Kate Barnard

Kate Barnard
1st Oklahoma Commissioner of Charities and Corrections
In office 1907–1915
Preceded by	Office established
Succeeded by	William D. Matthews
Personal details
Born	Catherine Ann Barnard (1875-05-23)May 23, 1875 Geneva, Nebraska, U.S.
Died	February 23, 1930(1930-02-23) (aged 54) Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S.
Political party	Democratic Party
Occupation	Social reformer, politician, teacher
Known for	First woman elected to statewide office in Oklahoma

Catherine Ann "Kate" Barnard (May 23, 1875 – February 23, 1930) was the first woman to be elected as a state official in Oklahoma, and the second woman to be elected to a statewide public office in the United States,^[1] in 1907. She served as the first Oklahoma Commissioner of Charities and Corrections for two four-year terms, the only position that the 1907 Oklahoma Constitution permitted a woman to hold.

Before being elected to office, Barnard had worked as a teacher and in clerical patronage positions in the territorial government.^[2] She was also heavily involved in charity work.