Lost Fortunes: The Wealthy Black Women Who Built Empires Before the Civil Rights Act—And Where Their Wealth Went (Part 13/28, Sara Rector)

“Money cannot buy happiness, but it can provide security. Yet, for Black wealth in early America, even security was never guaranteed.” - the story of Sarah Rector

Sarah Rector (aka Sarah Rector Campbell and Sarah Campbell Crawford), (March 3, 1902 – July 22, 1967) was an American businesswoman, investor, and oil magnate since childhood. Born into modest circumstances, she became one of the richest Black girls in the early 20th century. Her massive fortune, rooted in landownership and oil production, set her apart during an era of racial and economic oppression. She lived a rich and luxurious life until her death caused by a stroke at the age of 65. But what happened to her wealth?

How Sarah Rector Acquired Her Wealth

Sarah Rector was born on March 3, 1902, to Joseph and Rose Rector in the all-Black town of Taft, Oklahoma, which was part of the former Indian Territory. She was a descendant of Creek Freedmen—Black people who had been enslaved by the Creek Nation and later became citizens of the tribe.

This made them eligible to receive land distributed to individual Indian families as part of the 1887 Dawes Allotment Act. In 1907, when Oklahoma became a state, the federal government distributed land allotments to Creek Nation citizens, including Rector and her family. At just five years old, she was given 160 acres in what was considered barren land that was unsuitable for farming. The land was valued at $556.50, and her family struggled to pay the property taxes, leading them to lease it to the Standard Oil Company in 1911.

In 1913, everything changed when oil was discovered on Sarah Rector’s land. The well began producing more than 2,500 barrels of oil per day, generating an income of around $300 a day, the equivalent to roughly $9,000 per day in today's money. By the time she was 11, her monthly earnings reached $11,000 (approximately $300,000 a month today).

When Rector turned eighteen on March 3, 1920, she used her newfound wealth to purchase stocks and bonds, a boarding house and bakery, and the Busy Bee Café in Muskogee, Oklahoma, as well as 2,000 acres of prime river bottomland. Sarah was a millionaire (worth $11 million today). This rapid accumulation of wealth made her one of the richest children in America at the time.

Her wealth continued to grow, leading to national attention. White newspapers falsely referred to her as a “white child” due to disbelief that a Black girl could be so wealthy. The state of Oklahoma even attempted to reassign a white guardian to manage her finances, a move common at the time when Black landowners gained significant wealth. However, Sarah’s family and community ensured that she retained control of her estate.

How She Maintained and Used Her Wealth

Sarah Rector's wealth was managed carefully, and she lived a life of privilege and luxury. She attended the Tuskegee Institute and the entire family later moved to Kansas City, Missouri and her mother Rose Rector purchased an estate that is still known today as the extravagantly furnished "Rector Mansion," a stone edifice at 2000 East 12th St., and reportedly the entire surrounding block of 12th and Euclid.

At the age of 20, Sarah married businessman Kenneth Campbell, and they had three sons. Much was publicized about her “extravagant” spending on luxuries. She and her husband were known for hosting lavish parties attended by Black elite figures, including leaders of the Harlem Renaissance.

According to her son, Clarence Campbell, Rector "had rich tastes" and drove a green and black Cadillac and threw grand parties for the black elite and jazz celebrities. She was known by locals for her expensive vehicles (which, in addition to the Cadillac, included a silver-plated Lincoln and a chauffeur-driven Rolls Royce), extravagant clothing, and diamonds.

During her adult life in Kansas City and at the height of her wealth, Rector does not appear to have been especially interested in philanthropic causes. At the least, she is not widely listed in political or organizational events or affiliations. Despite her lavish living, Sarah Rector appears to have been a quiet, private person within the Kansas City community. While her name graced many headlines during her adolescence, details about her later personal life are more difficult to find.

With her husband, Kenneth Campbell, her other endeavors included ownership of a car dealership within 18th and Vine. Rector invested in her husband’s ventures as well as her own. After her eventual divorce from Campbell in 1930, Sarah went on to marry William Crawford in 1934. Crawford owned a restaurant at 1521 East 18th St. Rector and Crawford later expanded to another restaurant in Tulsa.

