Sophia Julia Coleman Douglas (1851–1902) was the founder and first president of the

Federation of Women's Clubs for Oklahoma and Indian Territories The Federation of Women's Clubs for Oklahoma and Indian Territories was formed in May, 1898. The motto selected for the organization was "Kindliness and Helpfulness". The first president was Sophia Julia Coleman Douglas. The charter women's club ...

. She served as principal of Oklahoma City High School before statehood.

Biography

Douglas née Coleman was born on September 22, 1851 in

Cattaraugus County, New York Cattaraugus County (locally known as Catt County) is a county in Western New York, with one side bordering Pennsylvania. As of the United States 2020 census, the population was 77,042. The county seat is Little Valley. The county was created ...

. Her family moved to Michigan with her when she was eight years old, where she attended the state

normal school A normal school or normal college is an institution created to Teacher education, train teachers by educating them in the norms of pedagogy and curriculum. In the 19th century in the United States, instruction in normal schools was at the high s ...

. She attended

Vassar College Vassar College ( ) is a private liberal arts college in Poughkeepsie, New York, United States. Founded in 1861 by Matthew Vassar, it was the second degree-granting institution of higher education for women in the United States, closely follo ...

. In 1869 she married a judge, Selwyn Douglas (1841-1916), with whom she had one child, MacGregor Coleman (1873–1908). In 1891 the Colemans moved to

Oklahoma City Oklahoma City (), officially the City of Oklahoma City, and often shortened to OKC, is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. The county seat of Oklahoma County, it ranks 20th among United States cities in population, a ...

, Oklahoma. There Mrs. Douglas was the principal of the city's first high school. Coleman was a member of several women's clubs. She joined the Philomathea Club in 1891. The Philomathea Club worked to obtain funds for a Carnegie Library in Oklahoma City. Colman wrote a letter to Andrew Carnegie in 1900 requesting a grant for the library, which he provided. In 1896 she formed the Sans Souci study club, in 1898 the Twentieth Century Club, in 1900 the New Century Club, and in 1901 the DAYC Club (Do All You Can). In 1898, working with the Philomathea Club, Douglas founded the Federation of Women's Clubs for Oklahoma and Indian Territories. She also served as its first president. Douglas died on August 8, 1902 in Oklahoma City.

Legacy

A memorial fountain was erected with funds donated by the Federation of Women's Clubs for Oklahoma and Indian Territories on the grounds of the Oklahoma City Carnegie Library. It was presented November, 1903.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Douglas, Sophia Julia Coleman 1851 births 1902 deaths People from Oklahoma City Clubwomen