When it came to celebrating Oklahoma's birthday, Anna B. Korn wasn't just an enthusiastic reveler, she was the ultimate party planner.
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The civic leader and history lover wrote the 1921 legislation designating Nov. 16 -- the anniversary of Oklahoma's 1907 admission to the United States -- as Oklahoma Day. Four years later, she rented a room at the Huckins Hotel for the state's first birthday party, a lavish luncheon featuring songs, skits and decorations.
In 1927, Korn channeled her passion for preserving history and love of grand ceremonies into founding the Oklahoma Memorial Association, now called the Oklahoma Heritage Association. The purpose of the group was to create a hall of fame for prominent Oklahomans.
By the time she died in 1965, about 300 Oklahoma statesmen, doctors, businessmen and educators had been named to the hall of fame. In 1961, Korn, then 92, was inducted.
Anna Lee Brosius was born in Hamilton, Mo., in 1869, to a family that included an ambassador to Russia and J.C. Penney, founder of the department store chain. The petite redhead was a determined overachiever, too.
She married Frank N. Korn, a Rock Island Railway executive, in 1891. They had two children, but one died in infancy and the other at age 10.
The couple moved to Chickasha in 1905 and settled in El Reno the next year. Korn focused on civic work and clubs, projects deemed suitable for women at that time. A newcomer to the fledgling state, she became founder, president and meeting hostess for several groups.
She asserted her patriotic ardor through clubs such as Colonial Daughters of America, Daughters of the American Revolution, Daughters of 1812, United Daughters of the Confederacy and her own group, the Daughters of Democracy.
Her interest in politics prompted her to form the state's first county chapter of Democratic Women and the Women's Legislative Council. She lobbied for women's right to vote and serve on juries and for a separate women's ward in the state penitentiary. A published author of prose and poetry, she used her skill to write letters and later used the telephone to carry out her causes.
But Korn's greatest passion was history. She served on the Oklahoma Historical Society board of directors for more than 40 years, had trees at the state Capitol dedicated to Presidents Jefferson, Jackson and Wilson, and got a monument to War of 1812 veterans erected at Fort Gibson.
When the Oklahoma Memorial Association had its first hall of fame banquet in 1928, Korn planned an elaborate ceremony with dancing girls, "royal escorts" for the honorees and a queen chosen from the state's outstanding youth.
Korn was involved in virtually every aspect of the ceremony. She played an active role into her 90s. Even suffering a stroke the morning of the 1956 event didn't put her out of commission for long.
Although the induction ceremony has changed, the hall of fame Korn founded continues to grow, boasting almost 600 notable Oklahomans.
Editor's Note: Leading up to Oklahoma's Centennial, The Oklahoman will profile Oklahomans who have made a significant contribution to the success of our state.
The Oklahoma Heritage Association tells Oklahoma's story through its people. To learn more about the association, go to www.oklahomaheritage.com.
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