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INFORMATION TO USERS This manuscript has been reproduced from the microfilm master. UMI films the text directly from the original or copy submitted. Thus, some thesis and dissertation copies are in typewriter face, while others may be from any type of computer printer. The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. Broken or indistinct print, colored or poor quality illustrations and photographs, print bleedthrough, substandard margins, and improper alignment can adversely affect reproduction. In the unlikely event that the author did not send UMI a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if unauthorized copyright material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. Oversize materials (e.g., maps, drawings, charts) are reproduced by sectioning the original, beginning at the upper left-hand comer and continuing from left to right in equal sections with small overlaps. Each original is also photographed in one exposure and is included in reduced form at the back of the book. Photographs included in the original manuscript have been reproduced xerographically in this copy. Higher quality 6" x 9" black and white photographic prints are available for any photographs or illustrations appearing in this copy for an additional charge. Contact UMI directly to order. UMI* Bell & Howell Information and Learning 300 North Zeeb Road, Ann Arbor, Ml 48106-1346 USA 800-521-0600 UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA GRADUATE COLLEGE GUTHRIE, OKLAHOMA: AN ANALYSIS OF TOWNSCAPES, 1889- 1910 A Dissertation SUBMITTED TO THE GRADUATE FACULTY in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy By Sherrilyn Reece Norman, Oklahoma 1999 UMI Number: 9934639 Copyright 1999 by Reece, Sherrilyn All rights reserved. UMI Microform 9934639 Copyright 1999, by UMI Company. All rights reserved. This microform edition is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. UMI 300 North Zeeb Road Ann Arbor, MI 48103 c Copyright by SHERRILYN REECE 1999 All Rights Reserved GUTHRIE, OKLAHOMA: ANALYSIS OF TOWNSCAPES, 1889 - 1910 A Dissertation APPROVED FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF GEOGRAPHY •APPROVED FOR' BY ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS As in most research efforts of this kind there are several individuals who have played important roles in helping me develop this dissertation, and I would like to express my sincere appreciation to them for their encouragement and assistance. 1 am much indebted to my chairman. Professor Hans Spaeth, of the Department of Geography for his valuable ideas and comments in helping me formulate and organize my thoughts regarding the research design, and for taking such a strong personal interest in my work. I would also like to acknowledge the other members of my committee who gave generously of their time and expertise in guiding my research and keeping me on course — Professor Gary Thompson of the Department of Geography, and Professors Russell Usnick and Christopher Shove of the Division of Regional and City Planning. Of those individuals not on my committee who helped me with my “software” struggles and data organization I am most indebted to my sister Linda and my two sons, Chas and Brennan and their wonderful wives, Kari and Meghan who put in many hours and days of work on my behalf. Laura Anderson of the Department of Anthropology should also be included in this group. Finally I would like to express my gratitude to my parents, B.F. and Vea Reece, for their enduring support and encouragement in my pursuit for higher education. IV TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS........................................................................................iv LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS................................................................................... be LIST OF TABLES.....................................................................................................xvi LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS....................................................................................xvii ABSTRACT..............................................................................................................xviii Chapter 1. INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................... 1 Problem Statement WORKS CITED............................................................................................ 5 2. LITERATURE REVIEW............................................................................... 6 Methodology WORKS CITED............................................................................................. 20 3. GUTHRIE’S HRST BEGINNINGS............................................................. 