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THE JOHN AND ELEANOR KIRKPATRICK RESEARCH CENTER
Oklahoma Historical Society Military Records
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Since 1893, the Oklahoma Historical Society (OHS) has been collecting records that can help piece together the story of individual military service through a comprehensive collection of resources. Search through compiled military records of Revolutionary War soldiers to Civil War rosters, and documentation for those who served in World War I, World War II, Korea, and Vietnam.
The center’s reading room offers free access to multiple subscription websites, including Ancestry Library Edition®, Fold3, HeritageQuest™, Newspapers.com, and The Oklahoman Digital Archives, at no charge to the public! The John and Eleanor Kirkpatrick Research Center is a treasure trove of books, photographs, manuscripts, maps, newspapers, oral histories, audio, and video about Oklahoma history and culture.
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HONORING VETERANS - TODAY AT THE OKLAHOMA HISTORY CENTER!
The Shoemaker book discussion and signing with author Retired Major Joe Lee Todd
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In honor of Veterans Day, the Oklahoma Historical Society John and Eleanor Kirkpatrick Research Center will host a special presentation of The Shoemaker today, November 13, from 1 to 3 p.m. in the Musser Learning Lab at the Oklahoma History Center.
Oklahoma Military Hall of Fame member Retired Major Joe Lee Todd will discuss Louis Kerbel’s life and times. Todd is the author of The Shoemaker (2021, New Forums Press), a biography of Kerbel based on hours of recorded interviews.
Louis Kerbel (pictured left) was a Russian Jewish man born in Ukraine in 1888 in the village of Roshen. He worked as a shoemaker in Russia. Kerbel lived through unimaginable violence before coming to the United States in 1911 with only 75 cents in his pocket. In 1914, he moved to Oklahoma, where he opened a shoe shop in downtown Tulsa. Due to the violence he endured in Russia, Kerbel felt compelled to assist many African Americans during the Tulsa Race Massacre in 1921 by concealing them in his shoe shop.
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Washington Irving expeditions subject of Fort Gibson's November living history programs |
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The living history programs in November at Fort Gibson Historic Site will focus on American author Washington Irving (1783–1859) and the expeditions he joined during the 1830s, leaving from Fort Gibson. The fort was the westernmost US military outpost at that time—established 200 years ago in 1824. The expeditions took place only eight years after the construction of Fort Gibson.
The programs will be held on November 14–16, and 21–23, from 10 a.m. to noon and from 1 to 4 p.m.
Washington Irving published the American classic A Tour on the Prairies in 1835. The book was based on notes he took during an expedition to what later became Oklahoma in the autumn of 1832 when it was still defined as Indian Territory.
Irving was accompanied by US Indian Commissioner H. L. Ellsworth (1791–1858), British explorer Charles J. Latrobe (1801–75), and Swiss nobleman Count Albert-Alexandre de Pourtalès (1812–61). This group made westward excursions from Fort Gibson, exploring the lands west of the fort including the areas we now define as Guthrie, Tulsa, Muscogee, Arcadia, Oklahoma City, and Norman, among others.
The living history programs are included with paid admission to the site. For more information, please call 918-478-4088.
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History Symposium proposal deadline is this Friday! |
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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 deadline for submissions for the 2025 Oklahoma History Symposium is Friday, November 15, 2024. Proposals must be submitted online.
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On Thursday, March 20, 2025, the Oklahoma Historical Society will honor award recipients and Oklahoma Historians Hall of Fame inductees at our annual Awards Banquet held at the Oklahoma History Center in Oklahoma City. The Oklahoma Historical Society (OHS) is now accepting nominations for several awards.
Visit okhistory.org/awards for full details and to download nomination forms. Instructions for submission are included on each form.
The nomination deadline is two days away on Friday, November 15, 2024.
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Freedmen at Fort Gibson for enrollment before the Dawes Commission, Fort Gibson, Indian Territory (15807, Aylesworth Album Collection, OHS). |
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Freedmen history focus of Fort Gibson exhibit
An exhibit featuring Freedmen history will open on Saturday, November 16 at the Fort Gibson Historic Site.
The exhibit covers a brief historical moment in the late 1800s when formerly enslaved people from across the territory traveled to Fort Gibson to be enrolled in the Dawes Rolls. The Fort Gibson staff has worked directly with Freedmen descendants to curate the photographs of the Freedmen exhibit. For more information, follow Fort Gibson on Facebook.
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THIS FRIDAY!!
“National Register of Historic Places: Overview” webinar
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On Friday, November 15, from 10 a.m. to noon, the State Historic Preservation Office will host a webinar featuring an overview of working with the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). Lynda Ozan, deputy director of the State Historic Preservation Office will be the featured presenter.
NRHP is the foundation of the SHPO’s programs, and a basic understanding of the register is essential for those involved in historic preservation at all levels of government and in the private sector. This workshop provides detailed information about what listing in the National Register means, what criteria is required, the rights of property owners in the nomination process, and the seven aspects of integrity.
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Explore Native American History at OHS
November is Native American Heritage Month. The Oklahoma Historical Society has multiple resources for discovering Oklahoma’s Native history, culture, stories, and people. Visit the Native American history page on the OHS website to explore our archives, newspapers, oral histories, podcast episodes, historic places, noted landmarks, and educational tools. You can also read about Oklahoma’s remarkable Native actors, performers, artists, musicians, writers, historians, and athletes.
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Thanksgiving is around the corner, so the next time you are visiting the Oklahoma History Center Museum (OHCM) to view the exhibits, remember to take a look inside the OHCM Store to find cute and cuddly plush animals to toys, stocking stuffers, books, gifts, souvenirs, and specialty items. All proceeds from store sales help to fund and support the mission and programs of the museum. Shop our site online day or night!
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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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Masthead image: World War II ration stamps from War Ration Book Four, printed and distributed in booklets by the US Office of Price Administration. The booklets were distributed to "every eligible man, woman, child, and baby in the United States" in an effort to address shortages of supplies and foods. Learn more about rationing during World War II in Oklahoma through The Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture.
(1995.032.1.8.006, 1995.032.1.8.007, 1995.032.1.8.008, Willis Collection, Oklahoma Historical Society).
Veterans’ photos:
Left to right, Corporal Scott and Mrs. Scott (18876.B.2, Union Room Collection, OHS), a windowful of soldiers' pictures, the sign in window reads: "Write to the boys each week," label no. 99403 (2022.002.147, Okeene Historical Preservation Group Collection, OHS), Veterans of four wars from Geary, Oklahoma Front: O. P. Ruth, Spanish-American War; Mr. Everest, American Civil War. Back: Pearl Johnson, World War II; “Red” Young, World War I (20315.23.9, Kent Ruth Collection, OHS), World War I soldiers on a train (ERL.579, El Reno Carnegie Library Collection, OHS).
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