OHS Acquires the Jerry L. Cornelius Photography Collection Pawnee
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Vol. 50, No. 4 Published bimonthly by the Oklahoma Historical Society, serving since 1893 July/August 2019 OHS acquires the Jerry L. Cornelius Pawnee Bill’s Original Wild West Show Photography Collection postponed, will be held in July The Oklahoma Historical Society (OHS) recently acquired On May 31 the Oklahoma His- the Jerry L. Cornelius Photography Collection from the Cor- torical Society announced that nelius family. The collection contains more than 19,000 photo Pawnee Bill’s Original Wild West negatives and digital images. The photographs are primarily of Show would be postponed until people and places in Tulsa and the surrounding area from the Friday, July 26, and Saturday, 1950s through the early 21st century. The collection will be July 27. Preshow entertainment archived by the OHS, and through OKPOP the collection will begins at 7 p.m. and the Wild remain with the Tulsa community. The OHS eventually will dig- West Show starts at 7:30 p.m. itize and catalog the negatives, making the collection search- each evening. The show, origi- able on The Gateway to Oklahoma History website at gateway. nally scheduled for June 7–8, okhistory.org. has been postponed due to the Jerry L. Cornelius, a professional photographer in Tulsa for unprecedented rain and flooding more than 50 years, owned and operated Cornelius Photogra- across Oklahoma. phy and Cornelius Photocraft. He was a third-generation pro- “It was a difficult decision to fessional photographer, and his family spanned more than 100 make, but the safety of our per- years of professional photography in Oklahoma. His father, formers and spectators is our Meyers A. Cornelius, and his great-uncle, Z. P. Meyers, were first priority,” said show director commercial photographers. The Z. P. Meyers/Barney Hiller- Mona Denney. “The Pawnee area has received almost 21 inches man Photographic Collection is one of the largest photography of rain and more is predicted almost every day through the first collections currently archived by the OHS. week of June. This much rain makes the arena slippery and Cornelius was a graduate of Tulsa’s Will Rogers High School dangerous for both our human and animal performers.” and the University of Oklahoma. At age 29, Cornelius became According to Pawnee Bill Ranch and Museum manager Ron the youngest president of the Oklahoma chapter of the Profes- Brown, “Staff at the ranch will be contacting those who have sional Photographers of America (PPA). He also held two PPA purchased advance tickets for the June 7–8 performances to designations, Master of Photography and Photographic Crafts- find out if they would like a refund or if they wish to keep their man. Cornelius was a longtime member of the Tulsa Rotary tickets for the new date.” Club, and he was a driving force in the Rotary’s effort to acquire, “We anticipate being able to reopen the Pawnee Bill mansion preserve, and catalog the Beryl Ford Collection photographs, a for the new show dates,” continued Brown. “The mansion has significant collection of photographs of historic Tulsa. Corne- been closed to the public for extensive stabilization and resto- lius was the executive director of the Ford Collection for several ration work. The rainfall has delayed the project completion so years. He passed away in 2016. we were not going to be able to have the mansion open for the “The Jerry L. Cornelius Photography Collection will enhance original dates of the show.” the already considerable photographic legacy established by This year’s show will celebrate the theme “Women of the Wild his family at the OHS, which began with the acquisition of the West Shows.” Through the years, many talented women were Z. P. Meyers/Barney Hillerman Photographic Collection in featured in Wild West Shows. They performed dangerous and 1998. Additionally, the images will contribute to telling the sto- daring feats on horseback, and proved to be just as good as ry of Tulsa through a professional lens, which parallels what their male counterparts. As true pioneers, they challenged the Cornelius’s uncle, Z. P. Meyers, did for Oklahoma City,” said traditional roles of women in the 19th century. Rachel Mosman, OHS photo and digital assets manager. Anyone holding tickets can contact the ranch for a refund Jerry Cornelius’s three daughters, Janet Carmichael, Jamie or to let them know they plan to attend on the new date. The Danias, and Andrea Spencer, noted his love of history and its phone number at the ranch is 918-762-2513. Rain and con- connection to his chosen profession. struction have caused frequent outages of the phone service. If For more information please contact Rachel Mosman at you are unable to reach the ranch by phone, you can contact [email protected] or 405-522-5208. them