Vol. 39, No. 7 Published monthly by the Oklahoma Historical Society, serving since 1893 July 2008 Often in archaeology, questions resolved through excavation only lead to new ques- tions. Such is the case with the recent work on the original stockade site at the Fort Gib- son Historic Site. This season’s cooperative effort between the Oklahoma Historical So- ciety, Oklahoma Archaeological Survey, and the Oklahoma Anthropological Society have produced much more information. Dr. Lee Bement, Oklahoma Archaeologi- cal Survey, as principal investigator, OHS staff, and the Anthropological Society’s vol- unteers conducted a “ground truthing” dig project from May 23 through June 1. The cooperators had fielded a smaller group in November 2007 to continue work started by staff earlier in the year. With the help of the larger volunteer base, investigation was ex- panded in order to expand the search area and continue to gather information. More of the stockade’s stone foundations were un- covered, yielding numerous artifacts from the early-nineteenth-century military post and some that are thought to be from the WPA construction period. Military items include glass and bone buttons, marbles, bottle fragments, and to- bacco pipe fragments. Plate and bowl frag- ments as well as knife and fork parts are other artifact categories. Bones from fish, deer, cattle/bison, chickens, and turtles in- dicate a range of food items consumed by occupants. No historical archaeological project would be complete without lots of nails, chunks of rust, and glass shards. The most important artifacts were the stockade’s mul- tiple-layered, stone foundation walls and the fireplace rubble, both of which match the ar- chival records. Volunteers and staff toiled in the late May heat and humidity during the OAS annual Spring Dig. The foundation re- mains, once thought to have been com- pletely destroyed and lost, have been lo- cated in three separate sections of the old stockade area. Future investigations will focus on uncovering the rest of the rem- nant walls. Plans are being considered for interpreting a portion of the foundations. A selection of the artifacts will be displayed in an exhibit under development at the WPA stockade. During the project, educational programs were provided for the volunteers. Speakers included Dr. Bob Brooks (OAS director), Dr. Bob Blackburn of OHS, Bob Rea, project coordinator, and Bement. Site Supervisor Chris Morgan talked on the history of the fort. A living history and material culture program by David Fowler and Cody Jolliff, Fort Gibson staff, gave the volunteers an overview of military life along with a display of replicas of the artifacts being discovered by the volunteers. Fort Towson’s John Da- vis discussed the Red River Wreck project. Other Gibson staff members Omar Reed, Rory Montgomery, and Tony Steger as- sisted the team effort. Mike McKay, ODOT archaeologist, and OU graduate students will process the artifacts and contribute to the report. (Photo courtesy Bob Rea) Archaeological excavation continues to reveal original Fort Gibson Oklahoma City attorney James R. Waldo was elected to a three-year term as OHS president at the Annual Meeting, held in Ardmore in April. A Shawnee native, the new president is a fourth-generation Okla- homan—one great-grandfather being an '89er and another a Chisholm Trail drover. Appointed to the OHS Board in 2004, Waldo has served on the Executive Com- mittee and as treasurer. A graduate of Duke University and the Oklahoma College of Law, he has practiced law with the same partners since 1974. He is a member of the Order of the Coif and was managing editor of the Oklahoma Law Review. He is listed in Best Lawyers in America and is a member of a number of professional organizations, including the Oklahoma City Real Property Lawyers As- sociation, having served as president. Waldo is also a decorated combat vet- eran, serving as an artillery forward ob- server in Vietnam. He has served as presi- dent of the YMCA Youth and Government Advisory Board and for many years has provided legal services as vice president of the Last Frontier Council, Boy Scouts of America, which honored him in 1997 with the Silver Beaver Award. “I am challenged by the dedication of the staff and volunteers of the OHS and hum- bled by the honor of serving as its presi- dent,” said Waldo. Other officers are Marvin Kroeker, vice president, and William Corbett, treasurer. Denzil Garrison, Leonard Logan, Roger Bromert, Emmy Stidham, Jack Baker, Robert Klemme, and Bob L. Blackburn are also members of the Executive Committee. (Photo courtesy Terry Zinn). James Waldo to serve as OHS president
Transcript
Vol. 39, No. 7 Published monthly by the Oklahoma Historical Society, serving since 1893 July 2008
Often in archaeology, questions resolvedthrough excavation only lead to new ques-tions. Such is the case with the recent workon the original stockade site at the Fort Gib-son Historic Site. This season’s cooperativeeffort between the Oklahoma Historical So-ciety, Oklahoma Archaeological Survey,and the Oklahoma Anthropological Societyhave produced much more information.
Dr. Lee Bement, Oklahoma Archaeologi-cal Survey, as principal investigator, OHSstaff, and the Anthropological Society’s vol-unteers conducted a “ground truthing” digproject from May 23 through June 1. Thecooperators had fielded a smaller group inNovember 2007 to continue work started bystaff earlier in the year. With the help of thelarger volunteer base, investigation was ex-panded in order to expand the search areaand continue to gather information. More ofthe stockade’s stone foundations were un-covered, yielding numerous artifacts fromthe early-nineteenth-century military postand some that are thought to be from theWPA construction period.
Military items include glass and bonebuttons, marbles, bottle fragments, and to-bacco pipe fragments. Plate and bowl frag-ments as well as knife and fork parts areother artifact categories. Bones from fish,deer, cattle/bison, chickens, and turtles in-dicate a range of food items consumed byoccupants.
No historical archaeological projectwould be complete without lots of nails,chunks of rust, and glass shards. The most
important artifacts were the stockade’s mul-tiple-layered, stone foundation walls and thefireplace rubble, both of which match the ar-chival records.
Volunteers and staff toiled in the lateMay heat and humidity during the OASannual Spring Dig. The foundation re-mains, once thought to have been com-pletely destroyed and lost, have been lo-cated in three separate sections of the oldstockade area. Future investigations willfocus on uncovering the rest of the rem-nant walls. Plans are being considered forinterpreting a portion of the foundations. Aselection of the artifacts will be displayed inan exhibit under development at the WPAstockade.
