Vol. 37, No. 8 Published monthly by the Oklahoma Historical Society, serving since 1893 August 2006
Fort Gibson staff conducts archaeological remote sensing project
Locating the original site of the Fort Gib- cord and from previous archaeological sur- son stockade has been the goal for histori- vey work. On February 17 the Oklahoma ans, among them the staff at the Fort Gib- Archaeological Survey’s Dr. Lee Bement son Historic Site, for decades. Sparse and brought an hydraulic coring device to sam- conflicting information from the past does ple various sites. The soil cores pulled from not provide clues for a definitive location. the ground yielded clues to subsurface Researchers could only speculate, and they strata and materials that helped narrow needed more clues. Traditional excavation the later geophysical search areas. In June is too intrusive and labor intensive. Enter the site’s staff laid out rope-defined grids The dredge barges are sitting on sand modern scientific methods of investigation. over which four different types of data col- dunes created by removing sand from the lection instruments were used. These in- wreck (Staff photo). cluded resistivity and conductivity meters, a magnetometer, and a Red River wreck update ground-penetrating radar unit. Each instrument electronically The 2006 season for the Red River Wreck probed the subsurface and pro- Archaeology Project began in June with a vided data that downloaded to a one-month field school session. The steam- computer program. This informa- boat Heroine had hit a snag and had sunk tion is combined to produce over- in the Red River in May 1838, while deliver- laying maps depicting what lies ing provisions to the garrison at Fort beneath the surface. Towson. The project to recover information DeVore will process the infor- about Oklahoma’s only nautical archaeo- mation and present his interpre- logical find is being conducted through a tations of the data in a report due collaboration between the Oklahoma His- this fall. Initial analysis indicates torical Society, the Institute of Nautical Ar- several locations that hold the chaeology, and Texas A&M University. Be- promise of providing information sides INA staff and students, OHS divers that may help locate the buried John Davis (OHS Field Manager) and remnants of the fort’s original Howard McKinnis were assisted topside at stockade. various times by staffers Jim Argo, Larry OHS staff member Gary Moore operates the Marcy, William Vandever, and Bob Rea. ground-penetrating radar equipment (Staff photo). Since 2003 a field school has been held for TAMU student archaeologists who have The Fort Gibson Historic Site, worked under demanding conditions while which is a designated National dredging, retrieving artifacts, and measur- Historic Landmark, received a Na- ing and recording the wreck. Heat, water tional Park Service Heritage Part- currents, and very limited visibility provide nerships Program grant to fund a everyday challenges. Much of the project’s geophysical survey of areas that success is attributed to their hard work. were suspected of holding poten- Kevin Crisman, INA project director, tial clues. During the week of deemed this June’s session a success. June 6–9 Steve DeVore, of the NPS Drought conditions in Oklahoma have con- Midwest Regional Archaeology tributed to lower water levels on the Red Center, conducted a thorough, River, thus providing for better diving opera- systematic search in and around tions. Information and artifacts from the the replica WPA–era stockade, us- wreck have shed light on early steamboat ing various electronic instru- technology and everyday life on the river. Ar- ments. Assisting him were OHS tifacts retrieved during the session are un- staff members Bob Rea, David dergoing conservation treatment at the Fowler, Gary Moore, and Rory TAMU/INA lab in Bryan, Texas. One find Montgomery. was the snag that punctured the hull. The log was 12 feet long by 2.5 feet in diameter. The lack of historic documenta- OHS staff member Gary Moore receiving instruction tion and much site disturbance in in equipment operation from Steve DeVore of the Another work session on the river will be the modern era presented prob- National Park Service Midwest Regional Archaeology held during September and early October lems for the search team. The ini- Center (Staff photo). to continue to study the steamboat and its tial planning consisted of informa- contents. A main goal of that session will be tion gleaned from the historical re- to remove the steamboat’s unique drive mechanism. vices. For example, every eighth-grader in OMH volunteers’ field trip! the Moore school system (1,600 of them), participated in the Civil War outreach The Oklahoma Museum of History Vol- programming. unteer Services Program is alive and thriv- For those who come to the Oklahoma ing in the Oklahoma History Center. Re- Director’s History Center, the difference between the cently 41 of the 120 OMH volunteers OHS’s home of a year ago and the one of to- boarded a bus to travel to three museums Column day is truly like the difference between in Oklahoma: the Chisholm Trail Museum night and day. The new building