ANNIE OAKLEY (8/1860 to 11/1926)
Legendary Female Sharpshooter, National Icon, Advocate of Self-defense for Women
“I would like to see every woman know how to handle a gun as naturally as they know how to handle a baby.” AO
I came across Annie Oakley and her superstardom serendipitously by way of Andromeda Romano-Lax’s quirky novel, Annie and the Wolves. I was focused on the “wolves” rather than on Annie when I picked the book up from the library (on hindsight I’d confused it with the children’s novel, Julia of the Wolves). But once I succumbed to the shit-show of a book, with its roller-coaster, topsy-turvy convoluted plot containing time travel, conspiracy theories and other mind-boggling storytelling weirdness, I latched onto Annie, the only real thing in the book. And wow- what a life she lived.
Annie was born into poverty in a small town in Ohio. Her father died when she was six-years-old, which upended her life, as you could imagine. At one point she was sent to live with a young married couple whom she dubbed “the wolves.” They abused, misused and held her prisoner until she cleverly found an escape loophole from their madness. She entered herself into a professional marksman sharpshooting contest against Frank Butler, a man known for expert precision and accuracy. Against all odds, she beat him. How she learned to shoot so well is still a mystery. Perhaps like Joan of Arc she was the recipient of a God-given talent; or maybe she possessed a savant skill, often bestowed upon artists or musicians; then again, magic might be more plentiful then we once thought. I like to think she grabbed onto a heap of pragmatic realism that told her “failure was not an option.” However she came upon this skill, she was the one who made it happen. And once Annie found the Golden Ticket, she used it to get out of Dodge, leaving the wolves and everyone else behind her.
“I ain’t’ afraid to love a man. I ain’t afraid to shoot him either.” AO
Except Frank Butler, the man she beat, and whom she would later marry. Recognizing a good thing when he saw it, Frank asked her to join him and his traveling tour. She jumped at the chance. Soon they captured the notice of Sitting Bull who introduced them to Buffalo Bill Cody and his Wild West Show. Before long, Annie became the main attraction and soon gained legendary prominence. She and Frank remained in the show for 17 years. While she was amassing a small fortune with Frank, it haunted her that most women were still considered to be their husband’s property, and thus, weren’t even allowed to own a gun, let alone shoot one. This oversight infuriated her. Often women were left alone on the ranch or homestead without means of keeping their family safe. Time and time again, she offered to teach women how to use guns for self-defense (Disclaimer: I’m not advocating for gun ownership, I’m just relaying information about Annie Oakley’s mantra.)
Annie also advocated for male-female parentships in business and marriage, which is how she and Frank lived their lives. While Annie never became a suffragette, she was instrumental in securing rights for women. She was the first female superstar in a male-dominated profession and is arguably the most famous woman of the Wild West. Often called “The Little Sure Shot,” she was bigger than life. Ms. Oakley paved the way for women to enter other Wild West male arenas such as ranching, wrangling and rodeos.
There are numerous statues of Annie you can visit. I would recommend the one in her home town of Yorkshire, Ohio. Dressed in modest garb, rifle in hand Annie stands tall and proud. A feminine force in a masculine world. If you want more information about Annie, visit Garst Museum in Greenville, Ohio. Also, check out The Annie Oakley Center Foundation at: annieoakleycenterfoundation.com. There are also numerous biographies, a memoir, a movie from 1935 and the play Annie Get Your Gun (reported to have many inaccuracies.) I hope someone revisits her life and updates her story. It would make a great biopic as well as a way to channel honest discussions about gender equality and the role of women in male-dominated professions.
Annie joins our landscape of women who have rocked the world with integrity, grit and a never-ending source of female glory. Women Rock! Now and forever. Don’t ever forget it.