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Monthly Newsletter
I N T H I S B U L L E T I N
From the Director
BHM: Notable Oklahomans
Resource Sharing
News & Announcements
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Dear Readers,
As we celebrate learning and literacy this February, let’s take a moment to honor those who make it all possible. Libraries have always been launching points for transformative services, from preserving history to empowering communities.
This month, in recognition of Black History Month, we highlight the contributions of remarkable individuals like Hannah Diggs Atkins. Atkins began her trailblazing career right here at the State Library before becoming a leader in public service and politics. Her story, along with others featured in this newsletter, showcases the enduring impact of Black Oklahomans on our state’s history and future.
We’re thrilled to share updates on the renovation of the Allen Wright Memorial Library building! Renovation preparation is underway and we will transition to virtual services and in-person visits by appointment only beginning March 8. During this time, we’ll be relocating our collections and staff to a temporary location.
We appreciate your patience and support as we take this next step. In the coming months, we’ll provide updates on the renovation and details about our temporary location, including how to access our services for government and libraries. Stay tuned—we can’t wait to welcome you back to an improved space!
Thank you for your support as we continue this journey together.
Happy reading,
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Natalie Currie
Director, State Librarian and Archivist
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The Gift of Reading and Learning
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Honoring Notable Oklahomans — This February, we celebrate Black History Month by highlighting six remarkable people whose legacies continue to shape our state today. This is not only a time to honor the contributions to art, science, and legislation made by Black Americans but also a time to acknowledge a centuries-long struggle for freedom and equal rights. From librarian to author, teacher to civil servant, these inspiring Oklahomans set examples of creativity, community service, and civic dedication.
Ralph Waldo Ellison (ca. 1914-1994)
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Oklahoma native Ralph Waldo Ellison became one of America’s most celebrated literary figures of the twentieth century. Ellison’s famous work Invisible Man received the 1953 National Book Award, making him the first African American to win the award. The Oklahoma Center for the Book's Ralph Ellison Award was created to posthumously honor individuals for outstanding contributions to Oklahoma’s literary heritage.
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Viola Ford Fletcher (ca. 1914-present)
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At the age of 110, Viola Ford Fletcher is one of the last living survivors of the Tulsa Race Massacre. She grew up in the thriving Greenwood district which was called Black Wall Street due to the prosperity of the community. In 2023, she visited the United Nations to share her memories and condemn the racially motivated violence that ended with her home's destruction. Over 300 lives were lost. She is a vital voice drawing much-needed insight from Oklahoma's past.
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Hannah Diggs Atkins (ca. 1923-2010)
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Before beginning her historic political career, Hannah Diggs Atkins worked as a librarian at the Oklahoma State Library. She became the first African American woman elected to the State House of Representatives in 1968. Her ground-breaking legislation championed mental health, civil rights, and education reform. Atkins went
on to serve as Secretary of State from 1987-1991. When Atkins passed in 2010, she left a legacy characterized by four decades of public service, outreach, and advocacy.
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Dr. Frederick Douglass Moon (ca. 1896-1975)
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Before Oklahoma became a state in 1907, Frederick Moon was born just outside of Oklahoma City. After graduating from Langston University,
he championed educational reform for children
in segregated schools. Throughout his career,
Moon took on civil leadership positions such as YMCA director, Douglass High School Principal,
and the first African American president of the Oklahoma City Education Board during the time
of nationwide desegregation.
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Clara Luper (ca. 1923-2011)
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Clara Luper taught history and public relations at several high schools across the state of Oklahoma. Her advocacy with the NAACP inspired a nonprofit called the Freedom Center of Oklahoma City. As Luper told reporters when it was founded, the center was meant to "provide opportunities for deprived children to grow up properly, to learn the value of self help, and to see the adult world supported by a sense of belonging.” Luper was a playwright, a radio host, a civil rights activist, and a dedicated educator.
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Green Irving Currin (ca. 1842-1918)
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Green I. Currin was the first African American
to serve in the Oklahoma Territorial Legislature.
Born in Tennessee, he lived in Nashville post-emancipation before joining the westward migration. Currin participated in the 1889 Land Run, claiming land in Kingfisher County, Oklahoma Territory. With strong Republican support, he was elected to the House of Representatives in 1890. Seeing increasing racial violence, Green I. Currin
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introduced the state's first civil rights legislation, House Bill 119, which failed by one vote. After one term, he continued public service as a U.S. deputy marshal and a regent for the Colored Agricultural and Normal College, now Langston University. For 19 years, he was grand master of the St. John Grand Lodge, A.F. & A.M. Masonic Order of Oklahoma. Green and his wife, Caroline, had five children.
For more information about these extraordinary figures, visit the Oklahoma Historical Society or your local library. Follow along on our social media page @ok_dept_of_libraries as we highlight Black History Month this February.
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Resources
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Oklahoma libraries can now apply for an LSTA grant of up to $4,000 that could cover the non-discounted portion of E-Rate Category Two funding.
This competitive grant will prioritize libraries with budgets under $1,500,000 as well as those not funded for Category Two in FY24. If you plan to replace network equipment such as Ethernet cabling, switches, or wireless access points, now is the time to start filing Form 470 as a bid request!
Important E-Rate Dates:
February 26: This is the last day to file Form 470. The form is required to request bids for eligible telecommunications and internet services. Remember, filing Form 470 only initiates the bidding process and does not commit you to a purchase. Cable installation is not eligible.
March 24: Those interested in applying for LSTA funding from ODL will need to submit a draft Form 471 by this date.
March 26: On March 26, the Form 471 filing window closes. Boost your library's connectivity goals by making a submission before then!
Have questions? Contact Rachel Walker at rachel.walker@libraries.ok.gov
or 405-522-5591 for help navigating the E-Rate process. Take advantage of these resources and secure funding for your library!
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News & Announcements
Agency Stories
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Health Resources That Save Lives
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Share Your Story with ODL
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Sharing ODL customer stories is a powerful advocacy tool for securing support from state and federal government. These narratives highlight the tangible impact archives and libraries have on communities, showcasing how they foster literacy, provide access to information, and support lifelong learning. By humanizing the data and statistics with real-world examples, these stories can effectively convey the value of library services and archives and records management, inspiring lawmakers to allocate funding and create policies that support and enhance these programs. Curious about what we've featured in the past? Check out our new Agency Stories page. Click the button below to share your story so we can advocate on behalf of your organization.
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