Tulsa Race Riot Book Donated To Schools, Libraries

NewsOn6.com

TULSA, OK -- A book that chronicles a pivotal time in Tulsa history is finding a new purpose in area schools. On Thursday, the John Hope Franklin Center presented 250 copies of the book "Events of The Tulsa Disaster" to Tulsa Public Schools, Tulsa Community College and the Tulsa City-County library system.

The book is a limited edition, first person account of the 1921 Tulsa Race Riot. It's been out of print for years, but thanks to a donation from the Zarrow Foundation, the memoir was reproduced and given out as a learning tool.

"I think this is a unique opportunity to bring to life some of the things that we actually can use that are significant to this community," said Verna Ruffin of Tulsa Public Schools.

Mary Jones Parrish survived the riot and wrote the book. The original copy is kept at the University of Tulsa's McFarlin Library.