William Thomas Gilcrease (1890–1962) was an American oilman, art collector, and philanthropist who amassed one of the largest collections of American Western art and Native American artifacts. Born in Louisiana, he moved to Indian Territory with his family, benefiting from a Creek Nation land allotment. At the age of nine, his land in Oklahoma became highly valuable due to the discovery of oil, making Gilcrease a millionaire by age 20. He founded the Gilcrease Oil Company in 1922 and continued expanding his wealth by purchasing more land.
Inspired by European art museums, Gilcrease began collecting American Western and Native American art and artifacts in the 1920s. Over the next two decades, his collection grew to include over 10,000 artworks, 250,000 Native American artifacts, and 100,000 historical documents, including a rare certified copy of the Declaration of Independence. In 1949, he founded the Gilcrease Museum in Tulsa, Oklahoma, to house his collection.
Facing financial struggles in the 1950s, Gilcrease nearly sold his collection, but local citizens raised funds to save it. In response, he donated his entire collection and the museum to the City of Tulsa in 1955. Gilcrease passed away in 1962, leaving behind a significant cultural legacy. The Gilcrease Museum remains one of the world’s most comprehensive collections of American West art and Native American artifacts, with ongoing expansions planned to preserve his contributions.