During the project, educational programswere provided for the volunteers. Speakersincluded Dr. Bob Brooks (OAS director), Dr.Bob Blackburn of OHS, Bob Rea, projectcoordinator, and Bement. Site SupervisorChris Morgan talked on the history of thefort. A living history and material cultureprogram by David Fowler and Cody Jolliff,Fort Gibson staff, gave the volunteers anoverview of military life along with a displayof replicas of the artifacts being discoveredby the volunteers. Fort Towson’s John Da-vis discussed the Red River Wreck project.Other Gibson staff members Omar Reed,Rory Montgomery, and Tony Steger as-sisted the team effort. Mike McKay, ODOTarchaeologist, and OU graduate studentswill process the artifacts and contribute tothe report. (Photo courtesy Bob Rea)
Archaeological excavation continues toreveal original Fort Gibson
Oklahoma City attorney James R. Waldowas elected to a three-year term as OHSpresident at the Annual Meeting, held inArdmore in April. A Shawnee native, thenew president is a fourth-generation Okla-homan—one great-grandfather being an'89er and another a Chisholm Trail drover.Appointed to the OHS Board in 2004,Waldo has served on the Executive Com-mittee and as treasurer.
A graduate of Duke University and theOklahoma College of Law, he has practicedlaw with the same partners since 1974. Heis a member of the Order of the Coif andwas managing editor of the Oklahoma LawReview. He is listed in Best Lawyers inAmerica and is a member of a number ofprofessional organizations, including theOklahoma City Real Property Lawyers As-sociation, having served as president.
Waldo is also a decorated combat vet-eran, serving as an artillery forward ob-server in Vietnam. He has served as presi-dent of the YMCA Youth and GovernmentAdvisory Board and for many years hasprovided legal services as vice president ofthe Last Frontier Council, Boy Scouts ofAmerica, which honored him in 1997 withthe Silver Beaver Award.
“I am challenged by the dedication of thestaff and volunteers of the OHS and hum-bled by the honor of serving as its presi-dent,” said Waldo.
Other officers are Marvin Kroeker, vicepresident, and William Corbett, treasurer.Denzil Garrison, Leonard Logan, RogerBromert, Emmy Stidham, Jack Baker,Robert Klemme, and Bob L. Blackburn arealso members of the Executive Committee.
(Photo courtesy Terry Zinn).
James Waldo to serve asOHS president
Oklahoma Historical SocietyPublications Division
Dianna Everett, Ph.D., EditorLinda D. Wilson, Assistant Editor
Mistletoe Leaves (USPS 018–315) is published monthly by the OklahomaHistorical Society, 2401 N. Laird Avenue, Oklahoma City, OK 73105–7914.Periodicals postage paid at Oklahoma City, OK. (ISSN 1932-0108)
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Mistletoe Leaves, 2401 N. Laird Ave-nue, Oklahoma City, OK 73105–7914.
By authorization of the Oklahoma Historical Society’s Board of Directors,5,100 copies are prepared at a cost of $1,025.00 each month. The publicationis financed in part with federal funds from the National Park Service, UnitedStates Department of the Interior.
Contents and opinions do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of theOklahoma Historical Society or the United States Department of the Interior.Mention of trade names does not constitute endorsement or recommendationby either organization.
Mistletoe Leaves is published for the members and friends of the Okla-homa Historical Society in partial fulfillment of the Society’s purpose to“preserve and perpetuate the history of Oklahoma and its people, to stimulatepopular interest in historical study and research, and to promote anddisseminate historical knowledge.”
The public and OHS members are encouraged to submit heritage-relateditems for publication. Students and teachers are invited to share studies andprograms and to duplicate contents as desired. Editors are welcome to reprintmaterials with credit.
All Oklahoma Historical Society facilities are for the education and enjoy-ment of all. State and federal regulations prohibit unlawful discrimination instate and federally assisted programs on the basis of race, color, nationalorigin, and/or handicap.
Anyone denied benefits should contact the Executive Director of the Okla-homa Historical Society, 2401 N. Laird Avenue, Oklahoma City, OK 73105–7914, telephone 405/521-2491, and/or the Director, Office of Equal Oppor-tunity, United States Department of the Interior, Washington, DC 20240.
As a historian, I have always studied thedynamic process of institutional life cycles.
First comes an innovative idea for aproduct or service, followed by big dreams,hard work, and struggle to make it to thetop of the mountain. In most cases successis followed by satisfaction, lessening of in-tense desire, and slow, yet visible, declinein energy.
Businesses and organizations that sur-vive that typical life cycle are those thatcontinually renew themselves, either withnew ideas or new people who stoke the firesof energy and drive. At the Oklahoma His-torical Society, we have to do both.
For several decades we have been ener-gized with new ideas and big dreams. Theresults are evident in all directions, from theHistoric Preservation Conference and thegrowth of collections to the History Centerand the $8 million Cherokee Strip HeritageCenter rising from the soil of Enid.
This past year, the rewards of innovationand desire are easy to spot:� A leadership role in celebrating the
Centennial of Statehood� A completed restoration of the Guthrie
Carnegie Library, where the first governorwas inaugurated� The archaeological discovery of Fort
Gibson’s original foundations� A fully funded, multiyear repair and
maintenance plan for museums and sites� A doubling of revenue from increased
membership in the OHS
� A fundraising drive for the History Cen-ter that topped $800,000� Scanning and placing on the web site
more than 30,000 photographs and mapsSo how do we keep the momentum go-
ing? One is to encourage new ideas and in-novation. Another is to keep raising the barof expectations higher and higher.
