Oklahoma’s Jewish Officeholders

Oklahoma’s Jewish Officeholders

Oklahoma’s first Jewish officeholder was elected in 1897 and from then to 1938, eight more Jewish Oklahomans won elective offices.

The highest office held by a Jew was State Auditor, won by Leo Meyer (1873-1964) in 1910.

Two served as county commission chairman: Jacob Collar, Lincoln County, 1913-1917, and Julius Krouch (1869-1965), Pottawatomie County, 1915.

Six officeholders won election as mayor:

Joseph Meibergen (1969-1931), Enid, 1897-1901.

Jacob Collar (1874-1914), Chandler, 1901-1903.

Leo Meyer, Sayre, 1906.

Leo Meyer

Charles Emanuel (1881-1920), 1909-1910.

Jacob Smulian (1870-1943), Stroud, 1911-1912.

Frederick Kretsch (1864-1944), Perry, 1915-1919, 1931-1933, 1937-1938.

Source

• Mark Rutzik, Breaking New Ground: The Untold Story of Early America’s Jewish Electoral Pioneers – 1788 to 1920, 2025.

Mark Rutzick is the curator of this Jewish Officeholders exhibit.