WtHTEI? 11978 Ya30-1 QUAKERLY-$5 00 I'ER YEAR - WILL RQQERCI MEMORlAL BUILDING- SECOND LLASS POSTAGE PAID AT OKLAHOMA CllY

PHOTOGRAPHY BY HOLIDNS FRED MARVEL MEAN HOLY DAYS FOR MOST OKLAHOMANS he Holiday Season will es. The architecture ranges from ordi- find Oklahomans going in nary to grand, from tra.ditiona1 to con- record numbers to thousands temporary. All are special and occupy T of houses of worship all a meaningful place in the lives of across the state. Church those who gather within their walls steeples rise above all to celebrate the age-old sacraments but the tiniest hamlets, and the re- of their faith. ligious heritage they represent is an Many of the state's churches are integral part of the history, tradition recognized as being architecturally and everyday lives of the people of extraordinary. A few have brought this state. national and international fame to The first churches in Oklahoma their designers. Some congregations were built by missionaries in the have brought recognition to their 1820s. These simple log buildings churches by serving their fellowman have long since been destroyed, but in unique ways. And some of Okla- they began a movement that was to homa's churches are among the state's bring houses of worship of every size most cherished historical treasures. and description to the faithful of the The oldest church in Oklahoma is state. Oklahomans continued to build the Wheelock Mission Church, lo- churches. The log buildings were re- cated three miles northeast of Miller- placed by ones of wood and masonry. ton in McCurtain County. The Rev. Many of these early structures still Alfred Wright and his wife, Harriet stand and are in use today. Bruce Wright, accompanied the Choc- Over half of Oklahoma's church taws from Mississippi in 1832 over members are Southern Baptist, but the "Trail of Tears" to establish a most other denominations are also mission. The orginal log church was represented among the state's church- built soon after their arrival. It was

BY JUDITHWmL Celebrating its 50th anniversary is the Boston Avenue Methodist Church, Tulsa. The sanctuary JUDITH WALL IS A NORMAN FREE-LANCE WRITER. is shown at right.

FOUR OKLAHOMA TODAY later replaced by a stone building, in 1887 at a cost of less than $1,000 and the parishioners held their first and is still in service. The lumber Christmas there in 1846. The stone for the structure was hauled by wagon church served the Wheelock Mission from Dodge City, Kan. The 80-mile and the Wheelock Female Seminary, journey took four days since there which was established by Harriet were no bridges over the rivers and Wright, until the building was gutted the dirt roads were scarcely more than by fire during the Civil War. cow trails. The church was built with Wheelock Church was rebuilt in volunteer labor from the town's citi- 1887 and has been used by the Pres- zens, including those of other faiths. byterians of Millerton for most of The Rev. R. M. Overstreet, the the ensuing years. A small group of church's first pastor, wrote of this worshipers still come every Sunday cooperative effort, "All lent a willing morning, something most of them and helping hand and so the walls have done since their childhood and went up. It drew us together in a their parents did before them. fellow feeling, and had its influence Missionaries like Harriet and Al- for gdever afterwards." fred Wright continued to bring their Many of Oklahoma's churches were religion with them to Indian country built with unskilled, volunteer labor and helped pave the way for future provided by those who would later settlement. The blue-clad troopers of worship within the walls they were the United States Army also brought helping to erect. A modern example Christianity with them as they came of this cooperative spirit is St. Pat- to establish the forts that once dotted rick's Roman Catholic Church locat- the territory and were instrumental ed at 2121 N. Portland in Oklahoma in bringing peace to the area. City. This church is vastly different, The Old Post Chapel at Fort Sill however, from the small clapboard is not only the oldest military chapel structure in Beaver. St. Patrick's, in the state, it is also the oldest which is a particular favorite of Fred church building in Oklahoma in con- Shellabarger, professor of architecture tinuous use since its founding. The at the University of Oklahoma, dem- soldiers of the Fourth U.S. Cavalry onstrates. the intense interest in inno- and the Eleventh U.S. Infantry built vative religious architecture in Okla- the Georgian style chapel with stone homa. Shellabarger feels St. Patrick's from nearby Quarry Hill. The little design incorporates "contemporary outpost of Christianity was the first engineering techniques and materials building visible to weary travelers in such a way to allow for a great coming to the fort by stage from other deal of homemade effort." He admires settlemefits in the territory. the design's "no sham'' approach to The 104th Christmas will be cele- religious architecture. brated this year in the historic chap- St. Patrick's could be called a el, which has been used every Sunday church within a church. The inside since it was built by a variety of structure has walls of glass which religious groups. It is presently used dramatically reveal the outside struc- by Lutheran, Episcopalian and other ture. Fifty-two angels molded in huge liturgical denominations who worship concrete slabs dominate the church together in a common service. The and comprise the outside walls. A chapel has been used by Roman Cath- 3(rfoot courtyard separates the two olic, Jewish and other Protestant con- structures. gregations over the years. The building of St. Patrick's was The unique beauty of the Ho-CheeNee Trail of Another of Oklahoma's historic done almost entirely by lay partici- Tears Memorial Prayer Chapel at TsalaGi churches is found in the Panhandle pation with 100 of the church's 500 reflects the richness of Chemkee design. The three vertical poles symhlize the Trinity in the community of Beaver. The First Pres- members coming daily on a rotating small, non-denominationalchapel near byterian Church of Beaver was built basis over a period of two years to Tahlequah.

SIX OKLAHOMA TODAY

erect the church. Designed by Mur- The 200-foot, futuristically designed ray, Jones and Murray of Tulsa, the tower is the home of the Abundant church was selected as the best ex- Life Prayer Group, which receives ample of Catholic Church Architec- more than a half-million calls for ture for 1962, the year of its comple- prayer a year from all over the world. tion, and has won other national The Prayer Tower also houses the awards for its design. The members ORU visitors' center and serves as a -. of St. Patrick's consider their church focal point for the 500-acre campus to be an example of worship by archi- in south Tulsa which is visited by

' tecture. more tourists than any other location Another of Oklahoma City's unique in the state. churches is St. John's Baptist Church Tulsa is a city with many note- located at 57th and Kelly. The church worthy houses of worship. The Holy was founded in 1919 and now has the Family Cathedral located at 8th and largest black congregation in the state. Boulder in downtown Tulsa was built Members will celebrate their first in 1913 and is presently undergoing Christmas in their recently com- restoration. The church's priests hold pleted building, which was designed mass in the Vietnamese language by Fritzler, Knoblock and Wadley of every Sunday afternoon for 200 of Oklahoma City and provides space Tulsa's Vietnamese refugees. The for a 225-voice choir. St. John's was First Church of Christ Scientist at I active in the early Civil Rights Move- 10th and Boulder in Tulsa is an out- I ment in the state and each year holds standing example of the neoclassical a memorial service for Martin Luther architecture that enjoyed a revival King Jr. during the first part of the Twentieth I Oklahoma City is the site of one Century. of the largest churches in the country. Tulsa's Temple Israel was estab- Crossroads Cathedral, which serves lished in 1915, and the present con- an Assembly of God congregation, is temporary structure was built in 1955. located at 8901 Shields. The recently Designed by Percival Goodman, the completed building will accommodate building incorporates the words of the 6,000 worshipers and provides space Ten Commandments onto the massive for a 1,000-voice choir and a 100-piece twin pillars that dominate the front orchestra. The church makes use of of the synagogue. The 525 families of a motorized preaching ramp which Temple Israel will celebrate the eight projects the minister into the congre- days of Hanukkah Dec. 15 through gation. It has one of the largest water- 22, as will the other 11 Jewish con- fall-style stage curtains in the world gregations throughout Oklahoma. for one of its four stage areas. Cross- Architecturally speaking, the Bos- roads Cathedral was founded in 1969 ton Avenue Methodist Church of with a membership of 130 and now Tulsa is the single most important has the largest church attendance in church building in the state, accord- Oklahoma City. The congregation is ing to Am Henderson, professor of planning a costumed religious drama architecture at the University of Okla- to celebrate its first Christmas in the homa and co-author of the book, new building. Architecture in Oklahoma: Landmark While Oklahoma City has the larg- and Vernacular (Point Rider Press, est church in the state, the city of Norman). Henderson admires the Tulsa may claim Oklahoma's most timeless design of the church which .visited religious site. does not conform to any known archi- The symbolism and functions of their altars I contrast beautifully in these houses of worship, L The Prayer Tower at Oral Roberts tectural style. upper let, Temple Israel, Ti~lsa;upper right, University is a house of worship of The Tulsa firm of Rush, Endicott St. Patrick's Church, bottom let, Hopewell i ' a different sort and uses the tele- and Rush was commissioned to de- Baptist Church, and bottom right. Chapel Hill ! phone as an instrument of worship. sign Boston Avenue Methodist Methodist Church, all in Oklahoma Ciu ' .