While the first goal is largely a task forgood management, the second is easy toarticulate. Our goals for the coming yearinclude:� Publishing and releasing the Encyclo-
pedia of Oklahoma History and Culture� Opening an unprecedented string of
quality museum exhibits at the HistoryCenter that share the stories of the AllanHouser family, Latinos, business history,and the history of rock and roll in the stateof Oklahoma� Releasing the 1920 silent movie,
Daughter of Dawn, which was shot in theWichita Mountains with an all-Indian cast� Launching the Oklahoma Newspaper
Digitization Project, which will have key-word-search capabilities for all newspaperspublished in the territories and state before1923� Opening of the Cherokee Strip Re-
gional Heritage Center in Enid, the first of awhole new generation of museums to serveOklahoma outside Oklahoma City and Tulsa
In the life of any institution it is temptingto slow the pace of innovation and change. Itis easy to sit back and enjoy the sense of ajob well done.
At the Oklahoma Historical Society wecan do neither. We have to keep pushing.We have to keep raising our standards.There are too many goals within our reachand too little time to get them done.
Yes, I have studied the dynamic processof institutional life cycles. The OklahomaHistorical Society is still climbing to the topof the mountain.
By Bob L. BlackburnExecutive Director
Director’sColumn
New Members, May 2008*Indicates renewed membership at a higher level
BenefactorWachovia Securities, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma CityC2 Productions, LLC, Oklahoma CityGroendyke Transport, Inc., Enid*Mr. and Mrs. M. D. Jirous, Oklahoma CityThe Merrick Foundation, Oklahoma CityBancFirst, Oklahoma City
Director’s CircleDoug and Peggy Cummings, Oklahoma City
Fellow*C. Craig Williams, Lawton
Associate*Marion B. Devore, Oklahoma City
Friend*Van and Pat Barber, Oklahoma City*Jerry and Mary Burson, StillwaterAndrew and Linda Coats, Oklahoma CitySharon King Davis, TulsaRichard and Debra Forshee, EdmondFrank and Carolyn Gault, Oklahoma City*Jane Goodwin, Albuquerque, NM*Charles E. Griffin, Woodstock, GA*Rusty Hale, EdmondJerome Holmes, Oklahoma City*Scott and Dana McLain, Edmond*Paul and Barbara McRill, Norman*Dan and Donita Mitchell, EnidTania Mitchell, Oklahoma CityMike and Brooke Murphy, Oklahoma CityGene and Barbara Nichols, Midwest CityDavid and Kim Rainbolt, Oklahoma City*R. J. and Jenne Richardson, Davis*Dean and Cheryl Rinehart, El Reno*Ernest E. Staggs, AdaRev. and Mrs. Richmond F. Thweatt, Oklahoma City
FamilyChristi Barron, Oklahoma CityEdward and Helen Blevins, Chickasha*Terry and Cynthia Bullington, GouldPete and Trestan Burns, StillwaterJennie Cleaver, Oklahoma City*Annette Davis, BethanyEdward and Marilyn Diekmann, Oklahoma CityMary Fitzhugh, El RenoBob and Theresa Gragg, ShawneeBill and Kay Gustafson, Oklahoma CityJim and Dorothy Hamill, EdmondMona & Kevin Hoskins, LahomaKaren Keith, Tulsa*Carol King, Waynoka Cont’d. on page 3
Development NewsBy Tim Zwink
I find it hard to believe that we are halfwaythrough 2008. This year the days and weekshave flown by quickly, and now we are rap-idly closing in on the time to cut off orders fornew monogrammed bricks that will be placed in the attractive and educational Red RiverJourney area here at the Oklahoma History Center. The deadline for brick orders is Friday,August 15, 2008.
If you are looking for a one-of-a-kind present for a graduation or a unique gift for a birth-day, anniversary, or memorial, I would highly recommend that you consider a mono-grammed brick. These attractive, personalized items offer a perfect way to recognize a spe-cial person, event, or occasion. The cost for each is $35.
After the August deadline, we then will send in all the new orders for your monogrammedbricks. Our plan is to have these new bricks inscribed and installed early this fall. I encour-age you to get your brick orders in soon if you want them included.
If you need a brick order form, you can find one on the Oklahoma Historical Society website at <www.okhistory.org/donorprograms.html>. You can also contact me for assistanceat 405/522-5217 or at <[email protected]>.
Have an enjoyable summer!
MeetingsThe Oklahoma Genealogical Society’smonthly meeting will be held Monday,July 7, 2008, at the Oklahoma HistoryCenter, 2401 North Laird Ave., OklahomaCity. Speaker Sandi Smith, librarian atthe Oklahoma Historical Society Re-search Center, will discuss “Our EarlyImmigrants: Records and Resources.” Aspart of her presentation she will provideinformation on pertinent resources avail-able at the OHS Research Library. Themeeting starts at 6 p.m. The library willbe staffed and remain open until 7:45p.m. (Special to ML)
EventsFood events abound in the month of July.McLoud City Park will be the venue forthe Blackberry Festival on July 4 through6, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Send e-mail to<[email protected]>. You canenjoy an annual barbeque event in Tulsaon July 11 and 12. Hours are Friday, 5:30p.m. to midnight and Saturday, 10:30a.m. to 4 p.m. Phone 918/584-3333. Atthe Frisco Conference Center in Clintonvisitors can savor a Taste of WesternOklahoma with food from area restau-rants and caterers and wine fromOklahoma wineries. This event will takeplace on Thursday, July 17, from 5 to 8p.m. Call 580/323-2222. Valliant ishosting a Watermelon Festival and Gar-den Show on July 18 and 19, from 9 a.m.to 10 p.m. at the city park. For more, con-tact Valliant’s Chamber of Commerce at580/933-5050. In downtown Porter theannual Peach Festival and other activitieswill occur on July 18 and 19. Hours onFriday are 5 to 11 p.m. and on Saturday,7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Contact Roy Essary at918/694-9314. (Special to ML)
