402:, including the grounds of the Emakaha School and several Seminole churches. Brown Davis refused to sign the deeds over to the Creek and said, "If this be the cause of my resignation I will feel that I have done that which is right and just to myself and my people." Because of the long period of indecision about the land, the Emakaha School had to be emptied. It burned down and was not rebuilt.
332:
In her 40s after her husband's death, Brown Davis became the postmistress of Arbeka, while running the ranch and trading post. She became the superintendent of the
Seminole Nation's girls' school, Emahaka. Built in 1892, Emahaka was a highly modern institution teaching grades one through ten.
341:. Protective of her school and believing that Indians should be in charge of teaching their children, Brown Davis initially refused to yield authority over the school. Her brother John F. Brown was still Chief of the Seminole and finally persuaded her she had to yield under the law.
28:
289:, the capital of the Seminole Nation. After completing her studies, Brown taught, most likely at Mesukey Academy for Boys in Sasakwa. Both there and likely at the girls' school Emakwha Academy, Brown Davis likely taught children of
395:. She was the first female chief of the Seminole tribe, and initially her appointment was controversial, despite her maternal clan's prominence. Eventually she won the support of her people and served until her death.
364:
broke up tribal landholdings, distributing allotments to individual households of registered tribal members. Land in excess of that was declared "surplus" by the federal government and sold to non-Indians. The 1906
313:
on
Seminole Nation lands. They operated a trading post, post office, general store and the Bar X Bar ranch together until George's death. They were entrusted with the duties of disbursing the local Indians'
336:
In order to enable
Oklahoma to become a state, the federal government had required the end of tribal governments in Indian Territory. The tribes were supposed to turn over all functions to officials of the
284:
epidemic broke out among the
Seminole tribe, and she assisted her father in caring for the sick. After the epidemic, both her parents died, and she went to live with her oldest brother John at his ranch at
261:. Four members of her mother's family developed as significant Seminole leaders from 1832 to 1935. Like her brothers, Alice Brown was well educated. One of her influential teachers was
329:
After 1885, she often worked with her brother, Chief John F. Brown, as an interpreter, liaison and assistant for the
Seminole Tribe. She gained a broad knowledge of tribal issues.
481:
583:
348:, where her brother John became the pastor. She performed missionary work in Florida and was active in Muscogee Creek, Seminole, and Wichita Baptist Associations.
788:
768:
758:
250:
system, the children of a marriage belonged to the mother's clan. Her parents had a total of seven children. She is listed as 1/2nd
Seminole by Blood on the
783:
778:
773:
763:
398:
A key issue of her term was tribal land affairs. Based on a new survey of
Seminole land in 1910, the US federal government reassigned some lands to the
678:
628:
562:
502:
753:
708:"William Graham Davis," interview by Mary B. Roberts, 4 November 1977, Research Division, Oklahoma Historical Society, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
270:
485:
748:
384:
with a
Seminole delegation to pursue possible land grant claims there. She returned in 1905 and 1910, but the outbreak of the
609:
536:
587:
195:
183:
142:
43:
376:
During this tumultuous time, Brown Davis acted as an interpreter in court cases, as she was bilingual in
English and
338:
227:
414:. In 1961, she was inducted into the recently founded National Hall of Fame for Famous Native Americans in
419:
399:
366:
625:
559:
506:
257:
Her older brothers John F. and Andrew
Jackson Brown each started to serve the tribe by the time of the
464:
743:
738:
423:
391:
In 1922, at the age of 70, Davis was appointed Principal Chief of the Seminole Nation by President
318:
money and the Civil War pensions for veterans and widows. Together the couple had eleven children.
211:
92:
415:
385:
262:
258:
649:
301:
In 1874 at the age of 22, Brown married George Rollin Davis, a European-American merchant from
392:
345:
187:
498:
411:
310:
286:
215:
108:
632:
566:
540:
369:
Act finalized US federal government's dismemberment of tribal governments to make way for
191:
698:, Vertical File, Research Division, Oklahoma Historical Society, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
235:
198:
had served as chief of the tribe and their brother Andrew Jackson Brown as treasurer.
732:
427:
182:(September 10, 1852 – June 21, 1935) was the first female Principal Chief of the
269:
as first languages, and also attended the Ramsay Mission School, started by the
251:
247:
219:
27:
357:
293:
along with the Seminole, for the missionaries integrated the schools in 1874.
533:
361:
315:
377:
370:
344:
Brown Davis belonged to the congregation of the Spring Baptist Church at
290:
266:
231:
223:
207:
321:
George Davis died when Brown Davis' youngest child was still a toddler.