1 =. . . , EIGHT OKLAHOMA TODAY ..-.. :- .-. . . -

Church. Apparently much of the de- in various churches across the state. sign was done by a young employee There is a Dutch Reformed Church of the firm, Bruce Goff, with the help at Colony and a Greek Orthodox of a Tulsa art teacher, Adah Robin- Church in Tulsa. German farmers son. The church was completed in organized one of the state's Men- 1929 and, with its 300-foot illurninat- nonite congregations. Forming the ed tower, is one of Tulsa's most fam- Mennonite Brethren Church in Col- ous landmarks. The church achieved linsville in 1913, they voted to have world-wide fame for its then innova- one Sunday School class in English tive use of modern architecture in in 1927. There are many Native expressing contemporary Christian American churches in Oklahoma. ideals and is included in the En- The Saints Cyril and Methodius cyclopedia Brittanica as an example Russian Orthodox Church in the of a Twentieth Century Church. Pittsburg County community of The Boston Avenue church will Hartshorne is one of the state's most celebrate its 50th Christmas with interesting churches. It was built in special services each Sunday in Ad- 1916 and is the only Russian Ortho- vent, a presentation of Handel's Mes- dox church west of the Mississippi siah and a candlelight communion River. Its distinctive gold, onion- service on Christmas Eve. shaped domes give the church a de- It is possible that such magnificent cidedly Russian appearance. The churches as Boston Avenue Method- domes signify the flame of a candle ist will never again be built. The and remind the faithful to shine their congregation of that church came light to the world. perilously close to losing their build- There is no regular priest for the ing during the Depression years. Hen- small church. However, one comes derson feels the expense of building from the Greek Orthodox Church in such a structure with its cut stone Tulsa to hold special services and to work and terra cotta sculptures would celebrate holidays. But even with no be prohibitive by today's standards. priest, a small congregation number- Present day churches must rely on ing about 30 meet each Sunday and more economical building materials recite the traditional prayers in the and methods to achieve a satisfying Russian language. They will cele- design. brate Christmas in the little church The Hopewell Baptist Church of on Jan. 7 since Orthodox faiths fol- Edmond incorporates used oil well low the Julian calendar. drill stems into its exposed super- But whether the services be in structure for an interesting teepee- Russian or English, whether the faith shaped building. The church's de- be Christian or Jewish, the Holidays sign is not only' distinctive, but has are a time for coming together-for proven to be functional and far less singing the old hymns, for hearing expensive to build than more tradi- the familiar words, for remembering tional buildings. Hopewell was also other celebrations of years gone by. designed by the versatile Bruce Goff Oklahomans will come together in and represents the other end of the the churches and synagogues am- spectrum from the stately Boston the state to celebrate Christmas or Massive blocks of stone, lettered with the Hanukkah. A handful of worshipers Ten Commandments from the time of Moses, Avenue Methodist. on the Temple Israel, upper left, differ sharply There are too many unique church- will come again to Oklahoma's oldest from the glittering exterior of the futuristic desigr es throughout the state of Oklahoma church at Millerton for the Sundays of the Oral Roberts University Prayer Towet to even begin to name them all, but of Advent just as their forebearers bottom left, both located in Tulsa. The classic no discussion of the state's churches did 143 years before them. Tradition white beauty of St. James Baptist Church, Oklahoma Ci& upper riflht o~Wsa quiet retreat could end without mentioning the will once again be served, bringing while the Bethany Lutheran Church, Tulsa, bttom many cultural backgrounds reflected joy and comfort to the faithful. right, projects the security of a "mighty fortress':

TEN OKLAHOMA TODAY

Partv oods nternatio F avor

Home for the holidays in Okla- homa's culture. Throughout the year homa! A special time in a special our varied ethnic background is re- place. flected in festivals, music and the In many homes across the state, it arts, restaurants and specialty food has become a tradition to prepare cookies, candies and other goodies Of particular interest is the way with recipes handed down from one's different nationalities use ingredients great-grandmother. And for new im- and spices. Rice and other grains may migrants, familiar foods add to the be featured in the desserts of eastern festivities and bring back fond mem- and oriental cultures with cinnamon ories of their homeland. and nutmeg used frequently in recipes Some recipes were carefully tucked of European origin. Unusual ingredi- into the corner of a covered wagon ents may be purchased at food spe- with other treasures when the family cialty shops. made the famous land run into Okla- The joy of the holidays is in shar- homa. Others arrived by plane as in- ipg. These Oklahomam+recent and ternational families came seeking ref- third-generation-offer their favorite uge, college education, or instruction recipes to add international flavor to / at our top military installatio~w. your holiday parties. Each new family coming from an- other country has enriched Okla- And bon appetite!

Red chenies add a festive look to Cha Shao Baa, mewed bv Wue Irw at the MandarinGarden 'Reitaurani, ~haine~-Pork&mplings are at , right. Photo by Paul E. Lefebvre.

WINTER '79-'80 THIRTEEN Party oods with an

FOURTEEN OKLAHOMA TODAY FIFTEEN

- __1 Party Foods

SIXTEEN OKLAHOMA TODAY

L ------BY ELVEN LINDBLAD

Elven Lindblad is a Tulsa free- lance sports writer and broadcaster.

Professional ice hockey in Okla- homa City and Tulsa is enjoying a renaissance, something unexpedd in a state proud of its pigskin meccas. Part of the credit goes to the recent settlement of the "war" between the major leagues of huckey. A big part also lies in the realization by Okla- homans of the high level of strategy, speed and skill involved in hockey. The Tulsa Ice Oilers and Okla- homa City Stars are entering their 16th and 13th seasons, respectively, in the Central Hockey League. The It's not easy since the puck oftenzips by at 100 CHL is primarily designed as a de- miles oer hour m more velopmental league for young profes- sional hockey players. Examination of present and recent National Hock- ey League rosters shows the largest percentage of players in the league today came from the CHL and played , in Oklahoma at some time in their careers. A long-hoped-for move toward up grading the level of competition in

WINTER '79-'80 major and minor league hockey came last spring when the NHL absorbed four of the stronger franchises in the rival World Hockey Association. The remaining four WHA cities were ad- mitted into the CHL. Many veteran hockey observers felt the NHGWHA battle of fast contracts and fast money generally diluted the quality of hockey seen by fans. What all this means, according to Oklahoma City general manager Ron Norick and Tulsa general manager Bobby Gilbert, is that better hockey will be played and seen in both cities as well as the rest of the league. Tulsa has a new parent club in the Winnipeg Jets, which could add an- other dimension to the heated "turn- pike tussles" between the Ice Oilers and the Oklahoma City Stars, which are backed by the Minnesota North stars. Both teams will play in the CHL Western Division this season. Join- ing them will be the Dallas Black Hawks, Fort Worth Texans and Salt Lake City Golden Eagles. The East- ern Division is comprised of the Birmingham Bulls, Cincinnati Sting- ers, Indianapolis Checkers and Hous- ton Apollos. After the regular season ends April 5, the top two teams in each division play for the ~him~ion~hi~.The divi- sion winners then-meet h a playoff

OKLAHOMA TODAY 20-minute periods with very little must keep the puck from going into team CHL while Tulsa finished sixth. clock-stopping. The winner is the the net, whether by stopping it with Both teams hope to improve through team that scores the most goals, a stick, glove or other part of the youth-dominated teams. which count one point each. If a body. It's not easy since the puck "We have more speed and harder- game is tied after three periods, a often zips by at 100 miles per hour hitting players than we did last year, sudden-death overtime is played in or more. but we also have more inexperience which the first team to score is the Tulsa and Oklahoma City have as a whole," Norick said. "Our big winner. each won the Adams Cup twice. Okla- problem last season was that Minne- How do you score a goal? By sirn- homa City, known as the Blazers sota and Oklahoma City had a string ply shooting a frozen rubber puck from 1965 through 1977, has won four of injuries to key players at about the past a goalkeeper in front of a net. regular season or division titles to same time. That meant neither club I The puck weighs six ounces and meas- three for Tulsa. Each city averages could help each other very much." ures three inches in diameter and one 3,500 in attendance, but that jumps Another factor was that Coach Ted inch in thickness. Rink measurements another 1,000 to 2,000 when they play Hampson learned the hard way about are 85 feet wide by 185 to 200 fed each other. These games often fea- coaching pro hockey. An affable in- in length. ture slick passing, hard checking, a dividual, Hampson by his own ad- Each team has six players-three lively fight or two, and high-scoring, mission was too lenient on his play- forwards, two defensemen and one yet close, results. ers. He promises it will be different goalie. The forwards consist of a left A common goal is to improve on this year, though he won't launch and right winger and one center. The the records posted last season. Okla- into a "Theodore the Terrible" rou- center operates up and down the mid- homa City finished fifth in the six- tine. dle of the ice and leads the attack by carrying the puck on his stick. He sets up plays by passing the puck to the wings and is often the leading TULSA ICE OILERS HOME SCHEDULE scorer. Harassing the opposing puck carrier and trying to steal a pass near mid-ice are his defensive assignments. DECEMBER FEBRUARY The two wings move up and down 1 Oklahoma City 1 Oklahoma City 4 Salt Lake City 3 Fort Worth the sides of the rink with the flow 14 OklahomaCity 13 Fort Wonh of play. They skate abreast of the 19 Birmingham 16 Houston center to take a shot on goal or to set 21 Cincinnati 20 Birmingham up a shot for the center. Defensively, 29 OklahomaCity 22 Oklahoma City 24 Indianapolis they guard the opponent's wings and try to disrupt their passing and to JANUARY MARCH steal the puck. 2 Fort Worth 12 Fort Worth Defensemen try to stop the incom- 4 Salt LakeCity 16 Dallas 9 U.S. Olympic Team 22 Houston ing play at their blue line. They 16 Birmingham 23 Birmingham block shots, clear the puck from in 18 Houston 28 Indianapolis front of their goal and guard oppos- 19 Salt Lake City 29 Salt LakeCity ing forwards. Offensively, they move the puck up the ice. Goalkeepers