by email at [email protected]. “We want to thank our supporters and the many performers for their patience. The show will go on—just with a new date,” stated Brown. To purchase tickets or for more information, please call 918- 762-2513 or email [email protected]. No tickets can be purchased online. Advance tickets are $14 for adults, $12 for seniors ages 65 and older, $10 for children ages 4–10, and free for children ages 3 and under. Groups of 20 or more qualify for a group rate of $12 per person. For $22 you can purchase the full package, which includes a water bottle, a program, and a ringside reserved seat. On the day of the show, tickets are $15 for adults. Pawnee Bill Ranch and Museum is located at 1141 Pawnee Bill Road in Pawnee. McCall, will work with Route 66 advocates base appropriation, so this action fulfills to focus efforts on historic preservation, a pledge made to us at that time. Fund- community participation, and greater ing for the History Center will replace the awareness of the road’s significance in roof, reseal the exterior, and repair major both economic development and popular components in a building that is quickly culture. approaching its 20th birthday. Director’s Lieutenant Governor Pinnell, who re- Finally and most importantly, the OHS column quested language for the bill, will serve received funding to launch the Heritage as chairman of the commission as part Preservation Grant Program that will of his greater campaign to promote heri- assist local historical societies and muse- tage tourism. Many state agencies will ums with care of collections, creation of be involved, with staff support from the exhibits, and development of educational OHS and the Oklahoma Tourism and programs. By building capacity at small Recreation Department. museums, the OHS has a chance to share Funding also was appropriated for the best practices that have been gained over By Dr. Bob L. Blackburn Tulsa Race Massacre Centennial Com- the past 30 years. Executive Director mission. Based on plans coordinated by Yes, I have written too many columns For the past nine years I have writ- Senator Kevin Matthews, the funding will about budget cuts. It is a pleasure to ten a number of columns describing be leveraged with private grants to de- write one that provides a map for forward our efforts to absorb major budget cuts velop exhibits, programs, walking tours, progress. without threatening higher standards and events to draw state and national and disrupting long-range plans. It is a attention to the consequences of racism relief to report that we have a welcome and the politics of hate and fear. The opportunity to gain back some of the lost OHS, which coordinated the Oklahoma ground with an increase in state funding. Commission to Study the Tulsa Race Riot “Oklahoma’s Medal Several legislators and members of from 1997 to 2001, will provide staff sup- of Honor Recipients” Governor Kevin Stitt’s team stepped up port. to help us this year. The Stafford Air and Space Museum is presentation in Altus In the House, key advocates included another partner receiving funds through Representatives Kevin Wallace and Carl the OHS appropriation, as part of a three- On Thursday, July 18, at 7 p.m. the Newton. In the Senate, key supporters way collaboration to move the Gemini VI Museum of the Western Prairie in Al- were Senators Roger Thompson and spacecraft to that museum and bring to tus will host a presentation about Okla- Darcy Jech. On the governor’s team, the Oklahoma History Center the last homa’s Medal of Honor recipients. Jody encouragement came from our Cabinet Apollo spacecraft to fly to Skylab. The Turner of Enid, Oklahoma, will review the Secretary Matt Pinnell and budget direc- Apollo, flown by Okemah’s Bill Pogue, history of the Medal of Honor from the tor Mike Mazie. I want to say thank you has been on display in the Smithsonian Civil War through the most recent mili- to them and their colleagues. National Air and Space Museum since tary conflicts, focusing on the interesting In addition to funding critical projects, the 1970s. and inspiring stories of Oklahomans who legislation created the Oklahoma Route Critical repair and maintenance funds have earned the oldest US military award 66 Centennial Commission to plan for were appropriated for the Will Rogers Me- for bravery. Turner is a veteran of the US the 100th anniversary of Route 66 in morial Museum and the Oklahoma His- Air Force with 21 years of service. She is 2026. The seven commission members, tory Center. The Memorial Museum was also a history buff who has done exten- appointed by Governor Stitt, Lieutenant transferred to the OHS three years ago sive research on the Medal of Honor. This Governor Pinnell, and Speaker Charles without repair funds embedded in our program is free and open to the public, and refreshments will be served.