25 Physical Forces 26 Cultural and Social Forces Leading To the Future Site of Guthrie 32 Economic Forces Influencing the Birth of Guthrie 40 Simultaneous Events Co-Mingling, Connecting, Giving Form to the Boomer Movement 42 Technical and Economical Forces of Railroads Determining Guthrie’s Development 50 David Payne’s Persistence Another Economic Force 52 Guthrie as Main Thoroughfare for Boomer Invasions 55 Significant Boomer Invasion That Forced Federal Legislation 60 Guthrie’s Significant Location in Unassigned Lands 61 Settlement of Guthrie 61 Subsequent Political Struggles of the Indians to Hold Their Land 63 Legal Actions Concerning the Treaty of 1866 65 Chronological Events and Legislative Maneuverings 68 Viewing Guthrie’s Ecological Framework 81 WORKS CITED............................................................................................ 82 4. IMPENDING ACTIVITIES BEFORE THE RUN........................................ 84 Political Forces Behind the Scenes 88 Creek and Seminole Legislative Bills Known as the “Sooner Clause” 89 Political Role in Determining Spatial Distribution 94 Legislators Failure to Provide Townsite Provisions 101 Land Ordinance 1785 gave Definition to Guthrie’s Legal System 102 Guthrie’s Land Office Evolving from the Original Land Ordinance 106 General Land Office Policies 107 Legislation Establishing 160 Acre Lots 112 Forces of Change in the Public Domain Leading to Guthrie Settlement 113 Land Run’s Dispersion and Diffusion 120 Undercurrent Forces Determining Spatial Interactions 128 Relocation Diffusion - Movement of People to Guthrie 133 Distance, Direction, Linkages - Spatial Distribution 137 Viewing “Impending Activities” Through Ecological Framework 148 WORKS CITED............................................................................................... 155 5. GUTHRIE, INDIAN TERRITORY’S LARGEST BOOM TOWN............... 158 April 22, 1889 - “The Greatest Horse Race Ever Recorded” 160 Guthrie Claimed by Legal and Illegal Forces 161 Initial Claimants to Guthrie’s Four Townsites 169 Forces Pressuring Claimants to Organize Town Meeting 181 Conflicting Versions of First Meeting 183 Townsite Surveys and Plats 193 East Guthrie 196 Capitol Hill 197 Land Office Contests Decided by “Czar-ist” Power 199 West Guthrie Townsite Claimants and “Contests” 200 Bockfinger vs. Feagins 202,204 East Guthrie Townsite Claimants and “Contests” 205 Veeder Bertrand Paine’s Claim 208 Guthrie Proper Townsite Claimants 210 Capitol Hill Townsite Claimants 211 Guthrie’s First Townscapes - Evolution of Urban Ecological Forces 214 Social / Cultural Forces 232 Central Nucleus to Guthrie’s Stability & Prosperity 235 Urban Forces Spiraling into Form 241 “Urban Design without Urban Designers” 242 Political Forces - 1889 City Council 243 Guthrie’s Juggernaut - Board of Arbitration 244 VI Official Townsite Plat Adopted 250 Water / Sanitation Practices and Facilities 250 City Council Continues to Shape Guthrie’s Built Environment 252 Queen City’s Urban Forces Spiraling into Another Townscape 259 Urban Ecosystem Shaping Townscape Morphology 264 Guthrie’s Third Townscape 284 Political Force of June 1889 City Coimcil 285 Social / Cultural / Economical Forces 292 Guthrie’s Wooden Skyline 293 Summary June 1889 City Council Minutes 297 Guthrie’s First Territorial Convention 301 City — Wide Charter and Bond Issue 302 Guthrie Townscape - One Hundred Days Old 303 Guthrie Leading Regional Center 317 Guthrie’s First Permanent Structure 318 September 1889 City Coimcil Minutes 319 Guthrie’s October - December 1889 Evolving Townscape 322, 325 Social / Cultural Forces 325 Guthrie’s Townscape During the First Year 326 Guthrie’s January - August 1890 Townscape Evolution 328, 341 Sixteen Month Townscape Spiraling into Mosaic Patterns 346 WORKS CITED............................................................................................ 352 6. GUTHRIE’S “LEGACY”............................................................................. 356 Guthrie’s 1891 Buildings of Permanence 361 1892 City Council Minutes 375 1893 Buildings of Permanence 381 1894, 1895 and 1896 Buildings of Permanence 385 Guthrie, Social Center of Oklahoma Territory 399 Omen of Oklahoma City’s Ascendancy Over Guthrie 405 Guthrie’s 1898 Built Environment 406 Guthrie’s Evolving 1899 Townscape 412 Guthrie’s Evolving 1900 Townscape 421 Guthrie’s 1901 Townscape Evolution 432 Guthrie’s 1902 Townscape 441 1903 - Guthrie’s Evolving Townscape 447 1904 Townscape Evolution 469 1905 /1906 Guthrie’s Townscapes 471 Two Territories Become One 478 Guthrie’s 1907 Townscape and Political Activities 483 Twin Territories Become “State of Oklahoma” 484 1908 Buildings Constructed in Historic District 497 Removal of State Capital From Guthrie 499 Guthrie, “A City” - “A Legacy” 502 WORKS CITED...........................................................................................