WINTER '79-'80 NINETEEN "I was not hard enough on the second-leading scorer. Eaves missed players when it came to not giving nearly two months of this season with their best effort or on mental mis- a broken ankle. If he plays like he takes," Hampson said. "When that did last season, when he scored 26 happens this year, I'll call them in goals with 61 assists for 87 points, and talk to them. If it keeps up, that the Stars could do some damage. player will go lower in the organiza- Right winger Dan Chicoine is back tion or be sitting either in the stands after recording 26 goals with 22 as- or on the bench." sists for Oklahoma City. Other re- Despite having some key players turnees include right winger Jamie sidelined early in the season by in- Gallimore, defensemen Jim Boo, Bill juries, Hampson likes the Stars' Butters and Peter Shier and goalie chances. "I was very pleased with Jim Warden. our performance in the pre-season Bobby Gilbert's first contact with training camp. If we play like that ice hockey came as a youngster when through the season, we'll definitely he sold peanuts at the Old Tulsa be a contender for first place," he Coliseum. Things came full circle said. this summer when he was awarded Heading the returnees is center the concession rights (peanuts in- Mike Eaves, the CHL's Rookie of cluded) for the Ice Oilers. the Year last season and the league's Gilbert is in his sixth year as gen- eral manager after 20 years as a successful Tulsa businessman. The youth-dominated Tulsa squad, ac- OKLAHOMA CITY STARS HOME SCHEDULE cording to Gilbert, is enthusiastic and holds the potential for a playoff berth. DECEMBER FEBRUARY "It's good for the fans to pick a 19 Salt Lake City 2 Tulsa rookie and follow his growth through- 21 Salt Lake City 6 Fort Worth 22 Tulsa 12 Dallas out the season. The rookies can make 15 Tulsa mistakes, but they make them trying JANUARY 16 StLake City to do the right things," Gilbert said. 2 Salt Lake City 26 Indianapolis "This is our first year with Winni- 4 Fort Worth 29 Houston 5 Tulsa peg, and they are firmly dedicated 12 Birmingham MARCH to player devolpment. That is good for 13 Birmingham 1 Tulsa our team and for the players, too." 16 Houston 18 Dallas Mike Smith is in his first year 18 Cincinnati 21 Tulsa 19 Cincinnati 22 Birmingham as head coach of a professional ice 25 Houston 25 Fort Worth hockey team. He promised no mira- 26 Fort Worth 29 Indianapolis cles at Tulsa, but he believes that 29 Dallas conditioning can mean a difference in winning and losing in the late stages of a game. That can be traced to his

TWENTY OKLAHOMA TODAY

L STEPS INDOORS

background in Russian studies while earning his doctorate. "Russian athletes have a strong belief in conditioning and mechanics BY ELVEN LINDBLAD in all sports-whether it's hockey, basketball, soccer or whatever," the Who can get excited about soccer indoors? Capacity crowds 34-year-old Smith said. "When I in Tulsa and 11 other cities in the North American Soccer League, compared their performance and that's who! Take a standard hockey rink and rules, put down an traihing techniques to our sports, it artificial surface and keep the clock running through four 15- opened my eyes at how good their minute periods and you've cooked up unequaled excitement in ' athletes are. Tulsa's Assembly Center. ' "Our training camp had a strong The Tulsa Roughnecks, a professional soccer team, will par- emphasis on skating and conditioning ticipate in the first full season of NASL Indoor Soccer, going up through running. I feel that will pay against some of the world's best soccer players in an unusual off later on when we can get that format. Tulsa will play in the NASL's Western Division against extra effort in close games," he added. the California Surf, Los Angeles Aztecs, Memphis Rogues and Goalkeeping and center will be the Minnesota Kicks. The Western Division winner meets the Eastern Oilers' strongest points early in the Division champion in March for the league title. season. Mark Mattsson and Lindsay New Roughneck coach Charlie Mitchell has some powerful Middlebrook give Tulsa potentially offensive weapons in Alan Woodward, Billy Gazonas and Iraj the best goalie tandem in the CHL. Danafaird. Woodward made a big impression on Roughneck fans Mattsson won 25 games with Winni- and the NASL with his booming shots, rated among the hardest peg in the WHA last year and Mid- in all of soccer. Gazonas is a former collegiate star who helps dlebrook was the top goalie in the run the offense from midfield. Danafaird is a World Cup veteran American Hockey League. from Iran with eye-popping, ball-handling moves. Center Jim Wiley, the CHL's top Veteran defender Alex Skotarek heads the defense with Gene scorer three years ago, is back for DuChateau in goal. his fourth season in Oiler livery. The popularity of indoor soccer was proven when a capacity Bobby Guindon backs Wiley up after crowd of 6,166 in Tulsa's Assembly Center watched the Rough- playing with Winnipeg last year. Left necks play the Moscow Dynamo, 10-time Russian indoor cham- wing Jim Roberts, who played for pions, last February. Information on the indoor schedule and the Stars last year, came to Tulsa ticket prices is available from the Tulsa Roughnecks, Box 35190, through a trade. Tulsa 74135, or by calling (918) 494-4625. Ticket prices for hockey in Tulsa and Oklahoma City range from $1.50 TULSA ROUGHNECK INDOOR SOCCER HOME SCHEDULE to $5 for single games with season tickets available. DECEMBER With the new expansion era, the 9 California Surf Tulsa and Oklahoma City franchises JANUARY FEBRUARY expect to prosper as fans come to see 6 Los Angeles Aztecs 5 Memphis Rogues today's CHL skaters become tomor- 17 Memphis Rogues 17 California Surf I row's NHL stars before their eyes. I WINTER '79-'80 TWENTY-ONE Trout Fishing Sparks Discovery of Life Winter ~l,,~

By GaryThe Lantz Blue

'Aman is rich in proportion to the show the scars of almost unfathom- number of things he can afford to able aging. Like the winds, rivers re- leave alone." H. D. Thoreau volve to the dictums of eternity. Man Sound penetrating the sheer ab- can only search for signs and ponder, sence of sound-that is the initial and possibly find a touch of that greeting. Of foaming, white water great strength, and then yield to its against sleek, grey limestone. Of the direction. absence of wind beneath a wind tor- Tall stands of red cedar rise over rent. Of the near perfect solitude of the ridgeline where I make my camp. the season. They break the wind, and shelter A heavy sky, a low, milky grey. countless birds who winter along the The winter tree limbs stand in ebony Blue. They are constantly hungry silhouette like a miraculous pen-and- now-the chickadees, cardinals, tit- ink etching; the inexhaustible forking mice and the great variety of spar- and branching, growing ever more rows that fly into the nearby shelter- delicate, spreading like our own art- ing boughs. Food is body heat; heat eries, veins and capillaries seen with is life. flesh and bone stripped away. Mil- I unconsciously follow this com- lions. Billions. I wonder how anyone mandment of warm-blooded races. My can appreciate the marvelous beauty tent is low and narrow, designed to and complexity of a tree without see- retain body heat. My sleeping bag is ing it interlaced against a low mid- lined with goose down, the ultimate winter sky. insulator. It seems strange that our It is comfortably cold, the perfect seemingly omnipotent technology can- January day. Even now, in late after- not improve upon nor even duplicate noon, the temperature clings to the the natural warming properties of mid-thirty mark. goose feathers. Blue River is alive in the rush of Suddenly, I realize my own insig- its current, the current that over nificance: feet clothed in cowskin, millions of years has carved the nar- shirt and socks woven from sheep's row valley that shields me from the wool. I borrow from the bodies of wind. The current that has channeled others to simply stay alive, my only the stair-stepping waterfalls, that has source of heat the dried wood gather- polished and pronounced the great ed from the riverbank. masses of limestone lining the river- And should I seek to escape, I will bed. Ghost rock, the cemetery of an- draw even deeper into antiquity to cient seashores. rob the stores of the dead. Fossil fuels I sit upon one huge, uplifted stone, will warm and power the car that will and trace the outline of a skeleton travel upon a highway paved. with that was once life before man knew these same remains of ancient life. breath itself. From life to death. from This evening when I go to the river sea to stone . . . how perfectly age- to fish, I will hopefully return with less a river can seem, and at once a creature whose ancestors swam here

