Oklahoma History Oklahoma Economy & Natural Resources 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What nickname did Tulsa earn during the early 20th century oil boom due to its dominance in the petroleum industry?
- Oil Capital of the World (Correct answer)
- Gateway to the Energy Frontier
- Petroleum Hub of America
- Black Gold City
Correct answer: Oil Capital of the World
Tulsa earned the title 'Oil Capital of the World' because it hosted the headquarters of more oil companies than any other city during the early petroleum era.
Question 2: The Cushing-Drumright oil field, discovered in 1912, became so productive that at its peak it supplied approximately what share of U.S. oil production?
- About one-sixth (17%) (Correct answer)
- About one-half (50%)
- About one-tenth (10%)
- About one-third (33%)
Correct answer: About one-sixth (17%)
The Cushing-Drumright field peaked around 1915, producing roughly 17% of all U.S. oil output, making Cushing a benchmark for global oil pricing.
Question 3: Phillips Petroleum Company, a major Oklahoma-based energy firm, was co-founded in Bartlesville in 1917 by which brothers?
- Frank and L.E. Phillips (Correct answer)
- Tom and Bill Phillips
- Waite and Will Phillips
- John and James Phillips
Correct answer: Frank and L.E. Phillips
Frank Phillips and his brother L.E. (Lee Eldas) Phillips founded Phillips Petroleum in Bartlesville, Oklahoma in 1917, which grew into a global energy giant.
Question 4: In 1928, oil was discovered beneath which Oklahoma city, leading to derricks appearing in residential neighborhoods and even on the State Capitol grounds?
- Oklahoma City (Correct answer)
- Tulsa
- Enid
- Muskogee
Correct answer: Oklahoma City
The Oklahoma City oil field discovery in 1928 resulted in oil derricks being erected throughout the city, including on the State Capitol grounds where a pump jack still operates today.
Question 5: The Osage Nation became one of the wealthiest peoples per capita in the world in the early 20th century because they retained mineral rights to their reservation, which contained vast deposits of what?
- Oil (Correct answer)
- Coal
- Natural gas only
- Gold
Correct answer: Oil
Oil discovered beneath the Osage Reservation generated enormous royalties, but also tragically inspired a series of murders documented in the book 'Killers of the Flower Moon.'
Question 6: Oklahoma oilman E.W. Marland, who at one point controlled approximately 10% of the world's known oil reserves before losing his company, later became what?
- Governor of Oklahoma (Correct answer)
- U.S. Secretary of the Interior
- President of Standard Oil
- U.S. Senator from Oklahoma
Correct answer: Governor of Oklahoma
E.W. Marland built his oil empire in Ponca City, lost control of his company to bankers, then entered politics and served as Oklahoma's Governor from 1935 to 1939.
Question 7: Which Oklahoma wildcatter earned the nickname 'King of the Wildcatters' for his prolific oil discoveries across Oklahoma and other states in the early 20th century?
- Tom Slick (Correct answer)
- Frank Phillips
- Robert Kerr
- William Skelly
Correct answer: Tom Slick
Tom Slick earned the nickname 'King of the Wildcatters' for discovering numerous oil fields, including his role in the Cushing field, making him one of the most successful independent oil explorers in history.
Oklahoma History Oklahoma Economy & Natural Resources 2
What nickname did Tulsa earn during the early 20th century oil boom due to its dominance in the petroleum industry?