Who we are

Mr. Robert Treat Knowles

Waban owns the mineral rights in the following 26 Oklahoma counties

          Current Board of Directors:

CEO: ​                  Thomas G. Whitehouse    

President/CFO:   Daniel C. Whitehouse
Vice President:    Katharine T. Farrington

Secretary:       Maria Whitehouse  
     

During it's over 9 decades of business, Waban Oil Corporation has successfully partnered with nearly 200+ oil and gas producers and distributors.


 Caddo    Cherokee    Cleveland    Coal   Creek

Custer    Dewey    Ellis    Garvin    Grady  Hughes


Kingfisher    Lincoln    Logan    Major   McClain 


Muskogee    Noble    Okfuskee    Oklahoma  Payne

Pototoc    Pottawatomie   Roger Mills   Seminole

Woodward

In Early 1920 Robert T. Knowles started buying mineral rights in Oklahoma.  As a right-of-way agent for Shell Oil Corporation, he and a few freidns started the Robert T. Knowles Company registered in Oklahoma. His knowledge of oil fields in the state led him all over the state totaling 26 counties, with multiple purchases in many of them.  


Waban Oil Corporation was founded on July 24, 1933 in Okmulgee, Oklahoma, by Mr. Robert Treat Knowles, for the purpose to:


  • Acquire oil and gas mining leases;


  • Purchase or otherwise acquire mineral interest in lands believed to contain oil or gas or other minerals;


  • Sell, assign, to transfer, or otherwise convey oil and gas mining leases, and mineral interests in lands;


  • Carry on the business of searching for, prospecting, producing, refining, piping, storing, transporting, supplying, buying, selling, and distributing petroleum, and other oils, gas, gasoline, and their products, supplies for which drilling and operating of oil and gas wells;


  • Purchase, sell, and own, trade, and generally deal in machinery, pumps, drilling tools, building, wells, and used in the oil and gas mining business;


  • Borrow money, whenever necessary, and to mortgage and pledge the property of this corporation as security therefore;


  • Purchase, lease and otherwise acquire lands and interests therein, for the purpose of this corporation, but that it shall not buy, acquire, trade, or deal in lands and real estate for any purpose except such as shall be necessary and proper for carrying on its business as herein set forth.


Upon Mr. Knowles death in 1963, full ownership of Waban Oil Corporation was transferred to his wife, Mrs. Kathrine M. Knowles, and in 2000  his daughter, Mrs. Susan K. Whitehouse, acquired 100% of Waban Stock, becoming the sole owner.  Upon Susan's passing in 2022, her husband, David R. Whitehouse, became the sole owner.  In 2024 David passed, transferring full ownership to his surviving children; Katharine T. Farrington, Thomas G. Whitehouse, and Daniel C. Whitehouse in equal shares.


Today, Waban is operating the same way it has for the past 90+ years, since Robert's passing, keeping his legacy alive, with a plan for 100 more.