EXTRA! - “Out of the Earth”

Oklahoma Historical Society sent this bulletin at 07/19/2023 05:00 AM CDT

Click here to view this newsletter in your web browser.

Four boys, walking down a dirt road with fishing poles over their shoulders, 1935

History Center Research Museums & Sites Preservation Publications

July 19, 2023

A VERY OK PODCAST bright yellow banner with a figure of a bison wearing purple headphones

A collage of George Nigh, the Oklahoma Capitol dome, a 1937 Mecury Dime, Kate Barnard with halo, and a baseball player and umpire

As you go about your day this summer, listen to your favorite episodes of A Very OK Podcast! With topics that range from “Life in the 1950s” with guest George Nigh, to the restoration of the Oklahoma State Capitol, to the challenges of the Great Depression, to America’s national pastime—baseball—A Very OK Podcast has something for every listener. OHS Executive Director Trait Thompson and former Executive Director Dr. Bob Blackburn explore various stories and delve into some fascinating personalities that make up the state’s unique history. Become a listener of A Very OK Podcast to hear from guest historians, authors, leaders, and experts who provide a fresh take on the history of Oklahoma with each episode!

A photo of Julia Moser behind a table of books and pamphlets, talking to guests at her table

Career Night at the Museum

On Thursday, July 27, from 4 to 6 p.m., the Oklahoma History Center will host Career Night for K-12 students and their families. Visitors will have the opportunity to meet and talk with professionals from a variety of fields, explore exhibits, and enjoy fun activities! This event is free, but registration is required. Click here to register.

A movie poster from the Disney production "Togo" with a photo of actor Willem Dafoe dressed in a heavy parka and a sled dog with snow falling

SNOW IN JULY?

Movie Night featuring Togo (2019)

The Will Rogers Memorial Museum (WRMM) in Claremore will host a Movie Night featuring the film Togo in its theater on Friday, July 28, at 7 p.m. Visit the WRMM to see the historical adventure film starring Willem Dafoe that tells the biographical story of Leonhard Seppälä (1877–1967) and one of his sled dogs, Togo. Escape the summer heat by watching this Alaskan drama unfold in the air-conditioned comfort of the WRMM theater. Guests can enjoy free admission, popcorn, and drinks while watching the film. Seating is limited, so early arrival is suggested. This event is FREE to attend, thanks to sponsorship of the Bank of Commerce. Please call 918-341-0719 for more information.

A cast iron cooking vessels with tied corn husk bundles on a fire—traditional Choctaw foodways being demonstrated.

HIDDEN OKLAHOMA

“Revitalizing Choctaw Traditional Art” presentation by Dr. Ian Thompson

On Wednesday, August 2, at 2 p.m. (Central Time), the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) will hold a free virtual webinar from the Hidden Oklahoma series entitled “Out of the Earth: Revitalizing Choctaw Traditional Art,” presented by Dr. Ian Thompson. From brain-tanned buffalo robes processed with stone tools to traditional meals cooked in shell-tempered pots made from Choctaw homeland clays, this presentation will share some of the exciting cultural revitalization work happening at Choctaw Nation. This work both informs and is informed by Indigenous archaeology. Click here to register for the free webinar.

"The People's House" documentary graphic showing the front facade and dome of the Oklahoma Capitol building

The People's House appearing at DocOKC Film Festival in August

On Friday, August 4, at 7 p.m., The People’s House: The Story of the Oklahoma State Capitol documentary will be screened at the DocOKC Film Festival at the Auditorium at the Douglass in Oklahoma City. It was directed by Oklahoma native Bryan Beasley and produced with support from the Inasmuch Foundation and the Oklahoma Historical Society (OHS).

The documentary features a spectacular four-minute drone tour of the Capitol with glimpses of the House floor, Senate floor, and Oklahoma Supreme Court, providing rare views of the building’s interior and exterior. It walks through the history of the Capitol, the importance of the building, the years-long restoration process, its resilience over the decades, and more. Interviewees include Trait Thompson, executive director of the OHS, former project manager for the Oklahoma Capitol Restoration Project, and author of The Oklahoma State Capitol; Dr. Bob Blackburn, former executive director of the OHS; former governors including George Nigh and Frank Keating; and Marilyn Luper Hildreth, daughter of Civil Rights leader Clara Luper. The piece is narrated by John Erling, a former Tulsa radio host inducted into the Oklahoma Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame and the founder of the Voices of Oklahoma project.

Viewers will need to purchase a day pass to attend the screening. Click here for more information.