Vanessa Richardson

Catherine took custody of Pauline, and the teenager started her new life as a single mother. Fortunately, she had her own mother to lean on. When the divorce was finalized, she and Pauline returned to Coleman and moved back into the tiny hotel room with Ora. But things were not as she'd left them.

Catherine took custody of Pauline, and the teenager started her new life as a single mother. Fortunately, she had her own mother to lean on. When the divorce was finalized, she and Pauline returned to Coleman and moved back into the tiny hotel room with Ora. But things were not as she'd left them.

By the time Catherine was back in Coleman, the Roaring Twenties was upon them, and the mood in America was changing drastically. The end of World War I filled people with a celebratory spirit, and an economic boom meant the party never stopped. Flapper girls in particular were the life of the party.

By the time Catherine was back in Coleman, the Roaring Twenties was upon them, and the mood in America was changing drastically. The end of World War I filled people with a celebratory spirit, and an economic boom meant the party never stopped. Flapper girls in particular were the life of the party.

They wore their hair like they wore their skirts, short, and they hung around bars and gambling halls. They also drank, smoked, swore, and did other things as freely as men did. In short, flappers challenged the norms of traditional femininity. Enthralled by the exciting image of the free-spirited 1920s woman, the town of Coleman suddenly felt suffocatingly small.

They wore their hair like they wore their skirts, short, and they hung around bars and gambling halls. They also drank, smoked, swore, and did other things as freely as men did. In short, flappers challenged the norms of traditional femininity. Enthralled by the exciting image of the free-spirited 1920s woman, the town of Coleman suddenly felt suffocatingly small.

Aching to make her mark, Catherine knew she had to leave. So after just a couple of years, she set out on her next adventure in Oklahoma City with her daughter in tow. It was here, in the hustle and bustle of the big city, Catherine likely cemented her hard partying ways. It's possible she partook in copious amounts of drinking, dancing, and non-stop debauchery.

Aching to make her mark, Catherine knew she had to leave. So after just a couple of years, she set out on her next adventure in Oklahoma City with her daughter in tow. It was here, in the hustle and bustle of the big city, Catherine likely cemented her hard partying ways. It's possible she partook in copious amounts of drinking, dancing, and non-stop debauchery.

But partying wasn't the only thing on her mind. She had to support her little family, so she opened a one-woman beauty salon in a room she rented. However, it was far from the easy living she was looking for. To find that, Catherine needed someone else to bring home the bacon. So, shortly after moving to the city, she gave marriage another shot.

But partying wasn't the only thing on her mind. She had to support her little family, so she opened a one-woman beauty salon in a room she rented. However, it was far from the easy living she was looking for. To find that, Catherine needed someone else to bring home the bacon. So, shortly after moving to the city, she gave marriage another shot.

But the relationship lasted about as long as the first, and the result was the same. Divorce. At this point, the divorce rate had been steadily climbing in the U.S. Even still, two divorces for one woman was something to be frowned on. Catherine and her lifestyle lent credence to the growing fear that the moral fabric of America was unraveling.

But the relationship lasted about as long as the first, and the result was the same. Divorce. At this point, the divorce rate had been steadily climbing in the U.S. Even still, two divorces for one woman was something to be frowned on. Catherine and her lifestyle lent credence to the growing fear that the moral fabric of America was unraveling.

Stoking this fear was the growing temperance movement, which sought to prohibit the production and consumption of alcohol. According to agitators, alcohol was the root cause of all social ills, divorce included. The movement's biggest victory was the 18th Amendment, which banned the manufacture, transportation, and sale of all liquor throughout the United States.

Stoking this fear was the growing temperance movement, which sought to prohibit the production and consumption of alcohol. According to agitators, alcohol was the root cause of all social ills, divorce included. The movement's biggest victory was the 18th Amendment, which banned the manufacture, transportation, and sale of all liquor throughout the United States.

Of course, making something illegal isn't a guaranteed way to stop it. Instead, the making and selling of booze went underground, which made it more fun for those determined to break the rules. These renegades gathered in illicit jazz clubs and secret speakeasies.

Of course, making something illegal isn't a guaranteed way to stop it. Instead, the making and selling of booze went underground, which made it more fun for those determined to break the rules. These renegades gathered in illicit jazz clubs and secret speakeasies.

Catherine, of course, frequented all the hotspots, and it was there that she started rubbing elbows with criminals, ranging from the petty thief to the professional crook. Around 1925, she met a gangster known as J.E. Barnett. He seemed to be making good, easy money, and that's exactly what Catherine longed for in a man. By this stage, 21-year-old Catherine was struggling.

Catherine, of course, frequented all the hotspots, and it was there that she started rubbing elbows with criminals, ranging from the petty thief to the professional crook. Around 1925, she met a gangster known as J.E. Barnett. He seemed to be making good, easy money, and that's exactly what Catherine longed for in a man. By this stage, 21-year-old Catherine was struggling.

She was likely up at all hours of the night drinking and partying, and if she wasn't hungover the next day, she was exhausted, and her salon business suffered for it. Desperate to provide for her six-year-old daughter, she started dabbling in sex work, and it appears this opened her mind to other criminal activity.

She was likely up at all hours of the night drinking and partying, and if she wasn't hungover the next day, she was exhausted, and her salon business suffered for it. Desperate to provide for her six-year-old daughter, she started dabbling in sex work, and it appears this opened her mind to other criminal activity.