In Frederick the World War II AirborneTeam Open Hangar Day will take placefrom 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, July19. In addition to living history, there willbe military and vehicle displays and anairborne jump demonstration. A USOShow will take place in the evening at theRamona Theater. Call 580/335-2126 ore-mail <[email protected]>.(Special to ML)
Hot air balloons will be flying over Hugoon July 18 through 20. For family fun,games, live entertainment, arts andcrafts, auto exhibit, and food, plan to at-tend the festival at the Agriplex at Fifthand Rena Street. The event features bal-loon rides and a junior balloonist compe-tition. Call 580/326-3633. (Special toML)
The Crystal Beach Arena in Woodwardwill be the venue for a PRCA rodeo on July16 through 19, from 8 to 10:30 p.m. Theevent will include a parade, cattle drive,chuck wagon feed, dancing, and talentshow. Call Neal Day at 580/256-9885.(Special to ML)
The Sapulpa Royal Jazz Festival, featur-ing local musicians, will take place atMartha’s Corner on Thursday eveningand at Liberty Park on Friday and Satur-day evenings. The event starts at 6 p.m.and continues until 10 p.m. For groups,contact John Waytula at 918/224-5770.For individuals, telephone Jan Duke at918/227-5151. (Special to ML)
Vinita’s North Park will be the venue forthe Route 66 Summerfest Car Show onAugust 2, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Withmore than 200 participants expected, theevent will also include live entertainment,food, children’s games, and a cruise onRoute 66. Call 918/256-7133 for more in-formation. (Special to ML)
Make plans to attend the Oklahoma Ge-nealogical Society’s Ancestor Fair onSaturday, August 9, at the OklahomaHistory Center, 2401 North Laird Ave.,Oklahoma City. Bring the family to thisfree event and enjoy the day with plannedcontests and children’s activities. TheOGS will be providing further details inthe near future at the OGS’s web site,<www.okgensoc.org>. (Special to ML)
ExhibitsThe Cherokee Heritage Center, locatedthree miles south of Tahlequah, has anew exhibit entitled Phoenix Rising: Cele-brating 180 Years of Cherokee Journal-ism. This exhibit premiered on May 31and will be on display through August 10,2008. The long history of Cherokee jour-nalism will be presented through repro-ductions of the Cherokee Phoenix (firstpublished in 1828 at New Echota, Chero-kee Nation, Georgia) and the CherokeeAdvocate (first published in 1844 inCherokee Nation, Indian Territory) as wellas other tribal publications and photo-graphs from the CHC archives. A sectionof the exhibit will explain the develop-ment and enactment of the Cherokee In-dependent Press Act of 2000. For addi-tional information call 918/456-6007 or888/999-6007. (Special to ML)
HappeningsKaw City High School graduation pic-
tures that had been hanging in the gradeschool building are being hung in the
Name Brick Walkway that connects the oldDepot Building to the Brill Building. Theearliest picture is of the 1925 graduatingclass. However, not all years are repre-sented. Individuals are invited to help iden-tify people on these and other historicalphotographs collected by the Kaw City Mu-seum. (Kaw City Museum News, Spring2008)
New Members, cont’d.*Barbara Klein amd James Weaver, Oklahoma CityJohn and Betsy Knudsen, Oklahoma CityJames and Julie Lowe, Oklahoma CityBette and Jim MacKellar, Oklahoma CityDavid and Cathlene Mattix, Jenks*Michael and Vycke McEwen, Medicine Park*Michael and Bonnie McKay, Blanchard*Ann McNeil, YukonSharon M. Prior, Nichols HillsLawrence and Sharon Rankin, EdmondJean and Lucy-Lee Reed, Arlington, VAMargaret Rigney, ChecotahFrederick Robinson and Robert K. Lane, Oklahoma CityJessica Rudy, Oklahoma CityBarb Schmid, Colorado Springs, CODavid and Gretchen Schrupp, Shawnee*Corene Seal, SeilingCarl and Beth Shortt, Oklahoma CityMilton and Colleen Smith, Oklahoma City*Earl and Connie Souligny, Allenhurst, GAJames and Kathy Stuart, ShawneeRic and Frances Williams, PiedmontRichard and Carol Williams, Oklahoma City*Lonnie and Jeanne Yearwood, Edmond
InstitutionsShattuck Public Library, ShattuckGuthrie Public Library, GuthrieUSDA Forest Service, Idabel
Every effort has been made to list correctinformation as it was available at presstime. Other events may be added through-out the year. Check the monthly issues ofMistletoe Leaves for additions, corrections,and/or expanded articles.Some events require registration and/oradmission fees. Registration is limited forsome workshops and seminars. Someevents sponsored by the OHS are held atsites other than the property on which theOHS site or museum is located.Please visit the OHS web site to verify date,hours, exact location, admission fees, etc.Click on “About OHS,” and “Calendar ofEvents” for additional information on theOHS events listed below.TBA = to be announced
JULY1-31 Field, Forest and Stream: Oklahomans
and the Outdoors, exhibit, Museum ofHistory, History Center, OKC
1-31 Simply Red: A Fashion Statement, ex-hibit, Museum of History, HistoryCenter, OKC
1 Quilt Block of the Month class, Paw-nee Bill Ranch Site, Pawnee
4 1840s Independence Day Celebration,Ft. Gibson Historic Site, Ft. Gibson
7 First Monday of the Month Free Ad-mission at Oklahoma History Center,OKC
9 Boomers and Land Runs, lecture,Cherokee Strip Regional HeritageCenter Outreach Space, Enid
11, 18,25
