Vol. 43, No. 10 Published monthly by the Oklahoma Historical Society, serving since 1893 October 2012 Fall encampment at Fort Gibson Troops from the 1830s will once again garrison Fort Gibson for the annual Fall Encampment on October 12 and 13. The event portrays the Arkansas Volunteer Militia as well as regular troops who were at the fort during the Indian Removal period. This event will not include a battle reenactment, but living history interpreters will encamp in and around the log fort to show visitors the roles played by soldiers and civilians attached to the post during the 1830s. Planned presentations include military music, drill, blacksmithing, medicine, cooking, and games and pastimes. Also featured this year will be the post’s historic 1830s officers’ garden. Watch soldiers drill with their muskets, listen to the fifes and drums play patriotic music, and feel the boom as the cannons are fired. Friday, October 12, will be an education day geared toward teaching students about nineteenth-century military life in Indian Territory. Educators may bring classes to the site starting at 10 a.m. All ages are welcome. Saturday is a day for the whole family to get a taste of historic military life. Come experience life in the 1830s, celebrate the 188th year of Fort Gibson, and Above: Soldiers folding flags at the end of the day. interact with soldiers and civilians alike. Admission is free. Below: Military drummers. Lower left: Dragoons practicing mounted tactics. The Fall Encampment is presented by the Oklahoma Historical Society, the Friends of Fort Gibson, and the Sixth Infantry Living History Association. Fort Gibson Historic Site is on State Highway 80 in Fort Gibson. For more information, call 918/478-4088 or email [email protected]. Talk with artist Bobbin lace class with Crumbo-Halsey Lacemakers Guild of Oklahoma The History Center will host artist Minisa Crumbo-Halsey for a special gallery walk- The Oklahoma History Center will host a bobbin lace class with the Lacemakers Guild and-talk on Saturday, October 13, from of Oklahoma on October 13. Bobbin lace is a lacemaking technique that uses bobbins 1 to 3 p.m. Museum visitors will have to control the threads as the lacemaker weaves and ties them into intricate designs. the chance to explore the exhibit Spirit Bobbin lacemaking is a fascinating historic art that dates back to the sixteenth century. Talk with Crumbo-Halsey as well as ask It requires the lacemaker to use both hands. questions of the artist. The initial gallery The lacemaking class will introduce students to the art of bobbin lacemaking and walk will begin at 1 p.m. followed by a guide them through a bobbin lace project. This project will teach students a number of come-and-go reception with Crumbo- important techniques that can later be used in other projects including doilies, book- Halsey. marks, framed artwork, and garment embellishment. No prior experience is required. In her artwork, Crumbo-Halsey facilitates The guild will provide two to three members to assist with the hands-on portion of the and presents universal traditional women's class. ways and endeavors to work in balance The class will run from 1 to 4 p.m. and registration is required. The registration fee for and harmony with the natural and the class is $15 and includes all materials. Class size is limited to provide one-on-one spiritual elements of “Mother Earth and instruction. For more information or to register, please contact Leah Craig at lcraig@ Father Sky-Sun . that we might truly okhistory.org or by phone at 405/522-0793. be alive in a living world.” This program The Lacemakers Guild of Oklahoma is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the study, is free with museum admission. For creation, and preservation of lacemaking techniques. You may learn more about the more information, contact Jason Harris Lacemakers Guild of Oklahoma by visiting http://lacemakersoklahoma.weebly.com. at [email protected] or by phone at 405/522-0785. Let me use one example to illustrate how New members, August 2012 good strategic planning can accomplish *Indicates renewed membership at a all of these goals. higher level We are discussing a major project called Director’s Circle “Crossroads of Commerce.” In essence, *Mr. and Mrs. Page Dobson, Oklahoma City this effort to focus on the history of Associate Director’s economic development in Oklahoma will *Oakley Deisenroth, Tulsa be a multilayered project that balances *Mr. and Mrs. John Meikle, Edmond Column *Mr. and Mrs. James Turrentine, Ardmore collecting, preserving, and sharing, *Mr. and Mrs. William Woodard, Bartlesville motivates the staff, overlaps each of the operational divisions, and utilizes the Friend *Mr. and Mrs. Pete Holcombe, Oklahoma City statewide leadership qualities of the *Anna Smith, Winston-Salem, NC board members. Suzanne Tate, Dover The project will be statewide, taking us *Mr. and Mrs. Douglas Young, Park Hill anywhere that Oklahomans have bridged Family By