OHS EXTRA! - House Made of Dawn

Oklahoma Historical Society sent this bulletin at 10/06/2021 05:00 AM CDT

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History Center Research Museums & Sites Preservation Publications

October 6, 2021

The Oklahoma History Center (OHC) is pleased to invite the public to attend the 2021 Folklife Festival on Saturday, October 16, 2021, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. This event is free, open to the public, and will offer a wide range of entertainment, crafts, exhibitions, and food. The festival will be held predominantly outdoors on the OHC campus located at 800 Nazih Zuhdi Drive in Oklahoma City.

This community-wide event will celebrate and recognize what the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress has called “the everyday and intimate creativity that all of us share and pass on to the next generation.” The “creativity” mentioned will come in the form of dancing, singing, crafts, food, and much more. Some excellent examples of the diverse offerings at the festival are the various dance troupes demonstrating their talents to all attendees. Included in these demonstrations will be Mexican, Venezuelan, and South and Southeast Asian dance performers. A variety of food vendors, musical performers, and educational representatives will be present to offer their time and talents. There will also be a number of craft opportunities for attendees of all ages. In addition, the Oklahoma Pork Council will be giving away a roaster/cooker in a public drawing. For additional information, please call 405-522-0765.

The 2021 Folklife Festival is sponsored in part by Oklahoma Humanities and the National Endowment for the Humanities.

The mission of Oklahoma Humanities (OH) is to strengthen communities by helping Oklahomans learn about the human experience, understand new perspectives, and participate knowledgeably in civic life. OH is a private, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. As the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, we strive to stimulate discussion, encourage new perspectives, and to actively engage people in the humanities disciplines, such as history, literature, philosophy, and ethics.

Spiro Mounds conch shell with boat engraving

International Archaeology Day celebration

October is Archaeology Month in Oklahoma and internationally, and Spiro Mounds Archaeological Center will celebrate International Archaeology Day on Saturday, October 16, 2021 with a lecture, a guided walk, and many other activities. Oklahoma Archaeology Month is sponsored and promoted by the Oklahoma Anthropological Society and the Oklahoma Public Archaeology Network, and includes many more events (some virtual) throughout Oklahoma during the month of October.

Spiro Mounds Archaeological Center is the only prehistoric American Indian archaeological site in Oklahoma open to the public and is the perfect place to celebrate Archaeology Month. Lectures about the prehistory and history of this region will start at 11 a.m. There also will be a guided tour of the site at 2 p.m. led by manager Dennis Peterson. The regular exhibits will be available throughout the day as well. Expert flint knappers, or stone tool makers, will be on hand to show off their skills from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. An archaeologist will be available to identify artifact collections for visitors during that same time. Educational games and activities will be available throughout the day.

If you would like to know more about Archaeology Month events, please visit www.ou.edu/okpan. For more information on Spiro Mounds Archaeological Center, please contact Dennis Peterson at 918-962-2062 or spiro@okhistory.org.

N. (Navarre) Scott Momaday is an internationally acclaimed American Indian writer, artist, and teacher who was born in Lawton, Oklahoma, in 1934. He won the Pulitzer Prize for his novel, House Made of Dawn (1968), which is the featured title in the October Oklahoma Humanities "Let's Talk About It" Book Discussion Series taking place at the Pawnee Bill Ranch and Museum.

Listen to the Voices of Oklahoma interview with N. Scott Momaday

House Made of Dawn subject of Book Discussion Series at Pawnee Bill Ranch

Pawnee Bill Ranch and Museum in Pawnee has partnered with Oklahoma Humanities (OH) to host OH’s Book Discussion Series called “Let’s Talk About It.” The meetings will take place as monthly in-person gatherings at the museum on Blue Hawk Peak. The featured book for October is House Made of Dawn (Harper & Row, 1968) by N. Scott Momaday, with a discussion led by scholar Dr. Patti Loughlin.

The books in the program have been chosen for the overarching theme of “Many Trails, Many Tribes: American Indians in Fiction.” The intention of the discussion group is to focus on the accuracies or inaccuracies found in the portrayal of American Indians depicted in works of fiction. After a 45-minute synopsis of the chosen book, the scholar will lead an open forum discussion with the participants.

The museum will provide all the books, refreshments, and the venue. All participants need to bring is the desire to add to the discussion. This program is free to the public. For more information, call 918-762-2513 or come by the museum to sign up for the program and take home the latest book in the “Let’s Talk About It” series.

"Mix'n It Up Under the Stars" Tom Mix Museum fundraiser

On Friday, October 15, 2021, from 5:30–11 p.m., the Tom Mix Museum will open Tom Mix Roundup Days with an evening fundraiser to support the day-to-day management of the Tom Mix Museum.

The "Mix'n It Up Under the Stars" fundraiser will be held at the Timber Oaks Event Center, three miles west of downtown Bartlesville. Guests will enjoy a live and silent auction, as well as a chuck wagon barbecue dinner with all the fixings. A dance will follow with entertainment featuring the toe-tapping country swing stylings of Western entertainer Belinda Gail, “America’s Country Sweetheart.” Musicians Jim Garling and Theresa Mix, along with Oklahoma Mike will also be performing live for this event. To buy tickets, please call 918-534-1555.

The Tom Mix Museum mission is to preserve the history of Tom Mix for future generations. Along with Tom Mix memorabilia, the Tom Mix Museum also houses the personal belongings of Mix that he used in his lifetime. The collection includes saddles, bridles, spurs, chaps, hats, and belts worn by a man who spent many of his waking hours on horseback.

OHS COVID-19 safety measures

Per CDC guidance, we recommend that visitors who have not yet received a COVID-19 vaccination wear face masks and maintain social distancing in indoor public areas. All visitors, staff, volunteers, contractors, and vendors should use appropriate handwashing techniques.

We ask that you avoid visiting OHS museums, sites, and affiliates if you have COVID-19, are experiencing symptoms, have a fever, or are otherwise feeling sick or unwell.