Wild West Reading Program, PawneeBill Ranch Site, Pawnee
12 Talking Skulls, a hands-on interactiveclass on Oklahoma's animal species,History Center, OKC
17 Historic Preservation Review Commit-tee meets, History Center, OKC
18-19 Honey Springs Annual Memorial FunRuns and Memorial Service, HoneySprings Battlefield, Checotah
16 Journaling, a class for all ages, tolearn how to keep and decorate a per-sonal journal, History Center, OKC
20 From Sagebrush to Statehood, lec-ture, Cherokee Strip Regional Heri-tage Center Outreach Space, Enid
30 Volunteer Open House, History Cen-ter, OKC
30 Talking Skulls, a hands-on interactiveclass on Oklahoma's animal species,History Center, OKC
SEPTEMBER
1-30 A Day at Rose Hill School, Fall Se-mester begins, 1910 living historyprogram, student activities for classesfrom around the state, Cherokee StripMuseum, Perry
1-30 Field, Forest and Stream: Oklahomansand the Outdoors, exhibit, Museum ofHistory, History Center, OKC
1-30 Simply Red: A Fashion Statement, ex-hibit, Museum of History, HistoryCenter, OKC
1-25 American Anthem, exhibit, CherokeeStrip Regional Heritage Center Out-reach Space, Enid
1 First Monday of the Month Free Ad-mission at Oklahoma History Center,OKC
2 Quilt Block of the Month class, Paw-nee Bill Ranch Site, Pawnee
5 Public Meeting, State Historic Preser-vation Office’s Fiscal Year 2008Historic Preservation Fund GrantApplication, History Center, OKC
5 Updating Oklahoma's Statewide His-toric Preservation Plan: A Public Dis-cussion, History Center, OKC
6 SeptemberFest, on the grounds of theHistory Center and the Governor'sMansion, OKC
13 New Volunteer Training, History Cen-ter, OKC
13 Cherokee Strip Celebration Tea andOpen House, Cherokee StripMuseum, Perry
17 Creating the Oklahoma National Me-morial, lecture, Cherokee Strip Re-gional Heritage Center OutreachSpace, Enid
20 Living History Day, Cavalry Program,Ft. Supply Historic Site, Ft. Supply
21-22 Autumnal Equinox Walks, SpiroMounds Archaeological Center, Spiro
26 Civil War Life, School Day demonstra-tions, Honey Springs Battlefield,Checotah
27-28 Battle of Honey Springs, reenactmentof Civil War engagement, HoneySprings Battlefield, Checotah
27 Arts-’n-Action Festival, Pioneer Heri-tage Townsite Center, Frederick
27 Hands-on History for Kids, ResearchCenter, History Center, OKC
OCTOBER
1-31 A Day at Rose Hill School, Fall Se-mester continues, 1910 living historyprogram, student activities for classesfrom around the state, Cherokee StripMuseum, Perry
1-31 Field, Forest and Stream: Oklahomansand the Outdoors, exhibit, Museum ofHistory, History Center, OKC
1-31 Simply Red: A Fashion Statement, ex-hibit, Museum of History, HistoryCenter, OKC
3 Corsets and Underpinnings, work-shop, Murrell House, Park Hill
3-4 Ghostly Doaksville, Ft. Towson His-toric Site, vic. Ft. Towson
4 Red Hat Saturday, hat making work-shop, History Center, OKC
4 Ladies' Camp of Instruction forReenactors, Murrell House, Park Hill
OHS EVENTS AND EXHIBITS
SeptemberFest (Staff photo).
Sixth Infantry Living History Associationat the Fort Gibson event (Larry Toll photo).
5 Jewelry Making Workshop, MurrellHouse, Park Hill
6 First Monday of the Month Free Ad-mission at Oklahoma History Center
7 Quilt Block of the Month class, Paw-nee Bill Ranch Site, Pawnee
8 Early Statehood, lecture, CherokeeStrip Regional Heritage Center Out-reach Space, Enid
10-11 Fall Encampment, Ft. Gibson HistoricSite, Ft. Gibson
15 What's Happening at Leonardo's Dis-covery Warehouse, lecture, CherokeeStrip Regional Heritage Center Out-reach Space, Enid
16 Historic Preservation Review Commit-tee meets, History Center, OKC
18 Ghost Story Tours, Pawnee Bill RanchSite, Pawnee
22-25 Walking Ghost Stories Tours, Ft.Washita, vicinity of Durant-Madill
24-25 Ghost Stories, George M. MurrellHouse, Park Hill
24-31 Unconquered: Allan Houser and theLegacy of One Apache Family, exhibit,Museum of History, History Center,OKC
25 Dutch Oven Cooking, hands-on class,Oklahoma History Center, OklahomaCity
30 Volunteer Appreciation Banquet, Mu-seum of History, Oklahoma HistoryCenter, OKC
NOVEMBER
1-30 A Day at Rose Hill School, Fall Se-mester continues, 1910 living historyprogram, student activities for classesfrom around the state, Cherokee StripMuseum, Perry
1-30 Field, Forest and Stream: Oklahomansand the Outdoors, exhibit, Museum ofHistory, History Center, OKC
1-30 Unconquered: Allan Houser and theLegacy of One Apache Family, exhibit,Museum of History, History Center
1-30 Simply Red: A Fashion Statement, ex-hibit, Museum of History, HistoryCenter, OKC
3 First Monday of the Month Free Ad-mission at Oklahoma History Center
4 Quilt Block of the Month class, Paw-nee Bill Ranch Site, Pawnee
4-25 Crossroads of Empire: Early PrintedMaps of the American Southwest,Cherokee Strip Regional HeritageCenter Outreach Space, Enid
7-8 Candlelight Tours, Ft. Washita, vicin-ity of Durant-Madill
8 Fall Bake Day, Ft. Gibson HistoricSite, Ft. Gibson
12 Oklahoma in the 1920s, lecture,Cherokee Strip Regional HeritageCenter Outreach Space, Enid
13-14 Conservation of 19th-Century Photo-graphs, workshop, OHS Research Di-vision and Oklahoma ConservationCongress, History Center, OKC
15 Choctaw Indian Records Workshop,cosponsored by Friends of OHS Ar-chives and Three Valley Museum,Durant
15 Civil War Life Program, HoneySprings Battlefield Site, Checotah
19 A High-Wheeled Bike in the Land Runof 1893, lecture, Cherokee Strip Re-gional Heritage Center OutreachSpace, Enid
DECEMBER
1-16 A Day at Rose Hill School, Fall Se-mester continues, 1910 living historyprogram, student activities for classesfrom around the state, Cherokee StripMuseum, Perry