Bob L. Blackburn the gulf between assets and markets for Executive Director Brent Alexander, Oklahoma City products and services. It will span the Michael Alvernaz, Edmond Sometimes I feel that the future of the Dana Anderson, Norman centuries, taking us back to the Wichita Sandra Austin, Midwest City Oklahoma Historical Society is one big of the eighteenth century who were the Paige Autry, Oklahoma City balancing act. middle men connecting markets in New *Dr. and Mrs. Kevin Avery, Oklahoma City With the general public, it is a balancing *Mr. and Mrs. William Bennett, Crescent Orleans and France with the buffalo Joyce Bliss, Norman act of investing resources by time periods, hides, deer skins, and horses owned Terry Brennan, Piedmont geographical regions, and thematic by the Comanche, and reach into the *Barney Brown, Oklahoma City Mr. and Mrs. Nathan Brubaker, Oklahoma City subjects. modern era with stories such as Sonic Stella Burnett, Midwest City With the operational divisions, it and Ditch Witch. Nancy Cain, Oklahoma City is a balancing act of allocating time, Linda Campbell, Midwest City In terms of collecting, we will gather Martin Cash, Prague resources, and personal engagement. biographical and family stories, business Pam Chandler, Midwest City With the staff, it is a balancing act records, and artifacts that illustrate the Brenda Clink, Oklahoma City of mission and organization, duties Mr. and Mrs. Harold Clinkenbeard, Richardson, TX process of adding value to individual Jennifer Coleman, Mounds and compensation, work fatigue and skills, products, and services that Joyce Coombes, Bethany motivation. someone was willing to purchase. Elizabeth Cooper, Oklahoma City Mary Dean, Oklahoma City One balancing act that spans all of these The possibilities for sharing this story Christine DiGiovanni, Edmond considerations, and probably one that are endless, now and in the future. There Mr. and Mrs. V. Baillie Dunlap, Oklahoma City will have the greatest long-term impact, Mr. and Mrs. Jay Engelbach, Oklahoma City will be one major exhibit at the Oklahoma Fred Fanson, Oklahoma City is the art of strategic planning. History Center, but the collection will Don Finley, Yukon How do we accomplish our core mission offer opportunities for exhibits at other Mr. and Mrs. Robert Gancarz, Moore of collecting, preserving, and sharing? Do *Nelda Garnder, Bartlesville sites and museums within our system Julia Goff, Oklahoma City we plow our resources into the long game as well as articles, books, and public Mr. and Mrs. Ben Goodwin, Bartlesville of gathering artifacts, documents, and programming. Mrs. Dru Graves, Bethany Krista Greer, Mounds information for use in the future? Do we Yes, sometimes I feel like the future of Judy Harvey, Oklahoma City slow the collecting impulse to take care the OHS is one long balancing act. With Bill Hill, Norman of what we already have? Do we go for Irene Jondahl, Arcadia projects like “Crossroads of Commerce,” Melissa Kamm, Edmond quicker and more easily funded goals like we will run at a high speed and keep all Ted Lam, Oklahoma City exhibits, education programming, and the balls in the air. Kathy Langley, Blanchard books? *Joy Luinstra, Bartlesville Paula Matlock, Oklahoma City James Miller, Dallas, TX cont’d. on p. 7. Development News Oklahoma Historical Society Membership Office: Alma Moore by Paul F. Lambert 405/522-5242 [email protected] In October members will receive a Mistletoe Leaves (USPS 018-315) is published monthly by the Oklahoma letter from Dr. Blackburn asking them Historical Society, 800 Nazih Zuhdi Dr., Oklahoma City, OK 73105-7917. to consider donating to our FY13 Annual Periodicals postage paid at Oklahoma City, OK. (ISSN 1932-0108) Giving Campaign. The purpose of the campaign is to raise additional funds to support Unless otherwise notated, all graphics created by Jennifer Towry. education programs, museum exhibits, and special events at the Oklahoma History POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Mistletoe Leaves, 800 Nazih Zuhdi Dr., Oklahoma City, OK 73105-7917. Center. In addition, members may specify other OHS museums and sites or projects to By authorization of the Oklahoma Historical Society’s Board of Directors, be supported by their donations. Private funds have made it possible for the Oklahoma 6,000 copies are prepared at a cost of $787 each month. The publication is financed in part with federal funds from the National Park Service, United History Center to achieve Smithsonian Institution and National Archives affiliate status. States Department of the Interior. Contents and opinions do not necessarily reflect the views or policies This campaign stands apart from annual membership donations, and tax-deductible of the Oklahoma Historical Society or the United States Department of the contributions to the campaign will not replace membership dues. Interior. Mention of trade names does not constitute endorsement or recom- mendation by either organization.