TW ENTY-TWO To reach the Blue R~ver F~sh~ngand Hunt~ngArea. dr~veSIX m~leseast of T~shorn~ngo on SH 78, turn north on a sectlon road for 6 5 m~lesand follow signs to the campground The gate to the campground is closed at 10 p m dally Trout season this year runs Oct 27-March 31 A spec1al$3 annual trout perm~tIS requ~redfor everyone, good for both the lll~no~sand Blue rlvers

long before Cro-Magnon man scratch- right to fry with bacon over waning ed his prayer symbols to the animal coals, then to grace a plate swim- life about him. Then, the cells of the ming with brown beans and a slice fish will dissolve into my personal of raw onion. wannth and strength. Darkness. Tired, cold and full, I Winter, the greatest beauty, ever postpone dish cleaning, knowing full the fatalist, the final, lasting teacher. well the morning will dawn no warm- How many lessons we must learn, er, nor the chore appear any more how many illusions we must shelter, pleasant. near the solitude of a cold, remorse- But this is the hour reserved for less stream. the bracing bite of tobacco smoke, I have company as I advance over and listening to owls. A great-horned the rocky path to streamside. A doe owl gives a quivering greeting from a coughs a warning in the undergrowth; nearby tree. In the distance, ever so a pair of wood ducks streak over- faintly, another answers. And thn>ugh- head, lamenting all the day. The hori- out the river valley all of life listens. zon glows a brief pink-and-gold. A For when owls talk, like the banshees distant clamoring, and a single line of Irish legend, they tell of death. of low goose profiles, bound for their Maybe a cottontail rabbit, or a field winter refuge near Tishomingo, passes. mouse, or a crow taken from its perch To some the calling of wild wse in a tree. The hunters of the night. echoes a sadness. Yet for me it has Even we mighty humankind, with always been the single clearest note our implements of destruction that of freedom. The need for going, to can snuff out whole races like a cin- be truly unshackled at some moment der, even we still fear the darkness, in our lives, is within us all. I salute when we face it alone. Fearing the them with a moment of silence, and talons and the teeth of our not-so- envy each the vision inherent in that dim past, we still pay homage to ancient blood. those gods of darkness every Octo- Daylight wanes. I have time for a ber eve. We honor these aged fears dozen casts into a deep, stone pool in art and literature. catching the flow from three churning I have but a moment before sleep. waterfalls. The lure bears resemblance Why do I come here? Because this to nothing in particular, but the stock- is life, at its finest and fullest, and ed rainbow trout, trucked in weekly the discovery of life is the reason for from a federal hatchery in Arkansas, living. And I once again realize that are ravenous. Accustomed to regular this river, and all rivers like it, and feedings of commercial trout pellets, all places wild and free, must remain they will strike .almost anything after so. There are voices in the stone, overcoming the shock of transport and voices in the water, voices in the adjustment to alien surroundings. wind. We may choose to ignore them After several casts, I have two ten- if we wish, but in doing so, we ignore inchers, big for stocked trout. Just the echoes of our destiny.

TWENTY-THREE mama lit the mantle of the gas light would not come. I laid awake staring s the candles were lit, that illuminated the living room. It into the darkness and squirming rest- the Christmas tree be- was Christmas Eve, 1918. My second lessly all through the night. When - came a magic cone of Christmas, and the first one I re- remote morning at weary last arrived, green cedar encircw with glitter- member. I arose, owl-eyed, and dressed. Break- ing tinsel, looped with strung pop- My memories of that Christmas fast was hurried and swallowed whole. corn and cranberries. I was too small are impressions only, translated into Then my cousin and I waited impa- to be of any use and auntie, mama, words with the passing years. I recall tiently. and dad had left me propped against that there was one gift under the tree, When the living room door was a pillow across the room. A candle a roly poly clown. I crawled under opened, we burst through. I ran to holder clipped to the end of each the cedar's spreading branches, and get the brand new air rifle I knew branch held its tiny, dangerous torch; wonderingly pushed the clown over, my cousin was going to get. He ran a candle flame too high, a careless watching it right itself on its roly to get the .410 shotgun he knew I gesture with a match, and the sud- poly bottom. was going to get. Then we met be- denly flaming cedar could become a Many a Christmas is memorable. side the tree, both grinning widely, holocaust that would burn down the Christmas, 1926. Hard times. My each to present the other with his house. When Dad lighted his share uncle was out of work, and his fam- yearned for gift. of the candles, a bucketful of water ily had moved in with ours. Dad was Christmas, 1938. Working our way was never far from his hand. a young mechanic, working for less through college, my cousin and I The candles lighted, auntie, mother than $25 a week. Christmas money spent six cold weeks before Christmas and dad crossed the mom to stand was short that year. No Christmas in the dusty, dirty attic of a Guthrie beside where I sat on the floor. The tree. department store, assembling toys. room that had been in darkness My mother and my aunt decorated The pay was bad. The working con- glowed with a gorgeous light. One a dining room chair for each of us ditions were worse. But we felt like string of small ornaments, really large youngsters, hanging over the chairs Santa's elves, and it was a wonder- oblong beads, glittered like the jewels our Christmas stockings, made of fully enjoyable time-in memory. of Ophir, each bead reflecting a bright red and green corduroy and Knocking down crates, knifing open myriad of tiny candle flames mir- embroidered with sequined santas, boxes, we worked with hands and rored in its shiny colored surface. dolls, and toys. Into the stockings fingers grimy and numbly cold. We "Isn't it pretty?" auntie murmured. went our meager gifts of curly Christ- assembled bicycles, coaster wagons, "Beautiful,," mama agreed. "We'd mas candy, oranges and apples. A tricycles, pedal cars, doll houses, toy better blow them out." Christmas almost without material trains, bolted runners on sleds, un- Dad moved toward the tree, still gifts. A Christmas of the spirit, of packed dolls, popguns and cap pistols, carrying his bucket of water, and half-a-century past, and one I treas- musical toys, an endless variety of began snuffing out candles. Auntie ure most. playthings. From 8 a.m. 'ti1 well after went to help, carefully shielding each On Christmas Eve, 1930, I never midnight most nights, we were at it. candle with her hand as she blew out slept a wink. So strong was my I had no mechanical ability. Nuts its flame. As the room darkened, anticipation of the morning that sleep and bolts were polarized for me. Metal parts repelled each other, and things simply fell, or flew, apart. For cou- sin Oscar they performed perfectly. Things fell together. I would despair, with a heap of pieces that would not fit scattered around my feet, until he would drift by. Then, suddenly, the pieces seemed almost to float up from the floor to assemble themselves at his deft gestures. As we carried everything downstairs and created Toyland, we felt almost as if we were creating Christmas. It seems a perverse thing that the most abundant and easy Christmases seem to fuse together. Memorable. for me, are that first Christmas, an- other involving a time of hardship, and two of concern for the gifts oth- ers would receive. Christmas is a time of giving, and an especially wonder- ful time of getting, if what you get is not just material, but memories that Bill Burchardt ret~redlast fall as ed~torof Oklahoma Today live and outwear the years.

TWENTY-FOUR OKLAHOMA TODAY Elk ciQ7 Creates

An old-fashioned .Christmas, the kind your grandparents may remember, happens each year in Elk City. Fashioned after the original Main Street Christmas celebrations in the early 1900's, the community party takes place around the gazebo next to the Elk City Old Town Museum the first Sunday each December. The first party was in 1971. Although organized by the museum and the Western Oklahoma Historical Society, almost every group in town participates. The school children were busy all last mcnth making ornaments for the tree. Girl Scout and Boy Scout troops made their share and so did church groups. Then the high school boys in the Key Club selected the perfect red cedar growing out in a nearby pasture. The tree must be tall and straight and reach to the top of the gazebo - about 10 feet. After cutting the tree, they set it up in the gazebo. The boys also hang greenery around the museum. Church and school choirs practice singing carols. Volunteers meet in someone's home to stuff about 900 sacks of hard candy--all donated. And then at 2 p.m., the children will begin to gather, bringing their parents and othe~ adults along, to decorate the tree with their carefully made ornaments. A vocal music group will sing carols in front of the gazebo; another may entertain from the porch of the museum Christmas music will be played inside the Memorial Chapel, part of the museum com- plex. Also in the complex are an old, rock, one-room school and a wagon yard. An early day railroad depot will be built soon. When the bell in the chapel begins to rjng, the children know its time for Santa's arrival, and 900 sacks of candy will quickly disappear. Throughout the month of December, the beautifully decorated tree will light up the gazebo and the Old Town Museum, a symbol of Elk City's pride and its community spirit. Sue Carter

WINTER '79-'80 TW ENTY-FIVE Once a dying craft, When Edna Foster was a little girl, her mother tried to teach her to quilt. However, she thought it was sheer foolishness to cut material into small pieces and sew them together again. So, she never took to quilting, not for a long time, at least. It was 1929 when Edna Foster, then 35 and the mother of two teen- age sons, decided to make a quilt. This time, she had to teach herself, using patterns which ran regularly in The Daily Oklahoman. Her first quilt was nothing to brag in an Oklahoma revival of the folk art about. You might say it was an exer- cise in frustration. There was a drought, and she couldn't get flow- ers to grow outside, so she decided BY JUNETTA DAVIS to put them on a quilt. She appliqued Junetta Davis is a journalism professor at the University of Oklahoma and a free-lance writer. flowers onto a background, however,

TWENTY-SIX OKLAHOMA TODAY The Oklahoma Historical Society is displaying a special exhibit. A Century of Quilts, through February in its main museum southeast of the Capitol in Oklahoma City.

