Press Release
September 29, 2016
Contact: Steve Hawkins
Oklahoma History Center, Oklahoma Historical Society
Office: 405-522-0754
shawkins@okhistory.org
www.okhistory.org/historycenter
Oklahoma History Center Artifacts Now Available to View on OHS Website
OKLAHOMA CITY — Artifacts housed at the Oklahoma History Center are now available to view from the Oklahoma Historical Society (OHS) website. Approximately 1,000 artifacts were selected by the curatorial staff to feature in the initial launch. Over the course of almost a year, staff meticulously cleaned and photographed objects, updated database records and researched biographical information to include in the new online catalog. Visitors can click on five different icons to see items in the museum’s American Indian, photographs, military, textiles and historical collections.
“This project has been on our wish list for several years,” said Sherry Massey, senior registrar at the History Center. “The most difficult task was to limit the initial launch to only 1,000 artifacts. Seeing the project come to fruition was possible only through a focused team effort. We hope to be able to include artifacts from OHS historic sites and museums across the state in the future.”
Photographs available to view include a large collection of rarely seen Wiley Post images, portraits of 89ers, Tom Mix movie stills and train images captured by renowned railroad photographer Preston George. Military artifacts cover the Civil War era through present day. The textiles section features everyday clothes, evening wear and a fun assortment of children’s clothing, as well as a sampling of the extensive hat collection. The historical icon links the visitor to records that run the gamut of art, furniture, Merci Train objects, clocks and Depression glass. The American Indian link highlights the collections for which the Oklahoma Historical Society is best known, including a wide selection of moccasins, baskets, pottery and clothing. New artifacts will be added to the online catalog frequently as new collections are accepted at the museum and old favorites are resurrected.
To view this new method of collecting, preserving and sharing Oklahoma’s rich history, visit okhistory.pastperfectonline.com or click on the “Museum Collections” link under the Oklahoma History Center tab on the OHS homepage, www.okhistory.org.
The Oklahoma History Center is a division of the Oklahoma Historical Society and is an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, National Archives and is an accredited member of the American Alliance of Museums. The mission of the Oklahoma Historical Society is to collect, preserve and share the history and culture of the state of Oklahoma and its people. Founded in 1893 by members of the Territorial Press Association, the OHS maintains museums, historic sites and affiliates across the state. Through its research archives, exhibits, educational programs and publications the OHS chronicles the rich history of Oklahoma. For more information about the OHS, please visit www.okhistory.org.
