Zoe Tilghman

Zoe Agnes Stratton Tilghman (November 15, 1880- June 1964)^[1]^[2] was an American writer and historian, best known for her biography of her husband, lawman Bill Tilghman.

Early life and education

Stratton was born in Greenwood County, Kansas, to Agnes M. Stratton, a homemaker mother, and rancher Mayo E. Stratton.^[3]^: 161 In 1887, the family moved to what would become Osage County, Kansas; in 1893 they moved again, this time to the Cherokee Outlet.^[3]^: 161 Throughout her childhood, Stratton became familiar with the region's flora and fauna,^[3]^: 161 and when she was older she would ride with her father's cowhands.^[1]

Although mostly taught at home by her mother, for a time Stratton did attend public school in Arkansas City.^[3]^: 161 She went on to attend the University of Oklahoma's preparatory school for a year and a half, and then, in 1897, the university itself.^[3]^: 161 While at the University of Oklahoma, Stratton became the literary editor of Umpire Magazine, the school's literary magazine, and began to write poetry.^[3]^: 161

Marriage

Stratton met Bill Tilghman, a friend of her father, in 1900.^[1] The two sent letters to each other while Stratton was at university, and Tilghman proposed to her in 1902.^[1] The couple married on July 15, 1903,^[1]^[3] and had a short honeymoon in Kansas City.^[1] Now Zoe Tilghman, she moved into the house her husband had shared with his previous wife, Flora, and their three children.^[1] Flora's children and Zoe had a tense relationship.^[1] Tilghman had three sons with her husband.^[1]

TIlghman worked as a schoolteacher for three years.^[3]

Writing career

Tilghman began writing during her marriage.^[1]

From 1925 to 1934, Tilghman worked at Oklahoma City newspaper Harlow's Weekly as a literary editor.^[2]^[3]^: 164 Tilghman was involved in organizations such as the YWCA, the Oklahoma Federation of Women's Clubs, and later became president of the Oklahoma Writer's Club.^[3]^: 164-165

Historical and non-fiction writing

Tilghman drew on her own experiences when writing about the early history of Oklahoma.^[3] Her 1925 book, The Dugout, was approved as a textbook in Kansas and Texas, in addition to Oklahoma.^[3]^: 163 In the 1950s, Tilghman wrote several books aimed towards children.^[3]^: 164

Tilghman's historical works have been noted for their bias towards "officers of the law," and unflattering and stereotypical depictions of Native Americans, with the exception of her biography of Comanche leader Quanah Parker.^[3]^: 163 However, Tilghman also did not erase Native Americans and their culture from her works on Oklahoma's history.^[3]^: 164

In the 1930s, she also published two articles in American Anthropologist.^[3]^: 165

Poetry

In 1915, Tilghman won the Oklahoma Federation of Women's Clubs's annual poetry contest.^[3]^: 166

Tilghman taught a YWCA class on poetry, and taught a poetry correspondence course through an organization in St. Louis, Missouri.^[3]^{: 164, 166}

Beginning in 1935, Tilghman became the assistant director of the Federal Writers' Project in Oklahoma,^[2] through which she organized the Oklahoma Poetry Society.^[3]^: 167 In 1936, the group produced a poetry anthology that was used in state public schools.^[3]^: 167 Also through the Federal Writers' Project, Tilghman wrote Oklahoma: A Guide to the Sooner State.^[3]^: 168-169

Published works^[3]

Outlaw Days: A True History of Early Day Oklahoma Characters
The Dugout (1925)^[3]^: 164
Katska of the Seminoles^[3]^: 164
Sacajawea^[3]^: 164
The Shoshoni^[3]^: 164
Mika the Osage Boy^[3]^: 164
Oklahoma Stories (1955)^[3]^: 164
Stories of Oklahoma (1955)^[3]^: 164

Biographies

Quanah, The Eagle of the Comanches
Marshal of the Last Frontier: Life and Services of William Matthew (Bill) Tilghman, for Fifty Years One of the Greatest Peace Officers of the West (1949)^[4]