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Harmon County, Oklahoma Birth Records


Alma and Flake Keys of Hollis, Oklahoma got the surprise of their life way back on June 4, 1915 when Almas' pregnancy produced four girls instead of the one child they had anticipated, instantly doubling the family size from four children to eight.  The four girls, Roberta, Mona, Mary and Leota, all named after women present during the delivery, weighed in at 16 pounds total, and amazingly all weighing around the four pound mark, were born in their parents bedroom in Hollis. 

Alma and Flake had only one birth certificate on which they entered the girls name on one line and "All girls" as a note to the authorities. On hand to deliver the girls and sign the birth certificate was Dr. William Carrol Pendergraft, M.D, who in his lifetime of medical practice delivered thousands of babies in and around south west Oklahoma. None of which however, were quite as well known as the Keys Quads. 

From the time they were nine months old until into their early adult life, the girls were put on display at state fairs and early television programs for people to see. According to Roberta Keys Torn, people would recognize them later in life and comment "We paid twenty five cents to see you when you were little" The sisters response was generally, "Do you want your money back?  Their celebrity status earned them all free college educations at Baylor University in Waco, Texas, and to earn money the sisters went on stage, as a natural quartet, singing and playing the saxophone. They all graduated together in 1937.  When asked how she would like to be remembered in 2006, Roberta, the only living member of the "Keys Quartet" replied, "As somebady who gave back." 
Source: http://www.incrediblebirths.com/Quadruplets/Keys_quadruplets_1915.html

 

From the time they were nine months old until into their early adult life, the girls were put on display at state fairs and early television programs for people to see. According to Roberta Keys Torn, people would recognize them later in life and comment "We paid twenty five cents to see you when you were little" The sisters response was generally, "Do you want your money back?

 

From the time they were nine months old until into their early adult life, the girls were put on display at state fairs and early television programs for people to see. According to Roberta Keys Torn, people would recognize them later in life and comment "We paid twenty five cents to see you when you were little" The sisters response was generally, "Do you want your money back?

 


 

 







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