is bright, in Kingfisher, the Route 66 Museum in sunlit, and inviting. Its public areas really Clinton, and the Thomas P. Stafford Air please the people who enter the building. and Space Museum in Weatherford. When they go through the exhibits in the This volunteer “field trip” was the idea of Oklahoma Museum of History, they come OMH Volunteer Coordinator Robbin Davis. By Bob L. Blackburn out full of enthusiasm for Oklahoma. Davis, hired in July of 2005 to originate the Executive Director If you haven’t taken the opportunity to OMH Volunteer Services Program, de- visit the new History Center and see what signed the expedition as a way for the vol- your support has made possible, I encour- We’re approaching the height of the sum- unteers to not only get to know the muse- age you to come. I guarantee you won’t be ums, but also to get to know each other. mer season, and we’ve realized that the disappointed. Oklahoma Historical Society and its various “People volunteer for a variety of rea- All of the OHS’s museums, sites, and sons,” said Davis. “They are interested in sites and museums are becoming more and houses are going to see significant im- more important as tourist destinations. the subject matter, have a desire to ‘give provements in their programming and back’ to their community, to make personal It’s truly remarkable that thousands of maintenance during the coming year. Oklahomans and visitors from other states and professional connections, and also to As we now approach the Centennial Year socialize and meet new friends. The field are really hungry for the kinds of informa- of 2007, the OHS will begin offering a vari- tion that we can provide. And it’s very grati- trip was an excellent way to do that.” ety of commemorative activities. OMH volunteers give educational tours, fying for us to be constantly improving our As for the future, I predict that genera- means of educating the public. act as gallery hosts and greeters at the tions of Oklahomans are going to thank OHC, and provide support to the OMH col- From its grand opening in mid-November you for helping make all of this possible. and through the end of April, more than lections staff and administrative offices. 100,000 people have visited new Oklahoma There are currently 120 active volunteers, History Center—thousands more than had who have served a total of more than 6,000 visited our “old” headquarters building on hours since September of 2005, when the Lincoln Boulevard. program originated. By the end of the school year, more than The Volunteer Services Program began 41,000 Oklahoma youth had participated last fall as a way to provide support staff to in all aspects of the OHS’s educational ser- the educational programs of the Oklahoma Museum of History. Earlier this year the program received a $5,000 Capacity Build- ing Grant from the Oklahoma City Com- Development News munity Foundation. Through part of the grant funding, Davis recently attended the By Tim Zwink National Conference on Volunteering and Service in Seattle, Washington. Along with 2,000 other attendees, she participated in a I’m pleased to be able to announce a new variety of workshops on volunteer programs. fundraiser—the Centennial Coin. This collect- For more information about the OMH ible coin soon will be available for purchase. Volunteer Services Program, please call Scheduled for release in September, the coin Davis at 405/522-0754 or e-mail her at commemorates the 100th anniversary of Oklahoma statehood.
A collection of letters written and received by John Ross (1797–1866), prin- cipal chief of the Cherokee Nation from 1828 until his death in 1866, are a significant keystone of the Oklahoma Historical Society’s archives [82.01, 1 document box, .3 cu. ft.]. This correspondence dates from 1829 until 1865, or from preremoval through the Civil War. Many of the letters, but not all, have been transcribed in The Papers of Chief John Ross, compiled by Gary E. Moulton. Moulton’s multivolume work is also available for viewing at the Re- search Library. Several nationally and locally well-known men and women were writers or recipients of these missives, including George Lowrey, Joseph Coodey, Rich- ard Fields, Evan Jones, Winfield Scott, John Bushyhead, Roman Nose, John Quincy Adams, Roley McIntosh, and Mary Stapler Ross. An example of the many subjects discussed by the correspondents is the December 27, 1832, letter to Ross from B. B. Wisner of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions (not in the Moulton books). Wisner urges Ross to accept the treaty terms offered by the U.S. government to the Cherokees to leave their homeland for another country west of the Mississippi River. These letters exchange both personal and business information, framing nearly fifty years of Indian Territory development. By combining these with the other letters contained in Moulton’s two volumes, a researcher can culti- vate a better understanding of Cherokee politics and of the social and political atmosphere of nineteenth-century eastern Oklahoma. Copies of the letters held by OHS can be viewed in the reading room, with the originals remaining safely in collections storage.
