OHS Announces Two Matching Grants from the Kirkpatrick Family Fund
Contact: Tim Zwink
(405) 522-5217
Oklahoma City, OK
January 11, 2008
For Immediate Release
The Oklahoma Historical Society announced today the award of two matching grants from the Kirkpatrick Family Fund to build charitable endowments at the Oklahoma City Community Foundation. “The Kirkpatrick Family Fund awarded $8,000 to help build an endowment for the Carnegie Library in Guthrie and $20,000 toward an endowment for the Cross S. Ranch House in southwest Oklahoma,” announced Dr. Blackburn, executive director of the Oklahoma Historical Society. “The OHS has until December 31, 2008, to raise the required matching funds to complete the endowments,” continued Blackburn.
The Carnegie Library fund is being established to help with the cost of maintaining and restoring the library. Constructed in 1902-03, Guthrie’s Carnegie Library is the oldest still standing in Oklahoma. The library played a center role in early Oklahoma politic. Frank Frantz, the last territorial governor, was inaugurated on the library’s front steps on January 5, 1906, and Charles N. Haskell, the first state governor, took the oath of office on those same steps on November 16, 1907. Just before the Haskell inauguration, a symbolic wedding uniting Mr. Oklahoma and Miss Indian Territory was performed.
Blackburn reported, “The endowment fund for the Carnegie Library was initiated by two large private gifts from the Davis Family, formerly of Guthrie, and Jeff and Carol Hirzel. These individuals have made a very special gift to Oklahoma.”
According to Blackburn, “a group of citizens in southwestern Oklahoma are working to ensure the Cross S. Ranch House survives. Due to its deteriorated condition and isolated location, the group approached the OHS board about moving the building to the grounds of the Museum of the Western Prairie in Altus. The board approved the move provided the funds could be raised privately for moving and restoration and that an endowment fund be established to ensure its continued preservation.”
The Eddleman brothers established the Cross S Ranch in the Olustee area. The headquarters of their ranch was a small two-story rock ranch house built in 1891. This ranch house once rested in prime open-range grassland along the Western cattle trail. The Western Trail had a short life, and was largely replaced by the 1885 construction of the Fort Worth and Denver Railroad, but it proved to be a gateway for more settlement of the area north of the Red River. The open range dwindled as homesteaders staked out land for themselves so the Eddleman’s homesteaded a claim and transformed their ranch into a smaller operation focusing on horse breeding instead of cattle.
“The establishment of these endowments are vital to ensuring that the properties will be passed on to future generations of Oklahomans,” commented Blackburn.
For more information on these endowment funds contact Tim Zwink, development director for the OHS at 522-5217.