all around Oklahoma attending campaign speeches and investigations when she won election as the first Commissioner of Charities and Corrections. She would tangle with governors and legislators no matter who they were. Her biggest fight was with “Alfalfa Bill” Murray.  

She traveled around the country attending conferences about social reform where she learned important things and gave a lot of speeches. She ran into problems when she tried to defend Native American  land and property rights that corrupt people swindled them out of. This battle was her ultimate downfall. However, she continued working for reforms even after she was out of office. 

Her health quickly deteriorated and led to a relatively early death. Her funeral was held at Saint Joseph Old Cathedral in Oklahoma City in 1930 and her grave remained unmarked until 1982.
    
This biography has many black and white illustrations, an index, end notes and a bibliography. The book flows very well and fast moving like Barnard's life. It is recommended to those interested in Oklahoma history, women's studies and social justice.  

I had hoped there would be more information about this Catholic woman who was the first woman to hold a new elected state position, but I was hardly aware she was Catholic other than the few times Catholicism was mentioned in connection with her. Still, this book was very interesting because Kate Barnard was a historic, dynamic woman. 

Br. Benet Exton, O.S.B., Saint Gregory's Abbey, Shawnee, is a freelance writer for the Sooner Catholic.