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Oklahoma Historical Society Award Nominations Open! |
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The Oklahoma Historical Society (OHS) is now accepting nominations for the following awards through November 15.
Oklahoma Historians Hall of Fame – Honors individuals for distinguished and long-term contributions to Oklahoma history. Inductees receive the Oklahoma Historians Hall of Fame medal and their biography published in The Chronicles of Oklahoma.
Bruce T. Fisher Award – Awards the significant contributions of an individual or organization for Oklahoma history projects completed in the previous year with a budget of $20,000 or below. Recipients receive a commemorative plaque.
Linda Williams Reese Award – Recognizes an outstanding dissertation or thesis on Oklahoma history completed in the previous year. Recipients receive $500 and a plaque of recognition. Due by December 15th to coincide with academic schedules.
Joseph B. Thoburn Award – Awarded to a junior or senior high school student who exhibits outstanding achievements in the presentation or interpretation of state and local history. Recipients receive $500 and a plaque of recognition.
William D. Pennington Award – Presented to an outstanding social studies teacher who demonstrates effective teaching by any measure of excellence. Recipients receive $500 and a plaque of recognition.
The OHS encourages individuals and organizations to nominate others or self-apply. Membership to the OHS is not required to nominate or receive an award. Awardees will be honored at the annual OHS Awards Banquet on Thursday, March 20, 2025.
Visit okhistory.org/awards for full details and to download nomination forms. Instructions for submission are included on forms. For more information, contact Angela Spindle at angela.spindle@history.ok.gov or 405-522-0472.
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The 2025 Oklahoma History Symposium will be held on May 3, 2025, at the Oklahoma History Center in Oklahoma City. Sponsored by the Oklahoma Historical Society, the symposium is a one-day event encompassing a range of historical topics pertaining to Oklahoma. It provides a venue for scholars, students, educators, public history professionals, and the interested public from across the state and region to share their work and interests with others.
The 2025 symposium will center on the theme “Oklahoma in Context.” The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines context as “the interrelated conditions in which something exists or occurs.”[1] With this definition in mind, the program committee welcomes proposals that place Oklahoma history within broader regional, political, or social contexts. We encourage submissions that apply Oklahoma history beyond the confines of territorial or state boundaries. Submissions that place a well-known narrative or individual under a different lens of interpretation are welcome. Further, we actively seek presentations that amplify the voices and stories of those currently underrepresented in Oklahoma history.
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Session formats may include: |
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Session formats include individual presentations, panel presentations (limit five participants), discussion sessions, and roundtables (limit five participants). Proposed sessions must be either 30 or 45 minutes in length, including ten minutes for audience questions and answers. More information can be found at okhistory.org/symposium.
The deadline for submissions is November 15, 2024, and proposals must be submitted online.
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Explore past events
See previous presentations given at the Oklahoma History Symposium now available on YouTube.
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About the Oklahoma Historical Society |
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The mission of the Oklahoma Historical Society is to collect, preserve, and share the history and culture of the state of Oklahoma and its people.
The Oklahoma Historical Society (OHS) was founded on May 27, 1893, by members of the Territorial Press Association. In 1918 the OHS was relocated to the State Capitol, and in 1930 moved to the Wiley Post building. In 2005 came the opening of the Oklahoma History Center in Oklahoma City. Over the years the OHS has developed numerous collections, programs, research centers, museums, historic homes, and military sites across the state.
The OHS is an agency of the State of Oklahoma and a private membership organization governed by a Board of Directors.
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NOMINATIONS OPEN:
OHS Board of Directors election
Your voice is crucial in shaping the future of the Oklahoma Historical Society (OHS). We invite you to nominate yourself or someone you know for the OHS Board of Directors. This is a unique opportunity to help guide the organization's mission to collect, preserve, and share our state's rich history.
With 25 members—13 elected by OHS members and 12 appointed by the governor—the board ensures fair representation across Oklahoma. Candidates must reside in Oklahoma, be active OHS members for at least two years, and serve three-year terms. Nominations are open until October 15, 2024, with elections in spring 2025.
Make a difference in how our history is preserved for future generations. For more information about the election process and nominations, please review the OHS Board of Directors page, or contact Angela Spindle at angela.spindle@history.ok.gov or 405-522-0472.
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Grant applications now open
The Oklahoma Heritage Preservation Grant Program is a grants-in-aid program offered by the Oklahoma Historical Society (OHS) with a goal of encouraging the collection, preservation, and sharing of Oklahoma history at the grassroots level in all parts of the state. Applications for the 2024/2025 grant cycle will close on November 1.
The Oklahoma Historical Society will host an online workshops on Monday, September 9, at 3 p.m. to inform the public about the Oklahoma Heritage Preservation Grant Program application process. The online workshops are free, but participants are asked to register in advance.
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September 15 to October 15 is National Hispanic Heritage Month!
On Tuesday, September 24, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., the Oklahoma Historical Society will highlight the history, heritage, and contributions of the Hispanic/Latino community in Oklahoma with this year’s “Presente in Oklahoma!” event.
The registration deadline is Thursday, September 19, at 11:59 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online. Registration is $50 for Oklahoma Historical Society members and $75 for nonmembers.
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The 2024 Folklife Festival at the Oklahoma History Center (OHC) will be held on Saturday, October 5, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. This event is free and open to the public.
This festival is designed to engage visitors with opportunities to experience other cultures and traditions.
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COMING SOON!
Research Center Book Sale
The Oklahoma Historical Society’s (OHS) John and Eleanor Kirkpatrick Research Center will host its annual book sale Wednesday, October 2, through Saturday, October 5, at the Oklahoma History Center, located at 800 Nazih Zuhdi Dr. in Oklahoma City. The sale will be open from 10 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, and from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday.
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"School of the Soldier" programs
The Fort Gibson Historic Site will hold living history programs in September. They will be held on September 12–13 and 19–21 from 10:00 a.m. to noon and again from 1 to 4 p.m. Fort Gibson Historic Site staff will center the programs on the theme of “School of the Soldier: Basic 1830s Drills.”
During the military outpost’s September programs, visitors can expect to see and participate in various drills, learn the techniques and importance of proper weapons maintenance, including cleaning, and more.
The programs will be held in Fort Gibson Historic Site’s stockade, located at 110 N. Ash St., and are included in the price of admission.
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Pictures on the Plaza: Meet Me in St. Louis (1944)
On Saturday, September 14, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., the Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center in Enid will screen the 1944 classic Meet Me in St. Louis, featuring Judy Garland, on the plaza grounds as part of the “Pictures on the Plaza” event series. Guests are encouraged to bring their own seating. Admission for the outdoor screening is $7 for guests and free for children 5 years old and under. For more information, call 580-237-1907.
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Cyanotypes with Jim Meeks
On Saturday, September 14, from 1 to 4 p.m. the Oklahoma History Center in Oklahoma City will host a class all about creating cyanotypes, which is one of the oldest photographic printing processes. It uses sunlight and water to create unique impressions.
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1850s Carpenter Workshop at Hunter's Home
A workshop on Saturday, September 14, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Hunter’s Home will teach visitors how someone would begin as a carpenter in the 1850s. A carpenter’s skill was not developed overnight. They spent years learning their trade, usually by becoming apprentices and advancing to be a more experienced carpenter. The workshop is free, and no admission is required. For more details, call 918-456-2751.
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Follow the OHS website calendar to learn about all of our events and programs at OHS museums and historic sites across the state! |
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Connect with the Oklahoma Historical Society on social media—where you can learn more about Oklahoma history and get up-to-date information about events and exhibits across the state!
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