interested in preserving this folk art planned art. which is totally the creation of Ameri- Mrs. Haywood moved to Oklahoma can women. from California a year ago and has Quiltmaking is an old art, whose discovered bits of Oklahoma history origins can be traced back to China, through some of its quilters. For in- North Africa and the Near East, but stance,. earlier this year, she was quiltmaking developed into an Ameri- asked by organizers of Quilt Sympos- can art with the settlement of the ium '79 in Palo Alto, Calif., to find nation. a quilt to represent Oklahoma. And American women have made quilts that's how she discovered Minnie for 400 years, since the first Euro- Shattuak of Enid, whose quilt, pean women brought their quilts and "Whirligig," was among the top five their needles with them to the new in the California show. world. And the quilts of American Mrs. Shattuck, 84, has quilted all still resisting cutting material into women have carried history with her life and is finally being recog- small pieces and sewing them to- each stitch. nized for her top-quality quilting. gether. Dixie Haywood, a newcomer to "I was born with a needle in my "I wasn't so pleased with it," she Oklahoma and to quilting, got inter- hand," she said, explaining that she says 50 years later, "But I progressed ested through looking back in history. can't remember learning to quilt. into making more beautiful quilts." She wanted to learn what life was She's just always done it. She says Now 85, Edna Foster of Perry is like before supermarkets and auto- she's probably made 35 quilts through still quilting. In fact, she's been run- mobiles. She was fascinated by the the years, but she never counts quilts ning her own little quilting business names of quilt patterns, many with or stitches or spools of thread. since 1929. She makes about 75 de- political significance, showing that "I just piece my quilts, and I piece signs for applique quilts. She bastes women, as well as men, had a keen them good," she says immodestly. "I the pieces into place on background interest in public issues. don't mind putting my quilts up material, and the customer whips There were patterns called "Lin- against anybody's." around them, returning the quilt to coln's Platform" and "Old Tippe- She finished one quilt in July, Mrs. Foster for quilting. canoe" and "Whig Rose" and "Radi- which took about six months to Mrs. Foster estimates she's had a cal Rose" with a touch of black to make, but she has made a quilt in hand in making about 1,800 quilts in symbolize the slavery issue. The quilt six weeks. She quilts when she wants 50 years for customers in all of the patterns also symbolized the hard- to, and she takes great pride in think- states and in England and France. ships as the sturdy settlers moved ing that her 10-year-old granddaugh- She wishes her mother could have west: "Pilgrim's Pride," "Bear's ter may have inherited her love for seen some of them. Paws," "Rocky Road to Kansas," quilting. Mrs. Foster, one of the vanishing "Texas Tears." They also had Bibli- Mrs. Haywood works out of her breed of traditional quilters, finds cal names, like "Jamb's Ladder," and studio in Oklahoma City, making herself providing a quilting service to sentimental names, like "True Lov- contemporary crazy quilts and gift the fourth generation. Young women er's Knot," also names for birds and items, such as Christmas decorations, bring her their grandmothers' quilt trees and poetry. teapot covers and clothing. She con- tops to be quilted. They're hauling "One of the myths in our society ducts workshops and consults with them out of storage and having them is that women don't have mathemati- groups planning quilt symposia, such quilted for sentimental reasons, she cal minds," Mrs. Haywood said. "Yet as the one in Prague in late Oc- said. by folding paper, they (the early tober. And young women are a part of the quilters) worked out very complex Like Mrs. Haywood, Kathy Rae- revival of interest in quilt-making. geometrical patterns." They may be side of Norman got into quilting by Some are just beginning their fami- accidental artists to some, but she way of history. She's a spinner and lies, and others are young artisans, sees in their work very carefully a weaver, but when she gave classes

WINTER '79-'80 TWENTY-SEVEN Quilting

at Norman's Firehouse Art Center, In researching quiltmaking, Mrs. colicky baby. she found lots of interest in quilting. Raeside talked to women at the Senior Quilting activity has never really On her first quilt in 1970, she made Citizens Center in Norman, where subsided in some areas, like the Home lots of mistakes. So she got some she later participated in making a Demonstration Clubs throughout the books and researched quiltmaking, giant friendship quilt to commemor- state, many of which include quilts teaching herself and then her stu- ate Norman's 90th birthday last in their county fair exhibits each dents. She finds the reyival of interest spring. Year. in quiltmaking cuts across all ages. The Norman Senior Citizens Cen- There are more than 19,000 women There are lots of young married ter, as well as others throughout the in Home Demonstration Clubs in the women, as well as some in their 40s state, has a corps of quilters who state, and many of them will make and 5&, who want to make quilts for quilt for others and contribute what a contribution to the club's friend- their children and grandchildren. they make to the center. There is ship quilt for the exhibit. The friend- She's not sure why there is a re- always a waiting list of 20 to 25 ship quilt is one to which a group of vival in quilting. It t&iy be, she sug- quilts, and the six regulars there com- women contribute blocks and then gests, that people are uncertain of plete about one quilt a month. They help with the quilting. There are so the future and are falling back on charge anywhere from $25 to $50 for many of them that there was a new the securities of the past. Or it may the quilting service, depending on the category this year at the State Fair be that people are staying at home size, the pattern and the binding. for group quilts. more and doing things with their These quilters are typical of those Then, too, some Home Demonstra- hands. throughout the state who now find tion Clubs make a quilt to be raffled "People want to do things with their craft admired and copied by off in a fund-raising project. The New their hands," she says. "What's wrong younger women. Take Mae Logan, Hope Extension Club in Norman sell's with lots of jobs is that you can't for instance. She learned to quilt chances each year on a quilt, with a see the end product of what you're when she was about 7 when it was drawing around Thanksgiving. making!' funto do what the grownups did. But Typical of a demonstration club Mrs. Raeside, an Oklahoman for when she moved from Alabama to member is Mrs. Zelma Hagar of Nor- six years, has been exploring Okla- Oklahoma in 1929 as a young mar- man. She regularly contributes cloth- homa through quiltmaking and other ried woman, she quilted out of neces- ing each year to her club's county crafts. She's begun to collect Okla- sity. Quilts were needed for cover, fair exhibit, but she is also deeply homa quilts, some of which depict and she recalls making nine in one involved in its quilt project, as well the pain and hardship of their makers. as those of her own. For instance, she recently bought Lela Stafford, whose mother died During the bad weather last winter, a quilt from a man whose wife had when she was 4, can't remember how Mrs. Hagar made a 50-star American made it while she was dying of can- she learned to quilt. It could have Flag quilt, which had been scaled to cer. When the pain got too bad to been in the Masonic Home where she regulation size by an engineer friend. sleep, the woman would get up and grew up, or it could have been at It's 115 x 83 inches and lined with quilt. Now, her husband is selling Oklahoma State, where she went to a queen-size bedsheet. She appliqued her quilts to help pay her funeral college. But while she was raising the white stars on the blue field and her family, she made a quilt every quilted the stripes in five-pointed Mrs. Raeside has bought two quilt winter. It was a case of have to, she stars. She made it for herself, but tops from an elderly traditional quilt- recalls. she says she'll will it to her son. er who is going blind. The octagon Ella Gatliff, another of the quilters Mrs. Hagar's mother taught her to pieces in one were cut from printed at the center, also quilts at home, quilt 43 years ago when she first flour sacks and put together in 1939 making quilts for her children and married. She and her mother quilted when the nation was still deep into grandchildren. She made her first six quilts that year. Then her quilting the Depression. The other is a 20- quilt in 1928, the first year of her activity dropped off until she joined patch block quilt top with 3,000 marriage. She remembers piecing the Home Demonstration Club in pieces. quilts late at night while rocking a 1964.