OHS Faces... and other such events and, with Ralph Jones, has written a National Park Service Mike Adkins, Education Director, Oklahoma Museum of History curriculum on the Battle of Honey Springs. Mistletoe Leaves asked Adkins to de- scribe the favorite aspect of his job: “This If you see museum educator Mike classroom. My first attempts were fur trap- last question is easy! I love to get students Adkins at work outside the “office environ- cowboy, Civil War soldier, and Indian per, excited about Oklahoma history. I love to ment,” you probably won’t recognize him. Wars cavalryman.” He will be portraying one of dozens of his- Mistletoe Leaves asked Adkins when and torical character types, and a hundred or how he switched from just “looking like” an so children will be sitting in front of him, historical personage to actually “acting like mesmerized. one” and “getting into Adkins, a Tulsa na- character”: “I started tive, attended Okla- doing ‘third person’ homa State University [’he’ or ‘they’] but soon and received a BA in changed to the ‘first political science in person’ format [’I’ or 1972 and an MS in ‘we’].” He began using secondary education the language and ter- (history emphasis) in minology of the day 1974. He has taught a and describing activi- wide range of sub- ties as if he had just jects, including an- done them. “My first cient, Oklahoma, and attempt was even be- make the history come alive for them and American history, so- fore I worked at Fron- for them to want to know more about our ciology, psychology, tier City. In 1978, state.” and government. After when I portrayed John The museum’s education staff served beginning his career Wilkes Booth, I “shot” more than 41,000 persons in all aspects of in 1974 in Oklahoma President Lincoln dur- Educational Services from the beginning of City at Central Junior High, he went on to ing a school-wide Civil War festival.” the 2005–2006 school year and by July of teach at Moore High School. He spent the Named Oklahoma’s State Teacher of the 2006. last twelve years of his teaching career at Year for 1988–89, Adkins has also received Westmoore High School. Teacher of the Year Awards from the DAR, Mistletoe Leaves asked Adkins how he Oklahoma Jaycees, State PTA, Daughters of decided to be a costumed historical inter- the Colonial Wars, and the Oklahoma preter: “I started interpretive living history Council for Social Studies. in 1979 at Central and continued with the Six years ago OHS hired him to be Direc- two high schools. I started because I had a tor of Education for the Oklahoma Mu- summer job at Frontier City doing the gun- seum of History. In addition, he volunteers fights and began bringing them into the for OHS–sponsored battle reenactments 1931 Ford Victoria OHS Places... donated to Chisholm Fort Gibson Trail Museum P.O. Box 457 A few months ago Wesley Estill of Albu- 907 North Garrison, State Highway 80 Fort Gibson, OK 74434-0457 querque, New Mexico, was in Kingfisher at Phone: 918/478-4088 the Chisholm Trail Museum to conduct re- Hours: Summer (April 15–Sept.14): search on his family. He mentioned that he Tues.–Sun.,10 a.m.–5 p.m. owns a 1931 Ford Victoria and wanted to Winter (Sept.15–April 14): find just the right home for it. Thurs.–Sun.,10 a.m.–5 p.m. Admission: Adults $3; Seniors (age 65+) $2.50; He decided to give it to the Chisholm Students (ages 6–18) $1; Trail Museum. Because the car had trav- Children (5 and under) free. eled the roads across America and because the museum in Kingfisher stands for a time Fort Gibson was the first U.S. military post established in the area that became when travel through Oklahoma was signifi- Oklahoma. In 1824 Col. Matthew Arbuckle, commander of the Seventh Infantry at Fort cant in the lives of so many people, he Smith, Arkansas, established Cantonment Gibson on the Grand River, near its confluence wanted “Vicki” to be in Kingfisher, where with the Arkansas River. Originally intended to keep peace on the frontier, the fort also his family had settled. On July 4, 2006, served as a destination point when the Five Civilized Tribes were removed from the south- Victoria represented the museum in the eastern United States to Indian Territory during the 1820s and 1830s. In 1832 the canton- annual Fourth of July parade down King- ment was renamed Fort Gibson, and it became a staging area for military expeditions such fisher’s Main Street. as the Dodge-Leavenworth