1-31 Field, Forest and Stream: Oklahomansand the Outdoors, exhibit, Museum ofHistory, History Center, OKC
1-31 Simply Red: A Fashion Statement, ex-hibit, Museum of History, HistoryCenter, OKC
1-31 Unconquered: Allan Houser and theLegacy of One Apache Family, exhibit,Museum of History, History Center,OKC
TBA Christmas Tours of the Seay Mansionand Pioneer Village, Chisholm TrailMuseum, Kingfisher
1 First Monday of the Month Free Ad-mission at Oklahoma History Center,OKC
2 Quilt Block of the Month class, Paw-nee Bill Ranch Site, Pawnee
6 Children's Storytime and Crafts, Paw-nee Bill Ranch Site, Pawnee
6, 13 Living History Program, 36th TexasCavalry, Ft. Washita, vicinity ofDurant-Madill
10 Oklahoma and the Great Depression,lecture, Cherokee Strip Regional Heri-tage Center Outreach Space, Enid
11 Holiday Open House, Pawnee BillRanch Site, Pawnee
12-13 Candlelight Tour, Ft. Gibson HistoricSite, Ft. Gibson
14 Christmas Tea and Open House,Cherokee Strip Museum, Perry
14 Christmas Open House, George M.Murrell House, Park Hill
17 “Federal and State Tax Incentives forRehabilitating Historic Buildings” and“The Secretary's Standards for Reha-bilitating Historic Buildings,” SHPOworkshops, History Center, OKC
18 “Working with Section 106: A Work-shop for CDGB Applicants and Con-sultants,” SHPO workshop, HistoryCenter, OKC
19 “Working with the National Register ofHistoric Places,” SHPO workshop,History Center, OKC
21 Winter Solstice Walks, Spiro MoundsArchaeological Center, Spiro
JULY-DECEMBER 2008
Oklahoma History Center (J. Briley photo).
OHS MUSEUMS AND SITES
Cherokee Strip Museum/Rose Hill School, 2617 WFir, Perry, 580/336-2405
Robert S. Kerr Museum6 mi. SW of Poteau, US 270at Kerr Conference Center918/647-9579
Sequoyah’s CabinSH 101, 11 mi. NE ofSallisaw, 918/775-2413
Sod House MuseumSH 8, 5½ mi. N of CleoSprings, 580/463-2441
Spiro Mounds Archaeo-logical Center, 3 mi. Eand 4 mi. N of Spiro918/962-2062
State Capital PublishingMuseum, 301 W HarrisonGuthrie, 405/282-4123
T. B. Ferguson House519 N Weigle, Watonga580/623-5069
Tom Mix Museum721 N Delaware, Dewey918/534-1555
White Hair Memorial½ mi. S of SH 20 on Black-burn Rd., Ralston918/538-2417
State Historic PreservationOffice, OKC, 405/521-6249
July at the Cherokee StripHeritage Center
Enid’s museum Outreach Space inOakwood Mall will be buzzing during themonth of July when the Cherokee Strip Re-gional Heritage Center expands its weeklyeducational series. The events are free andopen to the public. Bring your lunch in abrown bag and join your friends.
On Wednesday, July 9, at noon GlenMcIntyre will lecture on “The Boomers andthe Land Runs.” The discussion centers onthe would-be settlers who tried to force theopening of Oklahoma lands in the 1880s.
At Wednesday noon on July 16 ValerieHaynes, director of the Guthrie MuseumComplex, will give a first-person impres-sion titled “Tears, Turnips, and Triumphs.”She’ll focus on the travails of a woman set-tler in the Territorial Era.
On Saturday, July 26, at 1 p.m. Dr. DonWyckoff of the Oklahoma Museum of Natu-ral History will give a flint-knapping dem-onstration. He’ll show you how to make an“arrowhead” in the old-fashioned way, bychipping them from flint and other similarsubstances. Wyckoff was formerly directorof the Oklahoma Archaeological Survey.
The Outreach Center is located next to J.C. Penney in Enid’s Oakwood Mall. Call580/237-1907 for more information.
Hidden Collections . . .The Preston George Collection
By Larry O’DellIn 2008 the Research Division received
the Preston George Collection (2008.08).These writings and diaries supplement theprevious donation of his railroad collec-tion, including more than 1,500 photo-graphs. The papers provide insight into thepersonal and professional life of an avidresearcher and collector.
Preston George, born in 1906 in IndianTerritory, matured near Kaw City. He at-tained a civil engineering degree fromOklahoma A&M College (now Oklahoma
State University). After employment withthe Oklahoma Highway Department, in1941 he began a career with the FederalBureau of Reclamation. In his childhood,trains became his true passion. Hecoauthored Railroads in Oklahoma, docu-menting the state’s railroad history. Healso became involved in archaeology, con-tributing to several books and journal arti-cles. In 1988 George joined the OklahomaHall of Fame. Preston George died on April24, 1993. In 2003 he was inducted into theOklahoma Historians Hall of Fame.
The correspondence with hisfamily, his friends, and his fu-ture wife, Maud George, date to1925 and continue throughmost of his life. The collectionalso includes daybook entries,diaries, and recollections. Inter-esting material includes surveyand other work journals thatdescribe highway constructionand other details of his job.
Also of interest is his diarythat describes the Oklahomahome front during World WarII. Researchers can access thePreston George materials by
visiting the Kirkpatrick Research Center,inside the Oklahoma History Center.
Civil War dead to be honoredat Honey Springs battle siteThe annual Honey Springs Battlefield
Memorial Service and Memorial Run willbe held on July 18 and 19. During the July19 ceremonies a joint color guard will pres-ent the flags, cannon and rifle salutes willbe fired, and “Taps” will be played.
The obsequies honor those who fell dur-ing the Indian Territory’s largest Civil Warengagement. Dr. Bob L. Blackburn will de-liver a lecture on that topic.
Immediately following, the Friends ofHoney Springs Battlefield will hold theirannual luncheon and business meeting.
