According to Indian Legend, a Caddo Indian woman named Salvania and her son set up temporary camp west of Pauls Valley in the 1800's. Salvania was leader of a band of Caddos traveling from Louisiana through Oklahoma. As other tribes came to make trades, they first had to be approved by the Indian woman who wore the white beads. They began to ask for her by that name. She died at the age of 95 or 96 and is believed to be buried near the old campground. Her son, known as 'son of Whitebead', continued to use the campsite.

Her son, possibly Chief Whitebead, married a woman named 'Winhoot'. They later moved around Walters Oklahoma where he was known to the Comanche as 'Man with a lot of horses'.

The earliest record of settlement at Whitebead is the Cemetery, started approximately in the early 1920's.  W. G. Kimberlin came to the Indian territory in 1868, after the Civil War and settled in the local area. He later married a young Indian woman who gave him right to a large portion of the land which officially established Whitebead as a community.

The town soon had as many buildings a any other small town and was much larger than Pauls Valley, wit stores, a post office, a blacksmith ship, and a church. The church was organized and built by Kimberlin and John C. Powell in 1879 as an Indian Conference Mission. It was used not only as a church but also as a school. The building soon became known as Pierce Institute, in honor of Bishop Pierce, who presided over these conferences. The Pierce Institute was built east of the Whitebead Cemetery. This was also a boarding church school, the first school and church in the Whitebead area. It was built in 1879 with money raised by Kimberlin and Powell. In 1905, a storm damaged the two story building. It was torn down and some of the lumber used to build a school where the present school is located. The rest of the lumber was used to build the Methodist Church at Whitebead.

The first School was built in 1906, after the Indian School, Pierce Institute was torn down. The school was one long room divided in the middle by a red flannel curtain. Mr. Hayes was the first principal and taught upper grades. Miss Bertie Johnson taught the lower grades. Mr. I. R. "Ike" Tolbert took Mr. Hayes place and taught at Whitebead for 20 years. He retired in 1930.

The school now is use (the main two story building) was built in 1919. W. G. Kimberlin, who had served on the school board since the beginning, G.W. Southern, and M. C. Powell were board members. Whitebead had a high school from 1925-1947. Carbide lights were used until electricity was brought into the community in 1935. The south half of the upstairs building was used as the auditorium. Each year an old fiddler's contest was held which included all types of entertainment. Prizes were given by the merchants.

The first gym, which was built out of sheet iron, was located just west of the two story building. Coal stoves in each end of the gym were used for heat. All the children came to school on horseback and a large stable existed to the west of the auditorium. The children kept their horses in the stable and went out to water them at lunch.

There was also a one room school just west of the Whitebead Community called "Bug Scuffle", which was run by the Whitebead School board. It was an elementary school. Some of the teachers there were Lara Ward, Ida Whitfield, Nola Grimes, Clara Jo Holt, and Mary Spradling. It closed in the early thirties.

Due to the small enrollment, Whitebead lost the high school with the high school students going to Pauls Valley, Maysville, and Elmore City.

Whitebead School today is still in a rural setting with a thriving enrollment. It provides an opportunity for parents to be involved in their child's education. The philosophy of the school is to provide a very positive atmosphere where emphasis is on self-discipline and to provide a safe environment to learn and grow both physically and emotionally. enrollment is kept small by choice and the commitment to excellence is made by every staff member.

General Levy Fund 13.6 Mills
Bldg. Fund ___ Mills
Sinking Fund Levy 1.61 Mills
Total Levy 15.21 Mills

School Census
White 140 Male, 127 Female, 267 Total
Colored 0 Male, 0 Female, 0 Total
Aggregate 0 Male, 0 Female, 0 Total
Indians 0 Male, 0 Female, 0 Total
No. 8^th Grade Graduates – 8
No. 12^th Grade Graduates – 7
Model School  1845  Points
Accredited School – Yes

Revenue From Sources Other Than Taxes
County Apportionment - blank
State Appointment – blank
State Aid - blank
Federal Aid - 25.41
Transfer Fees – blank
Other Revenue – blank

Valuation of Assessed Property
Personal Property - 13535
Real Estate - 293168
Public Service - 251379
Total Valuation - 358082 (listed as all in dollars column but s/b 3580.82?)

General Fund Appropriation – blank
Sinking Fund Appropriation – blank
School Expense this fiscal year – blank
Deficit at close of year – blank
Surplus at close of year – blank

School Officers
Name                                               Post Office                  Term Expires              Appointed Date
Director – W. C. Baker                 Pauls Valley, Rt. 3     March 1935             blank
Clerk – C. M. Randal                    Pauls Valley, Rt. 3     March 1934             blank
Member – Mrs. Sue Williams       Pauls Valley, Rt. 3     March 1933             blank

Teachers
Name                              Address              Yrs taught Monthly Salary Certificate College/University Attended
B.H. Crawford                Pauls Valley              12           $150.00            B.S. Degree                  E.C.
Mrs. B. H. Crawford      Pauls Valley              14              100.00           blank                             E.C.
Mrs. B. Alexander         Pauls Valley               12               100.00            Life                                E.C.
Mrs. Florence Lea         Pauls Valley              10                80.00             Life                                E.C.
Mabel Plummer             Pauls Valley               blank            80.00             2 yr St                           E.C.
Lorene Powell                 Pauls Valley                2                 80.00             Life                                E.C.
Mrs. Nola Grimes         Pauls Valley                16                80.00             Life                                C.S.T.C.

Length of Term          Summer Term – 2 months                       Winter Term – 7 months
Opening School         Summer Term – July 18, 1932               Winter Term – November 7, 1932
Closing School           Summer Term – September 9, 1932      Winter Term – May 19, 1933

Estimate Approved for school year
Gen Control    $66
Teachers Salary    6030
Inst. Supplies    50
School Library    150
Janitors Salary    162
Janitors Supplies    65
Light Fuel Water   200
Maint of Building    250
Upkeep of Grounds    50
Repair of Furniture & App    95
Physical Edu    50
Insurance    250
Int. on Warrants   150
Transfer Fees    480
Total    $8048.00

Transfers
Name of pupil transferred to district From Dist No Cost of transfers
Mary Ann Longmire                18                         $30.00
Mary Anne Pharriss                18                           30.00
James Pharriss                         18                           30.00
Arthur Phariss                          18                           30.00
Jimmie Rickey                         18                           30.00
Bennie Rickey                         18                           30.00
Eloise Rickey                          18                           30.00
Victor Rickey                           18                          30.00
Harold Rickey                          18                           75.00
Mary Jane Kimberlin             18                            52.50
Bobbie Hottel                           18                            30.00
Robert Pursell                         18                            16.65
Opal Morrow                            25                             25.00
Choice Maness                        56                             50.00
Loyd McCurley                       56                             50.00
Jessie Murray                         56                             44.50
James Adams                          56                             39.00
Junell McManus                      62                             50.00
Denzel McManus                    62                             50.00

Acres in site – 4              Estimated Value of Bldg $15,000.00
Date Erected – blank, First Cost - $15000.00 Value of Equipment - $300.00,  Insurance - 13000.00

                                    Total enrolled to date Total Days attended Av Daily Attendance     Days Taught 
Total Boy, Grades              95                           11308                            62        
Total Girl, Grades               91                             9821                              32                          
Total Boys, High School      34                             4807                             26
Total Girls, High School       27                             3923                             2                             178