Expedition of 1834. During the Civil War (1861–65), the fort was After the parade, the car was delivered to first occupied by Confederate troops until Fort Davis was established across the Arkansas the museum, with the friends group wait- River. Union troops then occupied Fort Gibson and temporarily renamed it Fort Blunt. ing to maneuver her into her new home, Fort Gibson’s former commissary serves as the visitors’ center. Other structures with which they accomplished very well. public access include the barracks, the hospital, the bakery, the stockade, married officers’ quarters, the library, and the mess house. Visitors will see a reconstructed log fort and out- buildings reminiscent of the early 1800s and learn about the fort’s historical significance during its sixty-six years of existence. In the early 1920s local residents clamored to preserve the fort’s history. During the 1930s the stockade area was reconstructed through the efforts of the Fort Gibson Stockade Commission and through funding from President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal pro- grams. Fort Gibson is operated by the Oklahoma Historical Society and is listed as a Na- tional Historic Landmark. In 1966 the fort was listed in the National Register of Historic Places (NR 66000631). Annual events include a Victorian Valentine Workshop in February, a Public Bake Day in March, Old Fort Days Heritage Festival in April, Mexican War Fall Encampment in October, Ladies’ Camp of Instruction in November, and a Candlelight Tour in December.
Memorial Hall in Kingfisher houses city Estill summed up his feelings for the car Historic black gymnasium offices. Its significance lies less in its archi- and what it represents to him: and memorial hall are listed tecture, although it was designed by “It is my great honor to bring this classic Layton, Smith & Forsyth, the same firm automobile, a piece of 20th-century Ameri- in National Register that designed the state’s Capitol, but in can history, to a new home at the Chisholm The State Historic Preservation Office is what it represents. The Memorial Hall was Trail Museum in Kingfisher, Oklahoma. pleased to announce that two Oklahoma constructed to pay homage to Kingfisher This original 1931 Ford Model A Victoria properties were recently added to the Na- County men who fought and died in the was born 75 years ago and would have trav- tional Register of Historic Places, the federal First World War. That war spawned a great eled across Route 66 through Oklahoma government’s official list of properties signifi- wave of memorial building, including the during the Depression and the Dust Bowl cant in American his- stadia at the universities on route to California. Like the pioneer fami- tory. L’Ouverture Gym- in Stillwater and Norman, lies of Oklahoma (including my ancestors, nasium in McAlester and as well as countless stat- the Lehenbauers and the Estills), it survived the Kingfisher Memorial ues, plaques, and monu- the hardship of extreme weather conditions Hall are now included. ments. Kingfisher’s Me- and a struggling economy. L’Ouverture Gymna- morial Hall, completed in “I have owned the car for 15 years and sium is a native-stone 1921, was the state’s first have always considered myself ‘a caretaker’ building constructed in large-scale memorial pro- of this wonderful piece of Americana. I the winter of 1934–35 ject. As such, it rode the found Victoria in a dusty garage in north- by laborers employed crest of a wave of memo- ern California and purchased her. I knew through the Civil Works rial building that touched she was special because she was all there, Authority, an early New every corner of Oklahoma. her parts were all original, and she just Deal works agency. The The State Historic Pres- needed a little TLC to bring her back to life. school was McAlester’s ervation Office continues I brought her first to New Mexico and now “Separate” school, and to strive to gain recogni- back home to Oklahoma. the gym also served the tion for places that are “It is fitting that Victoria be driven in the African American popu- significant in our history. Fourth of July parade to commemorate our lation of the city as a so- These two disparate prop- country’s birthday. She has been photo- cial center. Empty and erties add to the compen- graphed by thousands and even saluted by threatened for many years, the gymnasium dium of the state’s documented history. For some of our veterans on Memorial Day. has recently been leased from the information on these or other National Reg- “Treat her like a lady; Vicki’s not fast, but McAlester Schools by the L’Ouverture ister properties, call SHPO Architectural she’s grand at 75 years old. Besides, peo- Alumni Association of Oklahoma City, who Historian Jim Gabbert at 405/522-4478 or ple want to see her, so give them a chance.” are raising funds for needed roof repairs. e-mail him at
