Sarah Rector was just 11 years old when her life changed forever. Born in Oklahoma on March 3, 1902, she was a citizen of the Muscogee Creek Nation and was both Black and Native American. Under the Dawes Allotment Act of 1887, Sarah received 160 acres of land. Many thought the land was worthless because it was dry and difficult to farm. But in 1913, oil was discovered there. The wells produced so much oil that she earned $300 a day, which is about $10,000 in today’s money.
Sarah quickly became famous and a millionaire. National newspapers often wrote about her, calling her “The Richest Black Girl in America.” Since she was still a child, the court appointed a guardian to manage her fortune. People worried her money might not be safe. That’s when Booker T. Washington stepped in to help. He took Sarah to Tuskegee Institute to ensure she was safe and could get a good education. By the time she turned 18, her land’s value had soared, and she owned several businesses and multiple homes.
Later, she moved her family to Kansas City, Missouri. Sarah lost much of her fortune during the Great Depression due to falling oil profits, lower land values, and some business failures. But despite the hardships, she held on to her land and home. Sarah Rector passed away in 1967 at the age of 65, leaving behind three children who inherited her land and property.