TWENTY-EIGHT

For her club's quilt raffle in 1976, polyester batting. But Judy Hadley years ago, quilters had to resort to she made a quilt which she called of Norman, a young quilter and col- doubleknits. "Oklahoma Patches of Love." It had lector, does her quilts by hand and Like the quilt, the quilting bee, a a state map in the center, and the uses nothing but cotton. She has truly American tradition, is coming surrounding blocks were symbolic of about 50 quilts in her collection, but back in some communities, such as Oklahoma, including an oil derrick, she uses them as they were meant the church group in Apache which a scissortail flycatcher, a teepee, a to be used, for cover. quilts regularly. And of course, the windmill, mistletoe, an OU football But like Mrs. Haywood, she learned quilting bee is alive and well in most helmet and an OSU cowboy. A neigh- to quilt during the last 10 years. She of the senior citizens centers in the bor won the quilt in the club raffle, did it mostly by reading books, but state. and Mrs. Hagar has tried repeatedly she also got some advice from a The quilt in America started as an to buy it back. traditional quilter - her husband's economic need, but out of it grew a Quilt raffles are fairly common Ohio grandmother. social institution -the quilting bee. fund-raising efforts in the state. For "It used to be," she said, "that The custom was to invite about 12 instance, the Arts and Crafts Club people didn't want quilts. They'd use women, as more could not quilt com- in Wewoka has a raffle each year to them for mattress covers or when fortably around a frame. As the quilt support the Seminole Nation Mu- they moved furniture, but now people was rolled up, the number might drop seum there, and they find that tour- are beginning to realize that quilts to six or seven to give arm room. ists often win quilts. One winner paid are something special." Sometimes in the rural areas, where a return visit the next year. They've She's glad to see the revival of distances were long and going places been selling chances since June and interest, but she says it makes col- was difficult, a hostess would wait will raffle the quilt Thanksgiving lecting harder and more expensive. until she had two or more quilt tops week, hoping to make $1,000 this Lane Coulter, an art professor at pieced. Then, she'd borrow extra year. the University of Oklahoma, and his frames and invite her friends for a In earlier days, the quilt was strict- wife, Jane, are also young collectors. day of quilting. A supper would fol- ly a utilitarian article, born of neces- They have about 15 quilts, including low, to which men were invited. It sity and providing warm covers for two Amish quilts which they bought was a real social event, and Stephen beds and for hanging in doors or win- through an advertisement. He says Foster immortalized it in his ballad: dows which were not tightly fitted. that prices seem to be from $15 to "In the sky the bright stars And quiltmaking was a very personal $25 at the bottom and range up to glittered, activity, usually a woman working $2,000 in New York for the Amish On the banks the pale moon alone piecing a quilt top. It was her quilts and those early 19th Century shone, creation, and she may or may not quilts. And 'twas from Aunt Dinah's have invited others in to help her Kathy Raeside said Oklahoma quilting party quilt it once she got it in the quilt quilts will average from $100 to $150, I was seeing Nellie home." frame. depending on the quality, but she At other times, the quilting bee was Some of today's quilters make said the national average would be a forum for discussing the issues of quilts in blocks, using a large hoop, around $300 to $400. the day, strictly a women's affair. It similar to an embroidery hoop. They The revival of interest in quiltrnak- was to one of these that Susan B. quilt the blocks and then put them ing is evident by the number of quilts Anthony made her first speech in her together. The old-fashioned frames entered each year in county and state quest to secure the vote for women. were attached to ropes, and run fairs. Harriet Brown of Oklahoma And it may be, as some suggest, through hooks in the ceiling. The City judges quilts at some county that the renewed interest in quilting frame was lowered during the day for fairs and the State Fair. This year, results from today's women wanting quilting and raised again at night. she noticed more of the traditional to discover their history and finding Dixie Haywood pieces her con- pieced quilts and attributes this to much of it in quilts and the women temporary crazy quilts by machine, the availability again of woven fab- who made them as they helped to stitching the pieces to a block of rics and the return of calicos. A few build a nation.

Quilting OKLAHOMA TODAY r IndianDesigners Brighten' Holiday Fashions THEIR ART AND CRAFTS- MANSHIP MAKE THE HIGH FASHION SCENE FROM IGERMAN BOUTIQUES TO FRENCH SALONS, FROM NEW YORK DRESS SHOPS TO LOS ANGELES ISHOWROOMS. Dressing for holiday parties and festive fun can prove exciting when Oklahoma's Indian designers take command. They come from every comer of the state, these artists. Creeks and Comanches, Kiowas and Choctaws, Cherokees and Quapaws and a dozen other tribes are represented among them. Some are self-taught. Others hold college degrees. They live in big towns and small towns and no towns at all. But whatever their backgrounds, they share one key trait: a soaring creativity that gives them a

BY JOYE R. BOULTON JOYE R. BOULTON IS A NORMAN FREE-LANCE WRITER AND TRANSLATOR.

WINTER '79-'80 THIRTY-ONE Holiday Fashions well-nigh incredible sense of line and of kinship, many of the businesses are editor. color and a deep feeling for and emo- family operations. Thus, "The Fife This family approach to style isn't tional involvement in Native Ameri- Collection, Ltd." is the trade name at all unusual among Indians. Often can attire. of a privately held family corporation one member designs, another handles The garments they produce range through which the five daughters of financial records, a third models, and from tennis skirts to evening gowns, Jim and Carmen Fife of Dustin cre- others sew the garments. Indeed, even reversible vests to jumpsuits, floats to ate their custom-designed line of in manufacture there may be speci- caftans. The fabrics in which they fashions. Their designer showroom is alization, with one person handling work include muslins and calicos, at 109 N. Third St., Henryetta. patchwork, a second beading, and a polyesters and hand-woven wools: The Fifes are members of the Creek third specializing in ribbon decora- Their chosen colors span the spec- tribe. Major designer is Phyllis Fife tion. trum from purest white to deepest Patrick. "Creativity is an innate apti- Native American Designs of 1514 black and most vivid turquoise-not tude; an ability that is at the hands Washington Drive, Miami, Okla. con- to mention the familiar reds, purples, of the possessor to develop, to exer- tributes a second facet to Oklahoma's yellows, burgundies, greens, and every cise, and to put to profitable use," Indian fashion jewel. Here George other shading of the rainbow. And explains Phyllis, in commenting on Romick, a Quapaw silversmith, cre- they cater to an ever-expanding mar- her work as a designer. "My cre- ates striking jewelry, while his non- ket of intensely style-conscious wom- ative energies have been exerted in Indian wife, Virginia, offers one of en who, whether their tastes run to the form of art in various media." the widest selections of sophisticated the traditional or innovative, are opt- The comment is an understate- garments of any of the designers. ing for the originality and striking ment. A recognized painter as well She's particularly noted for her spec- effect that go with this current trend as a designer, she has had exhibits tacular black long-sleeved dresses with of the fashion world. in nearly a dozen major centers, in- sleeveless knee-length black overjack- And yes, they do garb men and cluding the Riverside (N.Y.) Mu- et covered with ribbonwork. But her children, too. seum, Oregon State University, the stock also includes attire ranging from Of particular interest is the way Museum of New Mexico, the Center Cherokee tear dresses to all-over taf- Native American motifs appeal to In- for Arts of Indian America (Wash- feta appliques and Kiowa style skirt/ dians and non-Indians alike. Appar- ington, D.C.), the Philbrook Art Cen- blouse ensembles; from tennis and ently it's hard indeed for any woman ter at Tulsa, and Fort Worth's Amon golf outfits to formal evening wear. to resist an aproach that offers dig- Carter Museum. Her professional ex- Both falllwinter and springlsummer nity as easily as it does flarmr perience has seen her serving as both collections are featured. even both at once! art consultant and museum worker. Virginia doesn't find the popularity An added plus is the way these She has also taught design at the of Indian motifs on the high fashion styles show off jewelry. Indian wom- university level. Three years as a scene at all surprising. "Research en, especially, delight in the show- painting major at Santa Fe's Insti- shows amazing parallels between what case provided for their handsome tute of American Indian Arts con- comes out of Paris each season and personal pieces. tributed to her education, as did traditional Native American styles," Favored design elements include study at the University of California she explains. "The keynote, for both, Seminole patchwork, Muscogean ap- at Santa Barbara and at Northeastern is simple elegance. That's the secret pliques, woodland florals, Osage rib- Oklahoma State University. She re- of their success." bonwork, and Sioux beading. The ceived her Bachelor of Fine Arts de- How did she herself get into the thunderbird, the scissortail, the cat- gree from the University of Okla- field? "I married an Indian," she fish, the buffalo, the bear paw-all homa in 1973. answers, laughing. Actually, she start- find a place; and the designers' shows But the Fife enterprise is by no ed by accident, in 1975, when a shirt carry their art and craftsmanship means a Johnny-One-Note proposi- she made sold. Commissions followed. from German boutiques to French tion. Sandy Fife Wilson is associate Always interested in the arts, and salons, New York dress shops to Los designer. Sharon Mouss serves as op- with a background of teaching crafts, Angeles showrooms, Scottsdale's Ari- erations officer. Contributing design- Virginia soon found herself moving zona Country Club to the Army Offi- ers are Jimmie C. Fife Stewart, Car- into design. And again, it's a family cers Wives of Greater Washington, men Fife, and Robin Fife. Between venture. Daughters Tarnmy and D.C. Major magazines (Redbook, them, they've developed one of the Rhona model and mother Cubbie Mademoiselle, Arizona Highways largest lines of any Indian fashion Blair does fringing and beadwork. among them) hail their work, and house. And they've received an extra Brenda Meyers, 4824 Judy Drive, they've been featured on network boost through the enthusiasm for Del City, a full-blood Kiowa, repre- television. their work manifested by Doris An- sents the Romicks in the Oklahoma Drawing on Indians' strong sense tun, Mademoiselle's associate fashion City area.

