This book is a historical record of schools from the late 1800's to contemporary times in Latimer County in Southeastern Oklahoma. It contains pictures from past generations and describes the hard times of the settlers and indigenous peoples of that part of Oklahoma. It tells the stories of their lives and the lives of their children through letters, articles and pictures taken of simple schools, churches and homes. It was a time of basic living and arduous labor in the local coal mines, and on farms and ranches. While lives were often tempered by the elements of nature, it only toughened the resolve of early settlers and Indians that helped build the great American Heartland.

Lists buildings, structures, sites, objects, and districts that possess historical significance as defined by the National Register Criteria for Evaluation, in every state.