An Extraordinary Public Servant: Oleta Lawanda Crain eeding her mother’s advice to “take her diplomacy, her wit, her boundless read newspaper and magazine articles; Ha chance,” Oleta Lawanda Crain energy, and her refusal to let others’ census records; military records; and (September 8, 1913–November 7, 2007) beliefs about gender or race, during the books, including When the Nation Was joined the military during World War era of Jim Crow, deter her from pursuing in Need: Blacks in the Women’s Army II to play in a band to help win the war. her goals. These traits blossomed as she Corps During World War II by Martha She served the American public with was navigating her public service roles. S. Putney, Women of Consequence: The distinction for more than half a century. I began writing a paper on Oleta Colorado Women’s Hall of Fame by Jeanne A schoolteacher, a Major in the U.S. Air in early 2007, hoping to meet her. Varnell, and Colorado Women in World Force, a civil servant, and an advocate Librarians at the Blair-Caldwell African War II by Gail M. Beaton. for working women’s rights, Oleta was American Research Library in Denver, Oleta’s ancestors were prominent born in, reared in, and began her career Colorado, where she had donated her Native American Freedmen in Indian in Oklahoma, where her ancestors had military papers after she retired, gave Territory. She was born into the lived since traveling the Trails of Tears to me information on her and alerted Seminole Nation Bruner Band in Indian Territory. Oleta that I was writing about her. I Seminole County to William A. Crain Oleta came to my attention when was delighted to hear that she wanted (1878–1942) and Violet Paula “Polly” I was researching education history to read my paper. Sadly, she died later Alexander (1882–1966). Her paternal about my home town of Earlsboro, that year before we had a chance to grandparents were Alexander W. Crain, Oklahoma. She grew up near Earlsboro meet. To continue my research, I an influential white in the Seminole and attended school with my mother’s sought information on Oleta and her Nation, and Seminole Freedwoman relatives. Based on my research and what experiences from persons at the Library Rosie Fay. Her maternal grandfather my family told me about Oleta, I became of Congress and the Historical Society was Albert Alexander, son of Chickasaw intrigued by her passion for education, of Iowa. I listened to oral interviews and Freedman Isaac Alexander and Creek BY BETTY KATHERINE PERMETTER FALATO 21 35