At 1 p.m. Mark L. “Beau” Cantrell willaddress the Sneed-Reeves Camp 1417,USCSA, on “Indian Territory Delegates tothe Confederate States Congress.” Non-members are invited to attend the lecture.
The evening of July 18 will feature thefifth annual Memorial Run. This one-mile,run-walk event begins at 7:30 p.m.. A 5K“sanctioned race” begins at 8 p.m. Therewill be awards for the best time for womenand for men and also first-, second-, andthird-place ribbons in each men’s andwomen’s age bracket. As in the past, thereis no extra charge for race-day registration.Registration forms are available in TheOklahoma Runner magazine.
Honey Springs Battlefield Site is locatedat 1863 Honey Springs Battlefield Road,near Checotah, and also near Rentiesvilleand east of U.S. 69. Call 918/573-5572 ore-mail <[email protected]> formore information on the service.
OHS Places . . .Pioneer Woman Museum
701 Monument RoadPonca City, OK 74604-3910Phone: 580/765-6108Hours: Tues.-Sat., 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
Sunday, 1 to 5 p.m.Closed, Mondays and holidays
Admission: $3 for adults, $2.50 forsenior citizens, $1 for students
Situated in a fourteen-acre, wooded park,the Pioneer Woman Museum is located at 701Monument Road in Ponca City. Constructedof native stone and glass, the museum build-ing preserves and exhibits artifacts that honorOklahoma’s women, including Oklahoma Citysocialite Anna Overholser, U.S. Representa-tive Alice Robertson, and aviator Jerrie Cobb.At the museum entrance the visitor walks be-neath a woman’s sunbonnet shaped of copperand with the saying “I SEE NO BOUNDARIES”punched in it.
Among the museum’s artifacts representing daily life are a forty-five-inch fly shuttle loomthat was manufactured in Council Bluff’s, Iowa, in the late nineteenth or early twentiethcentury. The Gift Shop sells rag rugs produced on the loom. Children enjoy the “What is it?”guessing game featuring unusual objects from the past. In addition, the Children’s Cornerprovides fun and educational activities. The museum’s education center offers craft dem-onstrations, special exhibits, an interactive timeline, and the Pioneer Woman Walk ofFame. Since 2002 the museum has presented a “Woman of the Year” award.
Slightly west of the museum stands the seventeen-foot-tall bronze statue known as ThePioneer Woman, sculpted by Bryant Baker, a graduate of the Royal Academy of Arts in Lon-don. Oilman, philanthropist, former Oklahoma governor, and U.S. Representative ErnestW. Marland provided financing for the piece representing a pioneer leading her son by thehand. The twelve-thousand-pound statue, resting on a thirteen-foot-high base, was un-veiled on April 22, 1930. In 1978 The Pioneer Woman statue was added to the National Reg-ister of Historic Places (NR 78002238).
At the June awards banquet, a specialevent of the statewide preservation confer-ence. the Oklahoma Historical Society’sState Historic Preservation Office presentedits 2008 Citations of Merit to governmentagencies, organizations, firms, and individ-uals who have had positive impacts on thepreservation of Oklahoma’s significant his-toric properties. The banquet was held inthe E. W. Marland Mansion on Thursday,June 5. The SHPO recognized accomplish-ments in the areas of research, publica-tions, public programming, leadership, andrestoration/rehabilitation work. The awardrecipients were:
Rogers State University Public Televisionwas recognized for its documentary on therehabilitation of Miami’s Coleman Theatre,a 1929 vaudeville-movie palace. Producedin spring 2007, the documentary was titled“The Coleman Theatre Beautiful.”
Donna Broyles received the Citation ofMerit for her adaptive reuse of Newkirk’shistoric 1925 Masonic Building for the lo-cation of her quilt shop. With no majorchanges, she converted the commu-nity/dining room into a sewing room forquilting classes. In the temple room, sheadded ten small sleeping quarters for re-treats. These were constructed so that theycould be easily removed without altering ordamaging the original space.
City of Durant and Durant Main Streetwas recognized for their highly successfulMarket Square Streetscape Project. It cen-tered on the rehabilitation of the HistoricMarket Square Café. The impact on down-town revitalization is most evident in thefive newly rehabilitated buildings near Mar-ket Square with a new business set tooccupy the spaces.
Rand and Jeanette Elliott and Elliott +Associates were recognized for their certi-fied rehabilitation of Oklahoma City’s Bu-ick Building. Constructed in the ClassicalRevival style in 1911, the building is theoldest car dealership in the Automobile Al-ley Historic District. Retaining all of its orig-inal exterior cast-stone masonry and up-per-floor wood windows, the Buick Build-ing is a contributing resource within theNational Register–listed district.
Steven and Elizabeth Harshman pur-chased the historic 1906 NewkirkFarmers National Bank building in2005 and converted the upper floorinto a residence for their family ofsix. Their objective was to preservethe historic windows and thepressed-metal ceiling. “The Spot,” arecreation center for students, nowoccupies the building’s first floor.
Edinborough Point LLC per-formed a certified rehabilitation ofthe Kivlehen House, located inEdmond. The Colonial Revival–stylehouse, built in 1910 from PlanNumber 582 of Keith Company Ar-chitects, Minneapolis, is owned byMariana Lloyd.
Hardie and Younghee Higgins were rec-ognized for their work on Newkirk’s FirstNational Bank building. Constructed in1899, it had housed numerous businessesand finally sat vacant. Then Hardie Hig-gins, a retired Army chaplain, and his wife,Younghee, purchased the building in 2005and adapted it for their office and residen-tial needs.
City of Enid and Waverley Historic Dis-trict Neighborhood Association were recog-nized for their important partnership andmany accomplishments to raise publicawareness about and protect the WaverleyHistoric District. The district is listed inthe National Register of Historic Placesand is designated under the local govern-ment’s preservation zoning ordinance.