718:
Maye Davis Locke, "Historical Notes of the Life of Alice Brown Davis,"
410:
Alice Brown Davis served as chief until her death on June 21, 1935, in
281:
274:
239:
381:
306:
302:
711:
Aleece Locke (Mrs. Tom Garrard), "Tribute to Alice Brown Davis,"
242:. During this journey, he married Lucy Redbeard, a Seminole from
360:
dismantled tribal governmental and civic institutions. The
468:
Seminole Nation, Indian Territory History and Genealogy.
186:, and served from 1922 to 1935, appointed by President
479:Lucy's last name has been referred to as Graybeard
426:on Oklahoma Day, a bronze bust of her, sculpted by
206:Alice Brown was born on September 10, 1852, in the
165:
157:
149:
137:
114:
98:
79:
74:
60:
50:
41:
18:
694:"Alice Brown Davis, First Seminole Chieftainess,"
388:destroyed Seminole hopes of settlement in Mexico.
534:"Memorial Tribute Page for Alice Brown Davis."
222:. Her father, Dr. John Frippo Brown, was from
637:Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture,
8:
705:(M.A. thesis, University of Oklahoma, 1928).
683:Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture
571:Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture
465:"Alice Brown Davis: A Leader Of Her People."
280:During 1867, when Alice was 15 years old, a
265:, a Cherokee. She learned both English and
614:University of Oklahoma Press, 2007, p. 288
418:, and also the Oklahoma Hall of Fame. The
246:or the Tiger Clan. As the Seminole have a
15:
679:Rechenda Davis Bates, "Alice Brown Davis"
560:Rechenda Davis Bates, "Alice Brown Davis"
703:A Tribal History of the Seminole Indians
605:
603:
555:
553:
551:
439:
190:. She was of Seminole (Tiger Clan) and
544:A Breath Away. (retrieved 25 Nov 2009)
459:
457:
455:
453:
451:
449:
447:
445:
443:
422:named Davis Hall in her honor. At the
529:
527:
525:
523:
7:
789:Native American people from Oklahoma
769:20th-century Native American leaders
430:, was unveiled in Queens, New York.
161:Dr. John Frippo Brown, Lucy Redbeard
42:First female Principal Chief of the
759:American people of Scottish descent
584:"Search the Dawes Rolls, 1898–1914"
234:as a military surgeon during their
784:Seminole people on the Dawes Rolls
779:20th-century Native American women
774:19th-century Native American women
764:Seminole Nation of Oklahoma people
470:4 Aug 2009 (retrieved 25 Nov 2009)
14:
612:The Seminole Freedmen: A History,
500:, Redbeard, Redbird and ConoHaGe
503:"Davis, Alice Brown (1852-1935)"
26:
127:
573:. (accessed November 22, 2011)
1:
754:Women Native American leaders
588:Oklahoma Historical Society
380:. In 1903, she traveled to
194:descent. Her older brother
184:Seminole Nation of Oklahoma
93:Park Hill, Indian Territory
44:Seminole Nation of Oklahoma
805:
720:The Chronicles of Oklahoma
713:The Chronicles of Oklahoma
696:Twin Territories Magazine
173:
70:
37:
25:
339:Bureau of Indian Affairs
202:Early life and education
145:and Andrew Jackson Brown
228:University of Edinburgh
749:Chiefs of the Seminole
639:Accessed 25 Sept 2009.
420:University of Oklahoma
226:and a graduate of the
400:Muscogee Creek Nation
367:Five Civilized Tribes
273:and then operated by
230:. He accompanied the
169:Ramsay Mission School
654:Seminole Nation, I.T
626:"Brown, John Frippo"
373:statehood in 1907.
297:Marriage and family
120:George Rollin Davis
631:2011-07-03 at the
565:2013-06-14 at the
539:2016-03-03 at the
482:"Seminole History"
463:Waldowski, Paula.
416:Anadarko, Oklahoma
386:Mexican Revolution
263:Caroline Bushyhead
259:American Civil War
90:September 10, 1852
46:, 1922–1935 leader
722:43 (Spring 1965).
715:43 (Spring 1965).
