Significant Events in OBA History

1904 The executive councils of the Oklahoma (territory) Bar Association and Indian Territory Bar Association adopted a resolution to consolidate as The Bar Association of Oklahoma and Indian Territory; a voluntary organization with 140 paid members.

1906 Lawyers played a significant role when Oklahoma became a state. At the statehood election on September 17, 1906, voters entrusted lawyers with most of the leadership positions - five members of the State Supreme Court, governor, two U.S. senators, and four out of five members of the U.S. House of Representatives

1907 Bar member Charles N. Haskell became Oklahoma’s first governor.

1908 Association changed its name to Oklahoma State Bar Association.

1913 Oklahoma City attorney Kittie C. Sturdevant joined the association and became its first woman member.

1929 The State Bar Act of 1929 established compulsory membership beginning the next year for all Oklahoma lawyers and judges and assessed annual dues of $5 to finance the association’s first official publication.

1930 Association changed its name to State Bar of Oklahoma.

1940 Association changed its name to Oklahoma Bar Association.