During her second year at OCW, while heading the History department, Lewis took on the position of Registrar to help President G. W. Austin set up that office. She called on her good friend Dean James Buchanan (later President Buchanan) at the University of Oklahoma to help her establish the new system. One of her assistants in the Registrar’s office was Carma Russell (Zimmerman Leigh), who later served as Chief State Librarian in both Washington and California. Mrs. Zimmerman is a member of the OCW Alumni Wall of Fame.

Dr. Lewis’ special fields of study were American History and History of the Southwest. As a teacher, lecturer and writer, she was well-known, and in 1930 was named as one of twenty-four prominent women of Oklahoma. She was a gifted after-dinner speaker. In 1932, she was included in Who’s Who. She was elected to the Oklahoma Hall of Fame in 1940. Upon retiring from OCW in 1956, she was named Professor Emerita. In 1995, Dr. Lewis was inducted posthumously into the Oklahoma Historians Hall of Fame.

Dr. Lewis was a member or honorary member of many organizations. She was a Baptist, member of Eastern Star, Daughters of the American Revolution, Delta Kappa Gamma, American Pen Women, Mississippi Valley Historical Association, AAUP, Phi Gamma Mu, Alpha Phi, and Ohoyohoma Club of McAlester.