Tulsa 1921: November 2025 Archives

The National Archives has been digitizing its collections, and I came across these papers pertaining to the Tulsa Race Massacre aka Tulsa Race Riot while researching the previous item about the Tulsa HOLC "redlining" map.

DR-6.08 Oklahoma, Tulsa Co. Riot Reports and Statistics

This is a 218-page report issued at the end of 1921 compiled for the Tulsa County Chapter of the American Red Cross by Maurice Willows, who was brought from St. Louis to serve as Director of Disaster Relief in the wake of the massacre. Willows's grandson, KTUL anchorman Bob Hower, drew on these records to compile the book 1921 Tulsa Race Riot, Angels of Mercy. The report includes newspaper accounts of the disaster and its aftermath:

These clippings record the activities of the Public Welfare Board [original], the National Guard, the Police Department, the Mayor's Reconstruction Committee, the County Commissioners, the Ministerial Association, the Inter-racial Committee and, what is more important, reflect, editorially and otherwise, the consensus of public opinion on questions which will inevitably arise in the future for discussion.

On page 69 of the report, Willows discusses the attempt by the city commission to prevent rebuilding of homes by extending fire limits to encompass the burned Greenwood district. This was denied by the district court, allowing families to rebuild their homes.

Page 72 is an addendum describing a Christmas celebration at the Red Cross Relief Headquarters, where over 2000 Greenwood citizens gathered around a Christmas tree (donated by Charles Page) to sing Christmas carols and spirituals. 2700 Christmas packages were distributed, with candies, nuts, and oranges and also practical items, like pillows, clothing, and quilts.

The American Red Cross also compiled this Photo Album of the Tulsa Massacre and Aftermath. Many of the pages appear to have been water-damaged. The photo above shows the Disaster Relief Headquarters set up in the original Booker T. Washington High School building, which was not damaged in the riot.