The future has arrived. OHS members Newspaper Articles. From those screens, Many other institutions around the na- and researchers throughout the nation will you may enter search terms/keywords and tion have also installed Star/Archives. soon benefit from a new, state-of-the-art follow the links to the information you’re Cincinnati Historical Society Library, Uni- research tool that’s been instituted by the seeking. versity of California Hastings Law Library, staff of the Research Center. After complet- Take a look at these three collections: Texas Tech University Southwest Collec- ing a three-year-long process of planning the Arch Dixon Collection (type in “Arch tion’s Vietnam Archive, the Virginia Histor- and testing, an electronic collections man- Dixon” at the search screen) provides a ical Society, and the U.S. Geological Survey agement system is now operational. It is look at 145 aviation photos that Dixon Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center accessible on a battery of new computers accumulated in the first half of the 20th are just a few. Rather than listing their in the Kirkpatrick Reading Room of the Re- century. Typing in the words “Oklahoma lengthy web addresses here, we recom- search Center, and it is also available on- City Chamber of Commerce Collection” will mend that you “Google” the library’s name line at the OHS web site,
Fire! Enid’s tragedies to be SHPO to sponsor historic window workshop in Guthrie subject of Brown Bag on September 7 Lecture The Oklahoma Historical Society’s State ness district a National Historic Landmark Historic Preservation Office and Guthrie for its role in the opening of the last Ameri- Enid’s Museum of the Cherokee Strip Museum Complex, the National Park Service can frontier to non-Indian settlement and will host Fire Chief Phil Clover on Wednes- Intermountain Regional Office, and Rocky for its outstanding collection of late 1800s day, August 16 from 12 noon to 1 p.m. for Mountain National Park are cosponsoring and early 1900s commercial architecture. It the next installment of the Brown Bag Lec- an Historic Window Workshop on Septem- provides a perfect laboratory in which work- ture Series. Clover will speak about Enid’s ber 7, 2006, at the State Capital Publishing shop participants can examine various win- major historical fires and the evolution of Company Building (State Capital Publishing dow types and observe the results of appro- the city fire department. Museum), 301 West Harrison, Guthrie, priate treatment of historic windows. A disastrous conflagration occurred on Oklahoma. The one-day workshop will in- Architects can earn continuing education July 12, 1901, wiping out the entire south terest architects, contractors, and owners credits for attending the workshop. The side of the downtown square and threaten- of historic properties, as well as other citi- SHPO is a registered provider of the Ameri- ing to destroy the entire city. The only “fire zens. Registration is limited to 20 partici- can Institute of Architects (AIA) Continuing protection” was a brigade of volunteer men pants on a first-come basis, with a registra- Education System (CES) learning units. and boys. They had a two-wheeled hose tion fee of $20 per person. The registration The workshop provides Health, Safety, Wel- cart, known as the “Pabst Hook and Lad- deadline is 5 p.m., Friday, August 25. fare (HSW) credit to meet state licensing der Company Wagon,” with 500 feet of The workshop’s purpose is to increase continuing education requirements. Each hose. The Pabst Brewing Company had do- awareness of the significant role windows person submitting a completed Workshop nated $425 toward its purchase in 1894. play in an historic building and to teach Participation Form (available at the regis- After this fiasco, the City of Enid created practical and effective ways to restore these tration site) will receive a certificate of atten- a