701:Margaret Chaney,
650:"Emahaka Mission"
424:1964 World's Fair
393:Warren G. Harding
352:Tribal governance
346:Sasakwa, Oklahoma
218:and grew up near
196:John Frippo Brown
188:Warren G. Harding
180:Alice Brown Davis
177:
176:
32:Alice Brown Davis
20:Alice Brown Davis
796:
666:
665:
663:
661:
646:
640:
622:
616:
607:
598:
597:
595:
594:
580:
574:
557:
546:
531:
518:
517:
515:
514:
505:. Archived from
496:
494:
493:
484:. Archived from
477:
471:
461:
412:Wewoka, Oklahoma
406:Death and legacy
311:Indian Territory
305:. They moved to
271:Episcopal Church
216:Indian Territory
141:Older brothers,
131:
129:
109:Wewoka, Oklahoma
105:
89:
87:
75:Personal details
66:Chief Chili Fish
63:
53:
30:
16:
804:
803:
799:
798:
797:
795:
794:
793:
729:
728:
726:
691:
689:Further reading
675:
670:
669:
659:
657:
648:
647:
643:
633:Wayback Machine
623:
619:
608:
601:
592:
590:
582:
581:
577:
567:Wayback Machine
558:
549:
541:Wayback Machine
532:
521:
512:
510:
501:
491:
489:
480:
478:
474:
462:
441:
436:
408:
354:
327:
299:
204:
153:Eleven children
133:
130: 1874)
125:
121:
107:
103:
91:
85:
83:
61:
51:
33:
21:
12:
11:
5:
802:
800:
792:
791:
786:
781:
776:
771:
766:
761:
756:
751:
746:
741:
731:
730:
724:
723:
716:
709:
706:
699:
690:
687:
686:
685:
674:
673:External links
671:
668:
667:
641:
617:
610:Kevin Mulroy,
599:
575:
547:
519:
472:
438:
437:
435:
432:
407:
404:
353:
350:
326:
323:
298:
295:
277:missionaries.
236:forced removal
203:
200:
175:
174:
171:
170:
167:
163:
162:
159:
155:
154:
151:
147:
146:
139:
135:
134:
123:
119:
118:
116:
112:
111:
106:(aged 82)
100:
96:
95:
81:
77:
76:
72:
71:
68:
67:
64:
58:
57:
56:Hulbutta Micco
54:
48:
47:
39:
38:
35:
34:
31:
23:
22:
19:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
801:
790:
787:
785:
782:
780:
777:
775:
772:
770:
767:
765:
762:
760:
757:
755:
752:
750:
747:
745:
742:
740:
737:
736:
734:
727:
721:
717:
714:
710:
707:
704:
700:
697:
693:
692:
688:
684:
680:
677:
676:
672:
655:
651:
645:
642:
638:
634:
630:
627:
621:
618:
615:
613:
606:
604:
600:
589:
585:
579:
576:
572:
568:
564:
561:
556:
554:
552:
548:
545:
542:
538:
535:
530:
528:
526:
524:
520:
509:on 2013-06-14
508:
504:
499:
488:on 2012-02-24
487:
483:
476:
473:
469:
466:
460:
458:
456:
454:
452:
450:
448:
446:
444:
440:
433:
431:
429:
428:Willard Stone
425:
421:
417:
413:
405:
403:
401:
396:
394:
389:
387:
383:
379:
374:
372:
368:
363:
359:
351:
349:
347:
342:
340:
334:
330:
324:
322:
319:
317:
312:
308:
304:
296:
294:
292:
288:
283:
278:
276:
272:
268:
264:
260:
255:
253:
249:
245:
241:
237:
233:
229:
225:
221:
217:
213:
209:
201:
199:
197:
193:
189:
185:
181:
172:
168:
164:
160:
156:
152:
148:
144:
140:
136:
117:
113:
110:
102:June 21, 1935
101:
97:
94:
82:
78:
73:
69:
65:
59:
55:
49:
45:
40:
36:
29:
24:
17:
725:
719:
712:
702:
695:
682:
660:September 4,
658:. Retrieved
656:. 2013-01-18
653:
644:
636:
624:May, Jon D.
620:
611:
591:. Retrieved
578:
570:
543:
511:. Retrieved
507:the original
497:, Greybeard
490:. Retrieved
486:the original
475:
467:
409:
397:
390:
375:
355:
343:
335:
331:
328:
320:
300:
279:
256:
243:
205:
179:
178:
104:(1935-06-21)
62:Succeeded by
744:1935 deaths
739:1852 births
252:Dawes Rolls
248:matrilineal
220:Fort Gibson
52:Preceded by
733:Categories
593:2024-01-04
513:2013-04-19
492:2013-09-06
358:Curtis Act
86:1852-09-10
362:Dawes Act
316:headright
212:Park Hill
166:Education
158:Parent(s)
138:Relations
629:Archived
563:Archived
537:Archived
378:Mikasuki
371:Oklahoma
291:freedmen
267:Mikasuki
244:Katcvlke
232:Seminole
224:Scotland
210:town of
208:Cherokee
150:Children
282:cholera
275:Baptist
240:Florida
143:John F.
132:
124:
382:Mexico
325:Career
307:Arbeka
303:Kansas
287:Wewoka
115:Spouse
434:Notes
238:from
192:Scots
126:(
122:
662:2013
356:The
99:Died
80:Born
735::
681:,
652:.
635:,
602:^
586:.
569:,
550:^
522:^
442:^
309:,
254:.
214:,
128:m.
664:.
596:.
516:.
495:.
88:)
84:(
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
