Vol. 39, No. 2 Published monthly by the Oklahoma Historical Society, serving since 1893 February 2008 Fort Gibson excavation uncovers new details of historic site More of the archaeological resources of the Oklahoma Historical Society’s Fort Gib- son Historic Site were revealed through trowel and screen in excavations on Novem- ber 2 through 5, 2007, according to Bob Rea, OHS Military Sites director. Previous investi- gations at the WPA–built replica stockade site, using the historic record, coring, geo- physical survey, and excavations, had lo- cated remnants of the original Fort Gibson stockade. That dig, conducted on March 26–29, 2007 (see Mistletoe Leaves,May 2007), had uncovered stone foundations at two locations that supported the stock- ade’s log-walled buildings. “Those discover- ies were the culmination of many years of speculation and research that settled the long-standing debate over the original site,” said Rea. With that knowledge in hand, more extensive investigative efforts were developed to expand the knowledge and understanding of history at Fort Gibson. A plan for further testing came together November 2–5, 2007, as volunteers and staff expanded on the work started in March. According to Rea, this time the pro- ject was a cooperative effort between the Oklahoma Historical Society, Dr. Leland Bement, Oklahoma Archaeological Survey, Although the purpose of excava- and volunteers from the Oklahoma An- tions and the project’s most signif- thropological Society. Bement supervised icant finds were the locating of the staff and the OAS membership that con- stone foundations, the emergence sisted of people from all backgrounds with of material culture items from the an intense interest in Oklahoma archaeol- units provided more verification of ogy. With about thirty participants working the archaeological timeline. Mili- alternately over the four-day period, the tary and civilian artifacts included trowel and screen work proceeded at a items from the early nineteenth steady pace. “The volunteers’ combined century through the later WPA years of experience, their perseverance in stockade construction. “As is often boring through layers of rock, and their the case in archaeology, questions plain old hard work were essential to the resolved often lead to more ques- success of the project,” Rea added. tions that beg for answers. Al- The areas adjacent to the two locations though a good deal of what re- uncovered in March were extended to learn mains has been located, more more about the structure. At the first loca- work at the site is needed to iden- tion, a grid series of test units revealed two tify additional resources in order parallel lines of dressed-stone foundations to better protect them,” noted Rea. that supported the log walls with the re- Project participants were Dr. mains of a fireplace hearth between them. Leland Bement, Oklahoma Ar- The second area revealed similar informa- chaeological Survey, as supervis- tion. Additional finds from the November ing archaeologist, OHS Military work were that of two separate remnants of Sites Director Bob Rea, and Fort stone foundations located on private prop- Towson site supervisor John Da- erty. With these two additional sites, the vis. The Fort Gibson staff included general size and extent of the original David Fowler, Omar Reed, and stockade can now be determined. A good ChrisMorgan.Themembersofthe deal of the stockade had been destroyed Oklahoma Anthropological Society over the years by the construction of a rail- are due a large thank-you for road bed, roads, residences, and the WPA making the project a success. stockade itself. (Photos by Bob Rea). In 1964 the collecting impulse expanded New Members, December 2007 into museums and sites scattered across the state. In addition to the financial and * Indicates renewed memberships in a higher category. organizational demands of a mini-empire, the role of employer and community lead- Director’s Circle ership in rural areas pulled the Oklahoma M. Stanley Lee, Oklahoma City Director’s *Tom and Phyllis McCasland, Dallas, TX Historical Society into the orbit of the J. B. and Patti Saunders, Edmond Column legislature. New opportunities surfaced in the 1970s Fellow and 1980s as federal grants opened doors Mike and Julie Ann Wiley, Edmond and raised standards. As the staff ex- Associate panded with a new generation of ambitious Norman and Sue Ann Duckworth, Tulsa baby boomers, the internal demands for Randy Floyd, Oklahoma City By Bob L. Blackburn expanded programs matched the external Friend Executive Director expectations for something other than Lester and Marilyn Branch, Guthrie collecting. *Mike and Susan Edwards, Oklahoma City *Jerry and Donna Goodman, Tulsa That long and winding road led to the As a historian, I have been trained to rec- *Tom Klos, Oklahoma City Oklahoma History Center, a reorganization Mrs. Monir Mohmadi, Nichols Hills ognize the ebb and flow of good times, bad of the staff, and higher