Zella Black Patterson (1909-1986) was raised in Logan County and attended Langston University. A longtime professor and chair of its Home Economics Department, she was also a prolific writer and author of three books.
""A history of Black people in the state is long, distinctive, and worthy of scholarly treatment. With this volume Patterson has contributed not only to the history of Black people in Oklahoma but to the literature on state institutions."" —Chronicles of Oklahoma ""Zella Patterson's book is a 'must' for every school and city library in Oklahoma; a book for every home and surely, no son or daughter of Langston should be without it."" —The Black Chronicle “This is the only book to date dedicated to the story of Oklahoma’s only HBCU. Amid turbulent political times, the relevance of this history cannot be underestimated. Patterson documents funding and enrollment trends and the policies of innovative leaders. Langston continues to fulfill the 1890s Land Grant mission of providing educational access to all, regardless of social or economic status. This book is a must-read for all Oklahomans.”—Cindy Ross-Gibbs, Professor of English, Langston University