THIRTY-TWP OKLAHOMA TODAY Another major figure on the In- ing skills, the other half to academics. with appliqued designs ("Seagull," dian fashion scene, now in semi- The sewing teacher was white, the "Chieftain," "Eagle") to add drama retirement, is Mrs. Georgeann Rob- arts and crafts teacher, Indian. and contrast. inson, Bartlesville, who Feb. 1closed A major factor in Laura's develop- Of course, such leading operations her famed Red Man shop in Paw- ment, she feels, was her family back- constitute only the tip of the Native huska. ground. Her grandfather, Albert At- American fashion iceberg. Dozens of Authenticity has always been the tockmie, was a Comanche tribal lead- other designers and seamstresses pro- keynote of Mrs. Robinson's work. A er and, for many years, director of duce occasional garments or do spe- full-blood Osage, she has devoted a the American Indian Exposition. Her cialized work. Thus, Maudie Cheshe- lifetime of research to her collection father, Spencer Asah, was one of five walla, director of Pawhuska's Osage of tribal dreseit includes Osage, Kiowas who attended the University Museum, teaches ribbonwork based Delaware, Cherokee, Cheyenne, of Oklahoma's first special program on old Osage patterns and does much Apache, Gros Ventre, Kiowa, Kicka- for Indian artists. A dancer and sing- finger-weaving. poo, Seminole, and Pawnee garb, er, he made his own outfits with Fashion is by its very nature a among others. She has demonstrated Laura's mother contributing the bead- changing thing. While traditional techniques of traditional Osage rib- work. styles have their faithful devotees, bonwork three times at the Smith- Encouraged by her family's pride innovative touches are increasingly sonian Institution in Washington, in their Indian heritage, and building common among designers, as in the D.C. She is one of the few crafts- on the foundation training she'd re- zooming popularity of pantsuits, the people who still do ribbonwork for ceived at Fort Sill, Laura began sew- use of modem fabrics, and introduc- men's Osage straight dance attire, ing as a hobby. Later, discovering tion of new colors. always using the traditional odd how many other people liked and Decorative touches take a variety of number of ribbons - sometimes as appreciated her work, she began to forms, in addition to the familiar ap- many as 21. Her "From the Tradi- produce fashions for sale. plique and ribbonwork. Hand-painted tional to the Contemporary in Indian Laura's mother, Ida Attockmie patterns are frequent, as are silk- Fashion" shows for the Bartlesville Asah, owns the store in Oklahoma screened designs and prints. Indian Women's Club help to pro- City which Laura manages. She her- Accessories, too, receive marked vide funds for a scholarship program. self manages a second outlet in attention. Shawls, scarves, sashes, She still takes limited orders for her Apache. stoles, purses, hand-woven belts, garments. Although now in semi-retirement, beaded medallions, boots, moccasins, An Oklahoma City Native Ameri- Irene Jones, a Sac and Fox and Lau- necklaces, crowns--all are featured in can fashion enterprise is The Indian ra's aunt, advises and helps with the many ensembles. Nor is silver--as in Store, where Laura Jones displays business. She formerly handled fam- concho belts, for instance-by any her creations. The store is part of ily sales to the Flycatcher Crafts means a rarity. the Choctaw Trading Post, 3131 N. Co-op, 3020 Paseo, and other outlets Although a considerable range of May. Laura, half Comanche and half which sell the work of various seam- shops and other sales outlets for In- Kiowa, does buckskin dresses, black stresses on consignment. dian styles are to be found through- velvet gowns, and ribbonwork (in- Another intriguing operation is out Oklahoma, a high proportion of cluding men's ribbon shirts derivative Washita Valley Crafts, 119 N.W. 2, the Native American fashion business of Sac and Fox styles). Her chosen Anadarko, an economic development develops by word of mouth or as a materials are polyester, cotton, bro- project sponsored by the Washita result of style shows. Much also is cade, satin, and wool. Many of her Valley Community Action Council. done by mail, with several designers garments are washable and drip dry. Founded in 1973, it's staffed entirely (the Fifes and the Romicks, for ex- One of her favorite styles is a black by VISTA workers, and currently is ample) providing catalogs. Prices velvet dress based on an old pattern under the direction of Chowning may range from $10 for a short re- worn by many of the Plains tribes. Brake. The group's designers and versible vest to more than $3,000 for However, instead of the traditional seamstresses produce garments in an elaborate and authentic tribal elk teeth, she uses cowrie shells as length and color combinations speci- dance outfit, with many items in the decoration. Her ribbon skirts feature fied by the customer. Each is made $50 and $150 range. geometric designs, based on Plains to order and tagged with the seam- Together it all adds up to a fasci- Indian motifs, and floral patterns, stress's name. Sales reach Chicago nating development on the Oklahoma taken from the Woodland tribes of the and New York, as well as Oklahoma scene - a vibrant, colorful, ever- north. area markets. Sundresses, reversible changing development that promises Laura attended the Fort Sill In- vests, wrap-around reversible skirts, increasingly to turn the world's spot- dian School. Half of each day there and a wide variety of blouses are in- light on yet another burgeoning facet was devoted to sewing and homemak- cluded among the group's specialties, of our state's Indian art.

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WINTER '79-'80 TH IRTY-FIVE With this issue, Sue Carter be- Award from the Oklahoma Writers' comes editor of Oklahoma Today, the Federation for two of them, The Birth first change in editors since 1960 of Logan Station and Buck. His ninth when Bill Burchardt was named edi- novel, Medicine Man, is scheduled tor. Burchardt had been associate for publication by Doubleday in dan- editor since 1957. uary- For nearly 25 years, Oklahoma To- In 1961, Burchardt was president day has promoted the best that Okla- of the Western Writers of America, homa has to offer-its scenery, its an organization whose members write cultural, recreational and special at least 90 per cent of all western events, its industry, its natural and stories, novels, articles and TV and man-made wonders, its achievements film plays. and its heritage. He began his writing career at the "I am excited about continuing this end of World War I1 when he pub- tradition," Mrs. Carter said."Future lished numerous stories in the 9ld issues of Oklahoma Today will par- SUE CAHI tn BILL BURCHARDT western adventure magazines. He has ticularly emphasize outdoor recreation, also written on music, history and special events and other attractions lakes, perhaps its agriculture or in- religious topics. that travelers in our state enjoy. I dustry, and entertainment or special Oklahoma Today has published expect the magazine's top quality pho- events," Mrs. Carter said. several articles on Will Rogers, Okla- tography and printing to continue." Mrs. Carter is a former editor and homa's favorite son, over the years. The criteria for most articles will owner of The Lexington Sun and The When contemplating his retirement, be, "Can our readers go see this for Noble News, weekly newspapers in Burchardt said that he wanted to put themselves? Cleveland County. She has taught together the four Will Rogers Cen- "There are so many wonderful journalism at the University of Okla- tennial issues of Oklahoma Today. things to see in Oklahoma, so many homa and Oklahoma State University "It has been a real privilege to put things to do that can't be done any- and was an editor for the National out these four issues paying tribute where else, that we hope our readers Association of Geology Teachers. She to him as my final work with Okla- will want to visit the places we write is a graduate of the OU School of homa Today," Burchardt commented. about in Oklahoma Today," she said. Journalism and received a master's "Will Rogers was an integral part The spring issue of the magazine, degree from OSU. of my growing up. I was crossing the to be distributed March 1, will focus Oklahoma Today has matured into street between Sidney Ham's music on Southwestern Oklahoma. Here a prize-winning magazine under the store and the Corner Pharmacy in buffalo and longhorn cattle roam the guiding hand of Burchardt. Founded Guthrie when I heard the news of Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge, under Governor Raymond Gary in Will's plane crash in Alaska. The American Indians gather for pow 1956, Oklahoma Today has had only next day was my 18th birthday. All wows, and the largest artillery center two other editors. of us loved and respected Will Rog- in the world--once a cavalry post- Through the years Burchardt has ers," he said. is located. Special events will be fea- written many of the magazine's best The last four issues of Oklahoma tured in the summer issue. Okla- articles and has taken much of its Today have carried a Will Rogers homa is Horse Country, and that in- prize-winning color photography. theme in observance of the 100th dustry will be the subject of the fall "What we try to do is to remind anniversary of the writer-cowboy- issue. Contemporary Oklahoma Na- Oklahomans that they have great philosopher's birth on Nov. 4. They tive American Artists will be show- things to be proud of - wonderful may be purchased as a package from cased in the winter issue. people, wonderful institutions and a the Oklahoma Today office in Okla- Over the next two or three years, big, beautiful country unsurpassed by homa City. each area of the state will be spot- any other state," Burchardt said. Burchardt will continue writing lighted in a single issue. "Oklahoma One of the highlights of his career western novels and non-fiction books has such great variety - the north- was in 1975 when he accepted the during his retirement. A short arti- west is totally different from the Trustees' Award for Oklahoma To- cle, "Christmas Memories," is includ- southeast, and the northeast has lit- day from the National Cowboy Hall ed in this issue. tle in common with the southwest. of Fame and Western Heritage Cen- "As you can see, I'm finding it We hope to capture the essence of ter. hard to wean myself of the habit of that region through articles on its The author of eight published nov- writing for Oklahoma Today," he recreation, its museums, its parks and els, Burchardt won the annual Tepee said.