standards in all pro- *Elizabeth Rasmussen, Edmond times, the right decisions, and the wrong grams. The results are evident everywhere, *Spiro State Bank, Spiro directions. Whether it is the history of a from museums and historic sites to the Family person, an institution, or a city, each story digital revolution and the aggressive mar- Carolyn Abernathy, Tulsa is structured around those turning points. keting of services and programs. John and Catherine Armitage, Oklahoma City Dr. and Mrs. Glenn A. Ashmore, Oklahoma City The story of the Oklahoma Historical So- So where does the story go now? ciety is no different. Brian and Amanda Bell, Yukon The Oklahoma Historical Society is Sheila Brecht, Ardmore Birth came in 1893 when a group of pio- poised for another turn in the road. We Ashley Cagle and Kathy Cagle, Lawton Dana Cesar, Oklahoma City neers gathered in Kingfisher and decided to have the leadership with the best board in create an organization to collect newspa- Robert and Kathy Crout, Mustang state government. We have a strong staff of Charles and Christine Dettlaff, Yukon pers and other materials documenting the dedicated public servants who are not Carolyn DuBois, Anadarko Joe and Eunice Ellis, Oklahoma City drama they were experiencing. afraid to push and pull a heavy load. And Adolescence came with the stature of Bill Frosch, Oklahoma City we have a public that is ready to support Richard and Janice Goforth, Welling territorial and state status, a move to the our efforts. Margie Hamilton, Anadarko campus in Norman, and the shift back to While in the heat of battle, we must step Lawrence and Gay Hellman, Oklahoma City the nonacademic world in 1902 with the Kay Herman, Raleigh, NC back a little and look at the distant horizon. *Van and Liz Hughes, Edmond move to the Carnegie Library in Oklahoma We must check our priorities, list our as- Brenda Jindra, Cashion City. Lorne Johnson, Clinton sets, and recognize obstacles in our way. Peggy King, Edmond The organization entered its young As a historian, it is my pleasure to both adulthood in 1930 when it moved into the Rosemary Kramme, Oklahoma City observe and be part of that story as it un- Sherry Kueffler, Midwest City Wiley Post Historical Building at Northeast folds into the future. To me, it is a bright Donisha Lane, Tulsa Twenty-first and Lincoln Blvd. Experience Joyce Lasley, Shawnee and promising future. Mr. and Mrs. Rick Lippert, Oklahoma City was gained through aggressive collecting, es- Jeanne Love, Anadarko pecially the Indian Archives, the growing Bobby and Ann McDonald, Oklahoma City newspaper collection, and genealogical ma- Donald L. Miller, Edmond terials tracing the collective experiences of Saralin Mitchell, Enid *Albert and Linda Myers, Pryor Oklahoma families. *Thomas and Martha Jane Nash, Dallas, TX *Jimmy and Freda Owens, Vian DeAnn Parham, Oklahoma City Development News Cont’d. on page 3 By Tim Zwink Oklahoma Historical Society I am very pleased to announce that we re- Publications Division cently received notification that the trustees of the Kirkpatrick Family Fund have awarded two Dianna Everett, Ph.D., Editor Linda D. Wilson, Assistant Editor grants to the Oklahoma Historical Society. William E. Siemens, Graphic Artist The first is a matching grant in the amount of $8,000 to create an endowment fund at the Membership Office: Alma Moore 405/522-5242 Oklahoma City Community Foundation to provide support for the Guthrie Carnegie Li- <[email protected]> brary. The match amount for this grant is $12,000. Proceeds from this endowment will be Mistletoe Leaves (USPS 018–315) is published monthly by the Oklahoma Historical Society, 2401 N. Laird Avenue, Oklahoma City, OK 73105–7914. used for regular maintenance and repairs for the Carnegie Library, the second of its kind Periodicals postage paid at Oklahoma City, OK. (ISSN 1932-0108) built in Oklahoma and the oldest still in existence in the state. This Carnegie Library was POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Mistletoe Leaves, 2401 N. Laird Ave- completed in 1902, using funds donated by Andrew Carnegie to cover the $25,000 con- nue, Oklahoma City, OK 73105–7914. By authorization of the Oklahoma Historical Society’s Board of Directors, struction costs. Charles N. Haskell, Oklahoma’s first governor, was inaugurated on the 5,100 copies are prepared at a cost of $1,025.00 each month. The publication is financed in part with federal funds from the National Park Service, United building’s south steps one hundred years ago. States Department of the Interior. Contents and opinions do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the The second is another matching grant in the amount of $20,000 to establish an endow- Oklahoma Historical Society or the United States Department of the Interior. Mention of trade names does not constitute endorsement or recommendation ment fund at the Oklahoma City Community Foundation to provide support for the Cross S by either organization.