Thomas Gilcrease
| Thomas Gilcrease | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Born |
William Thomas Gilcrease February 8, 1890 Robeline, , Louisiana |
| Died | May 6, 1962 (aged 72) Tulsa, Oklahoma |
| Nationality | U.S.A. |
| Occupation | Oilman |
| Years active | 1922 - 1962 |
| Known for | Founder of Gilcrease Museum |
William Thomas Gilcrease (1890–1962) was an American oilman, art collector and philanthropist. During his lifetime, Gilcrease collected more than 10,000 artworks, 250,000 Native American artifacts and 100,000 rare books and documents, including the only surviving certified copy of the Declaration of Independence. He was the founder of Gilcrease Museum in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Gilcrease was the son of William Lee Gilcrease and Mary "Elizabeth" (Vowell) Gilcrease, and was born in Robeline, , Louisiana on February 8, 1890. Mary "Elizabeth" (Vowell) Gilcrease was of Creek ancestry and a member of the Creek Nation, and shortly after the birth, the family moved to Indian Territory to take advantage of the 160-acre (0.65 km2) allotments in the Creek Nation. The family lived on Creek Nation tribal lands near Eufaula, Oklahoma. Gilcrease's father ran a cotton gin in the nearby community of Mounds, Oklahoma. As a boy, he was often called "Indian Tom."
Tom's early education was limited and took place in one-room schools in Indian Territory. He then attended Bacone College, where his most influential teacher was Alexander Posey, who taught his students the arts, sciences, writing, and, most importantly, their American Indian heritage. The latter included learning about the Trail of Tears and important Indian leaders, such as Sequoyah and Sitting Bull; about how to make bows and arrows and to hunt, and about the operations of the Creek National Council at Okmulgee. After Bacone College, he enrolled in the Kansas State Teacher's College (renamed in 1974 as Emporia State University) at Emporia, Kansas.
At the turn of the 20th Century, the federal government dissolved the Indian Nations land by distributing parcels into private ownership. At age nine, Gilcrease's 1/8 Creek heritage entitled him to receive 160 acres (650,000 m²) located about twenty miles (32 km) southwest of Tulsa, Oklahoma. In 1905, drillers struck oil in the area. His land, sitting astride the huge Glenn Pool Reserve, made Gilcrease a multi-millionaire by the time he was twenty. Though he struggled early in his career, he proved to be an astute businessman. He founded the Gilcrease Oil Company in 1922, and with early successes, was able to purchase more land. Gilcrease established his company headquarters in San Antonio, Texas in 1937 and also maintained an office in Europe. In 1949, the headquarters of the company moved to Tulsa.
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