Norma Des Cygne (Smallwood) Bruce (1909 - 1966)

Born 12 May 1909 in Bristow, Creek, Oklahoma, United States

Wife of William Thomas Gilcrease — married 3 Sep 1928 (to 2 May 1934) in Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States

Died 8 May 1966 at age 56 in Wichita, Kansas, United States

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Biography

Norma (Smallwood) Bruce is Notable.

Norma Smallwood was crowned Miss America 1926. Competing as Miss Tulsa, she was the first Oklahoman to hold the beau idéal national beauty title. She is also the first Miss America to have won the evening gown portion of the competition. During her year reign she earned approximately $100,000 as spokes person for several products. Smallwood remained the sole Oklahoman to win the title until Jane Ann Jayroe was crowned in 1967.

Norma Smallwood was born 12 May 1908 in Bristow, Oklahoma to Edward Smallwood and Mahalia Angela (Robinette) 1st Smallwood 2nd Dickerson.

She married twice:

1. William Thomas Gilcrease, Marriage 3 Sep 1928 in Tulsa, Oklahoma (Divorced 1934). Children of Norma and William:
   1. Des Cygne L'Amour Gilcrease 1929–1968
2. George Hickman Bruce, Marriage 1936. Children of Norma and George:
   1. Robert Bruce 1939–2008

She passed away 8 May 1966.

Research Notes

• Smallwood is noted as being the first Native American (self-identified Cherokee) to win the Miss America crown. Despite claiming Cherokee heritage, Smallwood and her family are not found on the Dawes Rolls and were not Cherokee Nation tribal citizens.

• The marriage to Gilcrease ended in a sensational divorce with national coverage of the custody battle for their daughter.

Sources

• "United States Census, 1910", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:ML7J-CP1 : Mon Sep 18 23:42:57 UTC 2023), Entry for Edward Smallwood and May Smallwood, 1910.

• "United States Census, 1920", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MJ9N-S3G : Sat Jul 22 01:52:36 UTC 2023), Entry for Orman W Dickerson and May A Dickerson, 1920.

• "Oklahoma, County Marriages, 1890-1995." Database with images. FamilySearch. "Oklahoma, County Marriages, 1890-1995," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q29M-9QR5 : 23 March 2020), Thomas Gilcrease and Norma Descygene Smallwood, 03 Sep 1928; citing Oklahoma, various county courthouses, Oklahoma; FHL microfilm.

• "United States Census, 1930", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XCW1-TSC : Wed Sep 20 21:51:27 UTC 2023), Entry for Thomas Gilcrease and Norma Gilcrease, 1930.

• "United States Census, 1940", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VRLM-JCJ : Tue Jul 25 06:54:14 UTC 2023), Entry for George H Bruce and Norma Bruce, 1940.

See Also:

• Wikipedia: Norma Smallwood

• Wikidata: Item Q542880

• Find A Grave: Memorial #14568914