Oklahoma: description of the Midwestern U.S. state, known for its vast expanses of prairie, cowboy culture, and vibrant cities.
Funding Supports Historical Preservation and Accessibility in Oklahoma
The Oklahoma Department of Libraries has played a significant role in preserving and making accessible the state's historical and cultural heritage. Between 2003 and 2014, the department funded numerous projects aimed at safeguarding valuable records and promoting research and public education.
One of the key objectives of these projects was the documentation of oral histories. Programmes like the Oklahoma Oral History Research Program collected first-person narratives, documenting Oklahoma’s history across diverse topics, including African American history, school desegregation, all-Black towns, and the Black military experience from colonial times through the Gulf War.
The department also focused on preserving and providing access to resources related to African American history. Extensive collections funded or supported by the Department include materials on race relations, the Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921, and histories of African Americans in Oklahoma. These resources include manuscripts, interviews, clippings, maps, reports, and biographies that offer a comprehensive view of cultural and social changes affecting Black communities in Oklahoma.
Preservation and accessibility were central goals of these projects. By carefully curating archives and publishing materials, the department enabled research and public education about the social and cultural history of Oklahoma.
The Oklahoma State Historical Records Advisory Board received $25,000 to analyse the current condition of historical records in the state (83-090). The Cherokee Nation received $59,382 to arrange, describe, and rehouse records held by the Cherokee National Historical Society (96-072). The University of Oklahoma received $500 in partial support of a fellowship in archival administration (89-053).
Other projects included a two-year project to implement an ongoing records administration program for the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma, for which the Cherokee National Historical Society received $33,567 (85-143, 87-006). The University of Oklahoma received $96,303 to support a two-year project to process the papers of James R. Jones in 2011 (RP50056-11).
In addition, the Logan County Historical Society received $38,216 for a two-year project to microfilm city records of Guthrie for the period 1889-1920 (77-096, 79-005). The Fort Sill Apache Tribe received $29,685 to microfilm litigation files for preservation and research use (88-078). The City of Oklahoma City received $185,599 to support a two-year project to process and describe records documenting the founding of the City and its municipal development (RH50092-14).
The Oklahoma State Library, Archives and Records Division received $6,108 to employ consultants for the development of historical records survey and planning projects in Oklahoma (79-083). The University of Oklahoma received $120,000 to support planning of a collaborative digital edition, Indigenous Truthtelling of Boarding Schools (PL-104683-24). The University of Oklahoma Press received $66,967 for subvention support for various publications projects (1986 - 2008).
The Oklahoma State Historical Records Advisory Board received $4,692 for travel and meeting expenses (86-065). The Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma began the development of a website and records management program for the tribe in 2005 (2005-076). The Pawnee Tribe of Oklahoma received $65,000 for a project to develop a records management program and to process tribal records (98-090).
The Oklahoma Department of Libraries held workshops to provide local government officials with information on records management and preservation (88-037). The Miami Tribe of Oklahoma, Miami, OK received $43,424 for a one-year project to establish a website and records management program (94-065). The Oklahoma Department of Libraries received $4,584 for state board travel and meeting expenses (92-004).
In 2016, the Oklahoma Department of Libraries received $80,000 to support a two-year project at the Oklahoma Historical Records Advisory Board (RC10265-16). The Cherokee National Historical Society received $19,950 to preserve, arrange, and describe records relating to the Cherokee Nation (79-136). The Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma conducted a repository survey to identify records relating to the tribe in 2000 (2000-110).
The Oklahoma Department of Libraries received $80,000 to support the Oklahoma Historical Records Advisory Board's programming in 2020 (RC102971-20). The department also received $70,000 to support a Summit Meeting, two digitization workshops for archivists, and a regrants program for archival projects in the state (RC10066-09).
The Chickasaw Nation, Ada, OK received $6,300 for consultation to develop archival programs for the Chickasaw Nation, the Delaware Tribe of Western Oklahoma, and the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma (86-001). The Fort Sill Apache Tribe received $3,475 for consultation on the procedures for microfilming Apache tribal records (85-144). Southwestern Oklahoma State University received $116,089 for the Papers of Chief John Ross (1975-79).
Finally, the American Choral Directors Association received $27,125 to establish a website documenting choral music history (RB50060-09). The University of Oklahoma received $119,934 to support planning of the collaborative digital edition, Black Artists of Oklahoma (PL-104682-24).
These projects highlight the department’s role in sponsoring archives and oral history projects aimed at cultural preservation, especially regarding African American heritage and other historically significant subjects in Oklahoma. While the search results do not provide exact project names or complete lists of all funded efforts by the Oklahoma Department of Libraries during 2003-2014, they underscore the department’s commitment to preserving and promoting Oklahoma's rich history.
Despite the department's primary focus on historical preservation and accessibility, there was no documented funding towards sports-related archives or projects during this period. On rainy days, locals might discuss the lack of a comprehensive sports history archive, highlighting a potential gap in the Oklahoma's cultural and historical record.