Gardner Tanenbaum Group and BDRArchitects received the Citation of Merit forthe certified rehabilitation of the CitizensBank Tower. Located immediately south ofthe Gold Dome at Northwest Twenty-thirdand Classen, the building is Mid-centuryModern at its best in Oklahoma City. Thebuilding stands apart from all other tall,postwar era buildings in the community.
Caryl Morgan, a rural Newkirk residentand retired art teacher with the ArkansasCity, Kansas, public schools, formed apartnership with the Newkirk CommunityHistorical Society to convert a historicbuilding into a bed and breakfast and stor-age space for the society.
MCLI, LLC and Elliott + Associates wererecognized for the rehabilitation of theMidcontinent Building for the OklahomaHeritage Association. This is a certified reha-bilitation project and is located in OklahomaCity.
Newkirk Main Street Board and Volun-teers were recognized for working tirelesslyto revitalize their National Register–listedcommercial district. One hundred percentof the district’s buildings have undergonesome rehabilitation work, and private rein-vestment in the buildings has now reacheda total of $5,330,160.
The Citation of Merit also went to ParkHarvey Apartments LLC and Merriman As-sociates/Architects for their certified reha-bilitation of Fidelity National Bank Build-ing, which is an International-style build-
ing that is representative of Mid-centuryModern architecture in Oklahoma City.The building now serves as Park HarveyApartments.
The SHPO awarded its Citation of Meritto Blue Dome LLC, headed by MichaelSager, and to Mike Kertok, project archi-tect, for their certified rehabilitation ofTulsa’s Vickery Service Station. Listed inthe National Register of Historic Places in2004, the station is significant for its rela-tionship to historic Route 66.
Ponca City Historic Preservation Advi-sory performed an architectural survey ofthe Gateway Historic District and extendedthe local preservation zoning designation toit. The SHPO greatly appreciates its part-nership with the City through the CLG pro-gram and recognized the panel for their on-going commitment to protecting PoncaCity’s heritage.
Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual HelpYouth Group was recognized for its worklast summer in Abbeville, Louisiana, atown devastated by Hurricane Rita. Thegroup joined others from Wisconsin andTexas and helped repair two historichouses dating from the 1880s. These vol-unteers gained new respect not only forthis special place, but also for their ownhomes scattered throughout many historicOklahoma City neighborhoods.
Sandalwood Properties, LLC, was recog-nized for its efforts to rehabilitate the build-ings of Tulsa’s Brady Heights Historic Dis-trict. This certified historic rehabilitationhas adapted the buildings for use as threeresidential apartments.
The City of Guthrie, Guthrie HistoricPreservation Commission, Guthrie Cham-ber of Commerce/Convention and VisitorsBureau, Guthrie Arts and HumanitiesCouncil, Guthrie Centennial Commission,Guthrie Museum Complex, Logan CountyHistorical Society, and United States PostalService were recognized for cosponsoringthe 2007 Preservation Conference, whichwas conducted in downtown Guthrie.
City of Ponca City, E. W. Marland EstateCommission, and E. W. Marland EstateFoundation were presented the Citation ofMerit for their efforts to preserve and sharethe E. W. Marland Mansion (photo at left), a
National Historic Landmark, withthe public. The citizens of PoncaCity voted a sales tax into effect toacquire and maintain the magnifi-cent residence. The most recent ef-forts of the nominees resulted in aSave America’s Treasures grantfrom the National Endowment forthe Arts to restore decorative plas-ter ceilings. This exemplary workwas executed by Evergreene Stu-dios of New York and was featuredin the preservation conference’ssessions and tours in June 2008.
SHPO Citations of Merit presented at Ponca City conference
Oklahoma has an official state folk song, acountry and western song, and an officialstate song. What the state lacks is an officialsong honoring rock and roll, a genre that dom-inated the last half of the twentieth centuryand defined the “Baby Boomer” generation.State Sen. John Ford and State Rep. JoeDorman cosponsored House Concurrent Res-olution 1047, calling for a public nominationprocess for an official state rock and roll song.The resolution was also cosponsored by theOklahoma Film & Music Office, part of the De-partment of Tourism.
Nominations will be accepted from the gen-eral public through July 2008. In August a panel of judges will narrow the field to 10 finalists.From September 1 to November 15, 2008, the public will vote on the official Oklahoma rock androll song to be presented to the legislature in 2009 in conjunction with the opening of the His-tory Center’s upcoming 2009 exhibit Another Hot Oklahoma Night: A Rock and Roll Exhibit. Visit<www.oklahomarocksong.org> to make your nominations.
PERIODICALS
Oklahoma Historical Society2401 N. Laird AvenueOklahoma City, OK 73105-7914
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
Vol. 39, No. 7 July 2008
OHS sponsoring Oklahoma Rock Song search
Celebrate theFourth of July at
Fort Gibson!Fort Gibson Historic Site will pres-
ent “An 1840s Independence Day”on Friday, July 4. Through this livinghistory event visitors will learn howthe Fourth of July was observed atan 1840s army post.
Members of the Sixth InfantryLiving History Association will con-duct various types of military drill,including firing demonstrations. Atnoon there will be a reading of theDeclaration of Independence, fol-
lowed by the firing of a salute. A reception for visitors will follow. Staff have organized variousgames and pastimes of the period, and visitors are welcome to participate.
Living history activities will take place in the log fort area from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The sitecloses at 5 p.m. Afterward, visitors are encouraged to attend the annual free fireworks displayat the Fort Gibson school grounds later that evening.
Admission is $3 for adults, $2.50 for seniors (65 and over), and $1 for students (ages 6 to 18).Children aged 5 and under are admitted free. Fort Gibson Historic Site is located on State High-way 80 in Fort Gibson, Oklahoma, and is operated by the Oklahoma Historical Society. Formore information call 918/478-4088 or e-mail <[email protected]>.
Step back into the past! Visit the Oklahoma History Center forHands-On History Day, July 19.
2401 N. Laird Avenue, Oklahoma CityOff Northeast 23rd Street and east of the Oklahoma Capitol Building
