Our good angel, Kate

The latest episode of A Very OK Podcast will explore how Kate Barnard may have shaped the early history of Oklahoma more than any other figure. She convinced the delegates to the Oklahoma Constitutional Convention to create the office of commissioner of charities and corrections, a position with the authority to investigate the conditions of prisons, orphanages, hospitals, and other public institutions. She was elected the first commissioner in 1907, one of the first women in the country to hold statewide elected office. She used her power to advocate on behalf of orphans, the poor, people with disabilities, and the incarcerated. Her crusade for justice on behalf of Indigenous orphans, however, caused backlash against her office from the governor and legislature. On the podcast OHS Executive Director Trait Thompson and Dr. Bob Blackburn visit with special guest Connie Cronley, author of A Life on Fire: Oklahoma’s Kate Barnard.

Tomorrow night!

"The Shoe Strides Forward"

On Thursday, August 18, the Henry and Anna Overholser Mansion will host a special program called “The Shoe Strides Forward: How Raising Hemlines Created the Shoes We Love Today,” presented by Heather Franks. She is the organizer and curator of the current fashion exhibit at the Overholser Mansion, Early Influencers: How Anna Overholser & Henry Ione Overholser Perry Set the Style for Oklahoma City Women, 1903–1929. Guests will learn all about the history of shoes from the 1920s to the present day. After the presentation, Franks will lead a guided tour of the Early Influencers fashion exhibit that will be on display now through August 30.

History and Hops looks at Mid-Century Modern architecture

On Friday, August 26, from 6 to 8 p.m., Preservation Oklahoma will continue its History and Hops series with a presentation on Mid-Century Modern architecture with Lynda Ozan. This event will take place in the Carriage House of the Henry and Anna Overholser Mansion, located at 405 NW 15th Street in Oklahoma City.

Lynda Ozan is the deputy state historic preservation officer. She will present Oklahoma’s rich and dynamic collection of Mid-Century Modern architecture and why it is so prevalent across the state, from urban areas to rural communities.

The History and Hops series is a fun way to learn about the historic buildings and architecture of Oklahoma while sipping a local brew! Beer, water, and light snacks will be provided.

This program is free for Preservation Oklahoma members and is only $5 for nonmembers! Members and nonmembers can secure tickets online at www.preservationok.org/shop. New audio/visual equipment will be debuted at this event thanks to a grant from the Kirkpatrick Foundation.

The Virginian (1946) film screening in Pawnee

On Friday, August 19, at 6 p.m., the Pawnee Bill Ranch and Museum is partnering with the Buffalo Theatre, located at 537 Sixth St. in Pawnee, to hold a film screening of The Virginian (1946). This screening is being held in conjunction with the Let’s Talk About It book series discussion at Pawnee Bill Ranch featuring author Owen Wister’s book upon which the movie is based. Let’s Talk About It is a program of Oklahoma Humanities.

Before the 6 p.m. screening, from 5 to 6 p.m., Pawnee Bill Ranch and Museum staff will be giving summer carriage rides around town! The historic Buffalo Theatre buvette (snack bar) will be open for preshow snacks. The Pawnee Bill Ranch will also bring a pop-up museum store to sell some of the book titles in this year’s Oklahoma Humanities Let’s Talk About It book series. This will provide an opportunity for people to sign up for the program and take home the latest book in the series in partnership with Oklahoma Humanities.

The following day, on Saturday, August 20, at 6 p.m., the Pawnee Bill Ranch and Museum will host Let’s Talk About It, an evening book discussion featuring The Virginian (1902) by Owen Wister. For more information about Let’s Talk About It, contact the Pawnee Bill Ranch and Museum at 918-762-2513.

Hardtack and Hard Times

On Saturday, August 27, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Honey Springs Battlefield will host “Hardtack and Hard Times,”  a come-and-go presentation about Civil War food. Historian Dave Fowler and the Honey Springs Battlefield staff will tell guests about what foods were commonly available in the Civil War era, and allow visitors to experience some of these provisions. 

Soldiers and settlers had to gather, hunt, grow, and prepare food to sustain their lives in the Civil War era. Vegetable gardens were also a source of fresh ingredients that staved off scurvy and sustained the military through the harsh winter. This program is free with regular admission to Honey Springs Battlefield.

Movie Night featuring Will Rogers Jr. in The Story of Will Rogers