Rector's investments and wealth continued to accrue through the 1920s, and while much of her fortune took a hard hit during and following the Great Depression, Rector continued to own some properties in Kansas City and Oklahoma until her death in 1967. Sarah's growing financial portfolio included real estate investments, owning multiple properties, including business and residential developments affording her elite comforts during the harsh racial inequities of the time.

Sarah's story remains complex and the circumstances surrounding her early life pushed officials and activists to examine the lives of freedmen in Oklahoma more closely and to provide protections for children, particularly black and indigenous children, that previously did not exist.

Not every child came out of Oklahoma's oil boom unscathed. Many subsequently were killed for their inheritance or to gain the land. Perhaps because of Du Bois and the NAACP's intervention, or perhaps because her guardian was comparatively honest, Rector thrived during decades in which her status as a wealthy black child, and later black woman, made her a target for much greed. When her life had been so heavily scrutinized and publicized as an adolescent, it is not so surprising, then, that she might choose to maintain a secured private life in later years.

What Happened to Her Sarah’s Wealth?

Over time, much of Sarah Rector’s wealth diminished. The reasons for this decline likely included:

• The Great Depression: Like many others during the 1930s, Sarah likely saw significant losses in her investments due to the economic collapse.

• Mismanagement and Exploitation: Many Black landowners and heirs faced financial exploitation, whether through unfair business dealings, taxation, or outright theft of their property and assets.

• Decline in Oil Production: The oil wells that once made her a millionaire eventually saw a decline in production, reducing her income.

• Divorce and Legal Costs: Sarah Rector later divorced her husband, which may have led to financial challenges.

By the time of her death at the age of 65 on July 22, 1967, Sarah Rector was no longer widely considered wealthy. She still had some working oil wells and real estate holdings and maintained a comfortable life in Kansas City. Eventually, she sold Rector Mansion to the Adkins Funeral home, and still later, Rector Mansion became the C.K. Kerford Funeral home.

The specifics of her estate distribution remain unclear, as her wealth had significantly dwindled by that time.

Sarah Rector' Legacy

Sarah's story remains complex and the circumstances surrounding her early life pushed officials and activists to examine the lives of freedmen in Oklahoma more closely and to provide protections for children, particularly black and indigenous children, that previously did not exist.

Not every child came out of Oklahoma's oil boom unscathed. Many subsequently were killed for their inheritance or to gain the land. Perhaps because of Du Bois and the NAACP's intervention, or perhaps because her guardian was comparatively honest, Rector thrived during decades in which her status as a wealthy black child, and later black woman, made her a target for much greed. When her life had been so heavily scrutinized and publicized as an adolescent, it is not so surprising, then, that she might choose to maintain a secured private life in later years.

Sarah Rector’s story highlights the unique and often overlooked history of Black wealth in America. Despite her early fortune, her financial decline mirrors the struggles many Black landowners faced due to systemic racism, economic instability, and exploitation.

Today, Sarah Rector’s legacy serves as a reminder of the opportunities and challenges Black Americans faced when building wealth in a society designed to exclude them. Her story underscores the importance of financial literacy, wealth preservation, and estate planning to ensure generational wealth can last beyond a single lifetime.

Sarah's Living Descendants

Sarah Rector, once hailed as "The Richest Black Girl in America," experienced significant life events alongside her family members. Today, Sarah Rector's descendants, which included eight grandchildren at the time of her death, have remained connected to their roots in Kansas City, actively working to preserve and celebrate the legacy of their notable ancestor.

Sarah's three sons from her first marriage—Kenneth Jr., Leonard, and Clarence—continued their lives in Kansas City, Missouri. While specific details about their personal and professional endeavors are limited, it's documented that Sarah's legacy persisted through her descendants. As of recent accounts, five generations of the Rector family still reside in the Kansas City area, actively preserving and honoring their rich family history.

Descendants of the Rector family have sought to restore the historic Rector Mansion in Kansas City. Despite the mansion's state of disrepair, the family envisions its restoration as a museum and historic landmark, aiming to share their heritage and Sarah's remarkable story with the broader community.

This is a financial education series of TheNewLavilla.com. Find us @TheNewLaVilla on Facebook and LinkedIn.