paid fire department. The museum is lo- windows to their original condition. We will dance, and AIA members enjoy the benefit cated at 507 South Fourth St. briefly discuss the history of windows over of having their workshop participation re- Call 580/237-1907 for information. the last 200 years and the role they play in ported directly to the AIA for continuing ed- the style and architecture of a historic ucation tracking convenience. There are no building. We will also offer hands on dem- additional fees for this service. Just register Mark your calendar! onstrations on the proper techniques for re- for the workshop. For further information The Friends of the Murrell Home will moving, restoring, and installing historic contact Catherine Montgomery, AIA, SHPO host a cap-making workshop on Sep- sash. The discussions will include repairing Historic Preservation Architect at 405/ tember8andaLadies’CampofIn- versus replacing, proper techniques for re- 522-4479 or
The State Historic Preservation Office The Friends of Frank Phillips Home (SHPO) is pleased to announce the avail- hosted a Men’s and Women’s Vintage Vol. 37, No. 8 August 2006 ability of new editions of two of its publi- Style Show in Bartlesville during the OK cations. Each of them is a basic tool for Mozart Festival in June. Men, women, architects, preservation leaders, govern- and children dressed in early 1900s From the History Center... ment agency officials with cultural re- clothing treated the guests to different source management responsibilities, fashions ranging from everyday wear to New Oklahoma Museum of History exhibits and preservation professionals. fancy ball gowns. Oklahoma’s National Register Hand- This year the style show displayed 80 On June 27 the Exhibits Department of the Oklahoma Museum of History installed book includes a complete listing of the original and reproduction outfits that in- a new temporary exhibition in the Chesapeake Events Center. The exhibition is enti- state’s entries in the register, the criteria cluded hats for men and women, large tled A Lasting Legacy: The Art and Culture of Jerome Tiger. It features an introductory for evaluating National Register eligibil- bows adorning the dresses, and day and graphic panel and ten framed lithographs of paintings created by the famous ity, details about what listing means, the evening gloves. Several of the models Oklahoma artist Jerome Tiger. Accompanying each piece is an interpretive label dis- rights of private property owners, and demonstrated how their clothing looked cussing the technical aspects of each art work as well as the topics in Creek and Semi- much more. while dancing the popular dances of the nole history being portrayed. The exhibition will be available for viewing over the next Tomorrow’s Legacy: Oklahoma’s State- early twentieth century. The models few months. wide Preservation Plan (2005) discusses came to Bartlesville from all parts of The OMH Exhibits Department also recently completed work on a new traveling ex- the state’s historic resource types and Oklahoma. Martha Ray, Oklahoma His- hibition based on the permanent American Indian exhibit in the History Center’s threats to them. Additionally, it includes torical Society Director of Historic Oneok Gallery. Entitled We Are Who We Were, this exhibit covers many of the perma- the goals and objectives for the statewide Homes, was the show’s emcee. nent gallery’s main topics, including Dwellings, Indian Lives, Languages, Living Ways, preservation effort and suggestions for Origins, and Spirituality. meeting the objectives. The Statewide Utilizing some of the latest trade-show technology in exhibit design and construc- Plan is also an easy-to-use guide to pres- tion, the We Are Who We Were traveling exhibit is as functional as it is informative. It ervation-related laws, terminology, and includes thirty vibrant graphics panels on persons to contact with your questions. two freestanding islands that can be set up To request a copy of either publication, by a single person. In addition, the exhibit contact the SHPO at 405/521-6249 or includes two video touch-screen interactive e-mail
It’s a kingpost assembly that will hold up a very large object. That object is re- lated to the object that was shown in last month’s Mistletoe Leaves. Both are part of the new outdoor exhibit being erected on the grounds of the Oklahoma History Center. (Staff photo).