Gabe E. Parker

Gabriel Edward Parker[1] (September 29, 1878 – May 8, 1953) was an American public servant. Native to the state of Oklahoma, he attended the 1906 Oklahoma Constitutional Convention and was heavily involved in the design of the state's seal. Parker was later Register of the Treasury (1913-1914) and superintendent of the Five Civilized Tribes (1915-1921).

Gabe E. Parker
Superintendent of the Five Civilized Tribes
In office
1915–1921
Register of the Treasury of the United States
In office
1913–1914
Succeeded byHouston B. Teehee
Personal details
Born
Gabriel Edward Parker

(1878-09-29)September 29, 1878
Fort Towson, Oklahoma
DiedMay 8, 1953(1953-05-08) (aged 74)
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
EducationHenry Kendall College
Signature

Biography

Perker was born on September 29, 1878[2] in Fort Towson, Oklahoma in the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma.[3] Parker was reported to have been one-eighth Chocktaw.[4] The following year he moved to Nelson, Oklahoma.[1] He graduated in 1894 from Spencer Academy and entered Henry Kendall College, graduating five years later.[3]

Parker first worked as a teacher at Spencer Academy and Armstrong Academy. In 1906 he attended the 1906 Oklahoma Constitutional Convention, where the states constitution was developed. As a member of the convention, Parker led design of the Seal of Oklahoma, earning the nickname "Great Seal Parker". Parker later served as Register of the Treasury from 1913 to 1914. His appointment was reported as marking the first time a Native American held the post.[5]

From 1915 to 1921 he was superintendent of the Five Civilized Tribes in Oklahoma. He was inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame in 1932.[3]

Parker died from a heart attack at his home in Oklahoma City on May 8, 1953, a few hours after hearing of his son's death from a heart attack in England on the same day.[6]

References
  1. Cathey, Mike. "Cathey: Choctaw member led committee that created Oklahoma state seal". McAlester News-Capital. Retrieved June 13, 2021.
  2. "Gabe E. Parker". The Temple Tribune. January 28, 1915. p. 3. Retrieved June 13, 2021.
  3. "Parker, Gabe E. | 1932". Oklahoma Hall of Fame. Retrieved June 13, 2021.
  4. Smithers, Gregory D. (2013). "The Soul of Unity: The Quarterly Journal of the Society of American Indians, 1913–1915". The American Indian Quarterly. 37 (3): 263–289. doi:10.1353/aiq.2013.0029. ISSN 1534-1828. S2CID 162593266.
  5. "Indian to Sign U. S. Money". The Hammon Advocate. December 11, 1913. p. 6. Retrieved June 13, 2021.
  6. "Former Official of Five Civilized Tribes Dies After Attack". Clinton Daily News. Oklahoma City. UP. May 10, 1953. p. 5. Retrieved July 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
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