OKLAHOMA TODAY LETTERS TO THE EDITOR BOOKS IN REVIEW

Editor: Editor: INNOVATIONS IN ENERGY: Enclosed is one of our reprints of If you have further msion to THE STORY OF KERR-McGEE by the Claremore Daily Progress write of the origin of the term John Samuel Ezell; Univ. of Okla. Memorial Edition to Will Rogers, "Buffalo Soldiers" (Oklahoma, Press; $17.50. This book begins with printed in 1935. We made this for the Autumn, 1979, p. 18), you might the company's pioneering work in in- centennial celebration of his birth. consult Mitford M. Matthews' land and offshore drilling, including If you'd like to mention this in authoritative A Dictionary of the first offshore well, and describes your "Oklahoma Scrapbook" Americanisms, which quotes from its expansion into refining, manufac- column, something like this would do: 1872 Roe's Army Letters, "The turing and retailing. It covers the A full-size front page reprint of officers say the Negroes make good legal headaches, including the case the Claremore Daily Progress for soldiers, and fight like fiends . ..The of Karen Silkwood, and the problems Aug. 22, 1935, printed as a Indians call them 'buffalo soldiers' between the energy industry and gov- Memorial to Will Rogers, has been because their wooly heads are so ernment. made by the International much like the matted cushion that is Newspaper Collector's Club. They between the horns of the buffalo." Sincerely yours, are available at discount in bulk PANHANDLE PIONEER: HEN- lots. Single copies are 50c, Maurice Kelley postpaid, from the club at Box 7271, Princeton, NJ 08540 RY C. HITCH, HIS RANCH, AND HIS FAMILY by Donald E. Green; Phoenix, AZ 85011. part Univ. of Okla. Press; $9.75. The saga The original of this issue is of of Henry C. Hitch, ~r.,and his ranch our big exhibit, which includes is also the story of the social, cul- papers back to the year 1537. tural and economic fortunes of the Thousands of people see these every tri-state Panhandle region-the three year at schools, conventions, libraries, corners of Oklahoma, Texas and Kan- etc. From time to time we make sas. It describes how one farnily- reprints of special front pages of owned ranch made the transition timely interest. from the open range of the 1880's to With best wishes, an agribusiness in the last quarter of Charlie Smith, Secretary the 20th century. This is the seventh International Newspaper in the Oklahoma Heritage Track- Collector's Club maker Series. Editor: We enjoyed "Sailing Oklahoma's Great Lakes" in your autumn issue AN OKLAHOMA ADVENTURE by Tom Bryant. We would ilke to OF BANKS AND BANKERS by point out that the U.S. Army John M. Smallwood; Univ. of Okla. Engineer District, Tulaa, no longer Press; $9.75. This history of the bank- stocks hazard maps of its lakes. At ing industry in Oklahoma begins with one time hazard maps were available the turbulent and exciting years of for Lake Texoma, Keystone and French and Spanish exploration, when Eufaula but when our supplies were traders used fur pelts for currency, exhausted no more were printed. and continues to today's computer- They were costly and did not oriented operations. The same spirit satisfy the needs of today's that ins~iredthe homesteaders, min- recreationists and fishermen. ers, and businessmen could dso be Topographic maps are available found in the territorial banker, ac- from one of the following sources: cording to this second volume of the Mid-Continent Reproduction, Inc. new Oklahoma Horizons series. 7226 East 41st Tulsa, OK 74145 U.S. Geological Survey THE COWBOY HERO: HIS IM- PO Box 25286 AGE IN AMERICAN HISTORY & Denver Federal Center CULTURE by William W. Savage, Denver, CO 80225 Jr.; Univ. of Okla. Press; $12.95. This Sincerely, book examines the cowboy of myth, JOHN 0. THISLER dime novel, wild West show, legend, Chief, Public Affairs Office Hollwvood, museum and television. Tulsa District, Corps of By Donald E. Green he-author winds up his review of Engineers the cowboy hero with his last chap- Tulsa, OK 74121 I ter, entitled, "A Bore At Last."

WINTER '79-'80 THIRTY-SEVEN DECEMBER Janina Fialkowska, pianist, Nov. 23- "Da", American Theater Okla Symphony, Okla City Dec. 8 Center, Tulsa 13-14 "Our Town," NWOSU, Alva 1 Philharmonic Christmas 13-17 "Cymbeline," OU, Norman Concert, McMahon Aud, 15- "The Taming of the Shrew," Lawton Mar 1 American Theater Center, 1-9 National Finals Rodeo, Myriad, Tulsa Okla City "Not With My Daughter," 1-15 "The Stingiest Man In Town," Community Playhouse, Cabaret Supper Theater, Norman Ft Sill 15- "The Prince," Theater Tulsa, Mar 2 Tulsa 1-31 "Star Of Wonder," Kirkpatrick Planetarium, 16 Marion McPartland, Okla City Okla. "Pops," Okla City Jazz Concert, OSU, Stillwater 2,4 Spanish Festival, University Orchestra Concert, Okla Symphony, Okla City OSU, Stillwater 3 University Singers Concert, 21- "My Fair Lady," Southwest OCU, Okla City Stephanie Wolf and Peter Frame, shown above, will Mar 1 Playhouse, Clinton 3 Orchestra Concert, SWOSU, perform everyone's favorite ballet, "The Nutcracker; "for 21-23 "Rashamon," NWOSU, Alva Weatherford the first time Dec. 15-16 with the Oklahoma Ballet in 22 Cameron Jazz Festival, 5-9 Studio Theater: Leonce and Oklahoma Cit)! The Tulsa Ballet will dance the traditional McMahon Aud, Lawton Lena, OU, Norman Christmas ballet Dec. 6 in Ada as well as Dec. 22-23 "The Rainmaker," 6 Elmar Oliveira, violinist, in Tulsa. Bartlesville will present "The Nutcracker" Community Theater, El Reno Philharmonic, Tulsa Dec. 15-16. Alvin Ailey American Dance 3 "The Nutcracker," The famous San Francisco Ballet also will be per- Theater, Tulsa Tulsa Ballet, Ada forming in Oklahoma City Feb. 26-27. San Francisco Ballet, 6-9 "A Christmas Carol," OU, Another holiday favorite in the Lawton area is "The Civic Center, Okla City Norman Stingiest Man In Town," performed annually at the Fort 29- "Company," Denney Playhouse 6-9 "My Three Angels," OCU, Sill Cabaret Supper Theater. The play is a spoof of Mar 8 Lawton Okla City Dickens: '1 Christmas Caro1,"which will also be MARCH 6-16 "A Christmas Carol," entertaining audiences across the state. 6-16 "Dark Of The Moon." Okla Theater Center, The wonderful "Russian Easter Overture" will be a Okla Theater center, Okla City highlight of the Russian Festival to be performed by the Okla City Texas Christian University Choir and the Oklahoma 7-15 "Ladies At The Alamo," OU, Barbershop Singers, Norman Symphony in Oklahoma City during January. Russian McMahon Aud, Lawton 7-15 "The Taming Of The Shrew," music can also be enjoyed when the University of Oklahoma performs the ballet, "The Firebird," in March. Alvaro Cassuto, guest con- Denney Playhouse, Lawton ductor, Okla Symphony, 7 "The Lion Who Wouldn't," The first production of a major Wagnerian opera in Okla City OSU, Stillwater Oklahoma will take place in Tulsa March 11- 15 when an international cast will sing 'Die Walkure" at the "Die Walkure," 3 The Messiah, USAO, Chickasha Performing Arts Cente~ Tulsa Opera, Tulsa 3 Lawton Ballet, McMahon Aud, Good theater -both professional and community - "Cat On A Hot Tin Roof," Lawton is a highlight of the winter season throughout the state. Gaslight Theater, Enid 3 Christmas Choral Concert, Melba Moore, Okla "Pops," SWOSU, Weatherford Okla Citv "Ceremony of Carols," OCU, Choral spring Concert, Okla Citv SWOSU, Weatherford Christmas concert, OSU, ENTERTAINMENT 19 -23 "The Blacks," OU, Norman Stillwater 21- "Ah Wilderness!", American University-Metropolitan CALENDAR Apr 5 Theater Center, Tulsa Symphony Orchestra, 21 Stephen Kates, cellist, Okla City Philharmonic, Tulsa Alicia de Larrocha, pianist, Roger Wagner Chorale, Philharmonic, Tulsa 25-26 "No Sex Please, We're British," Philharmonic, Tulsa "A Christmas Carol," Gaslight Theater, Enid "The Misanthrope," OCU, American Theater Center, 27-29 Lukas Foss, guest conductor, Okla City Tulsa Okla Symphony, Okla City Bach Festival, SWOSU, "The Nutcracker," Civic Center, 30 Istomin, Stern & Rose Trio, Weatherford Okla City Philharmonic, Tulsa 28- "The Firebird," OU, Norman "The Nutcracker," Bartlesville 31 "Jury Cabaret," Apr 5 "The Nutcracker," Performing Goddard Center, Ardrnore 29 Jean-Pierre Rampal, flutist, Arts Center, Tulsa FEBRUARY Philharmonic, Tulsa 7-17 "The Oldest Living Graduate," TANUARY Okla Theater Center, 5 Hank Thompson, Okla "Pops," Okla City Okla Citv 7-23 "A Minor Talent," Cabaret 10-20 "LUV," 0kla Theater Center, Supper Theater, Ft Sill Martin Park Nature Center; opposite, offers a relaxing Okla City 8 Jazz Festival, SWOSU, change of pace. Located in far northwest Oklahoma City 11-19 "The Subject Was Roses," Weatherford at Meridian Avenue and Memorial Road, the center Denney Playhouse, Lawton 8-10 "Ballad of Baby Doe," OCU, provides 2% miles of wood-chip foot trails and is 13,15 Russian Festival, Okla City home for a variety of wildlife and more than 180 Okla Symphony, Okla City 8-16 "The Dark Horse," OU, Norman species of birds. 18 All Gershwin Concert, 9 Peter Nero, pianist, Okla "Pops", Okla City Philharmonic, Lawton Photo by Fred Manrel.

TH IRTY-EIG HT OKLAHOMA TODAY