Volume 11 , Issue 23

Emma Willis Story Continues - 1936

Last week we mentioned the murder trial of Emma Willis, 19-year-old farm girl, acquitted of the murder of her father at their home near Anadarko in 1935. We continue this week with the story of a group of Jeffersonian Club of women who were raising funds and helping Emma Willis find a private school or business school to finish high school and take business courses.

According The Oklahoman, dated September 3, 1936, page 5, the committee chosen by Mrs. Reid to be in charge of teh ticket sales included Mrs. R. A. Titus, Mrs. R. P. Moore, Mrs. J. L. Landrum, Mrs. John Butler, Mrs. F. P. Chappell, Mrs. R. P. Hill, Mrs. Winnie R. Farmer and Miss Gertrude Dissing.

Back to an article in The Oklahoman, dated August 27, 1936, page 2, with headlines that read: "Emma Willis Will Finish High school Work, Incognito" and "Anadarko Girl Will Leave State for Education."

It was reported in that article that Emma Willis had chosen a high school education, incognito and out of state, in preference to a business training in Oklahoma City, after a conference with benefactors.

Emma was scheduled to go to a catholic denomination private school with an Oklahoma City man paying $40 a month for her tuition, board and room. The benefactor had withheld his name. The Jeffersonian Club members had been interested in the girl's case for some time, and had provided her with clothing, books, athletic fees and spending money.

Emma also had the choice of living with an Oklahoma City family while attending business college. There was also the possibility she might elect to remain on the farm with her mother and several younger brothers and sisters.

Emma's attorney, W. H. Cooper, explained that the Jeffersonian club committee thought it best not to disclose the name of the school where their protege will be sent, and her past will not be known to her fellow-students.

On September 22, 1936, Emma Willis was denied chance by private schools as they refused to accept the 19-year old farm girl for enrollment. Emma was residing with her mother at their home in Caddo county.

On October 5, 1936, the news article in The Oklahoman, dated Oct. 6, 1936, page 7, stated: "Business College Entrance Denied To Emma Willis." Emma was denied an opportunity to attend business college in Anadarko, Oklahoma. Members of the Women's Jeffersonian club of Oklahoma City announced that they had obtained entrance for Emma Willis into the Anadarko Business College.

Amos Ward, head of the college, said that complaints from parents of students had forced him to reject the application.

By October 10, 1936, a possible school was found at last for Emma Willis, and it was kept secret. It was reported that the problem of Emma Willis, the girl nobody wanted, had at last been solved, but the public was not to know for the present at least.

mrs. Donnelly Reid, president of the Women's Jeffersonian club had at last found a lovely place where Emma would have her chance in life. They were not giving out any information as to where, what kind of an institution it was or when Emma would enter. They had met too many rebuffs to risk failure again by too much publicity.

The business school in Anadarko had just declined to accept the farm girl as a student because "the other parents wouldn't like it."

In last week's OkieLegacy eZine, Vol. 11, Iss. 22, we found out that March 11, 1937, a news article reported, "Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt doesn't know it, but she is going to contribute indirectly to the rehabilitation of Emma Willis. Part of the proceeds of Mrs. Roosevelt's two speeches here Saturday (Alva, Oklahoma) under auspices of the Jeffersonian Club will go to complete the business course being given the 19-year-old farm girl who was adopted by the club after she was acquitted of a charge of slaying her father last winter."

Did Emma Willis attend Northwestern State Teachers College in 1937? I checked out the 1937 Ranger album I have scanned at Old Ranger Albums and found no mention of Emma Willis. Did she change her name?
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