First Families of Oklahoma Exhibit Opens at Oklahoma History Center
Contact: Michael Dean
(405) 522-5241
Oklahoma City, OK
February 13, 2007
For Immediate Release
To mark the centennial of Oklahoma Statehood, the Oklahoma History Center is featuring a major exhibition on the lives of Oklahoma's governors and their families. The new exhibit will be on display thru the end of the year. Since 1907, 24 families have served the state as "First Family." The First Families of Oklahoma exhibit is displayed in the Oklahoma History Center first-floor Gaylord Special Exhibits Gallery. The Oklahoma History Center is located at 2401 N. Laird Avenue in Oklahoma City.
The display of artifacts, text and video features the turning points in the life of each governor rather than his politics. "Our hope is to put a human face on the leaders who have been willing to serve the people," said Dr. Bob L. Blackburn, executive director of the Oklahoma Historical Society. Blackburn along with OHS staff members including exhibits curators and research specialists have been working for almost a year in putting the exhibit together.
"We are telling each governors story from childhood to the decision to run for office, the campaign and the inauguration," added Blackburn.
Inside the exhibit, graphic panels offer short biographies, accompanied by "video scrapbooks." Each video scrapbook will, at the push of a button display pictures of the governor from childhood through his inauguration. Dispersed throughout the gallery are artifact cases featuring items donated by or loaned by each governor, including campaign materials and more personal mementoes.
"To get artifacts of the former governors, we simply had to explain the idea behind the exhibit and ask them for their help. They were all quite willing to help us obtain artifacts to tell stories that people might not know about their lives before they took their place in the Governors Mansion. The First ladies and other family members were also very helpful," said Blackburn.
Over the past several months Blackburn and a number of staff members from two divisions of the Oklahoma Historical Society have worked on the exhibit. The curators working on the project included: Exhibits Curators Elizabeth Baxter and Jill Holt, Museum IT Specialist Rillis Howard, Research Center Special Projects Specialist Larry O"Dell, and Research Video Archivist Bill Moore.
Deceased governors families were contacted as well, and they provided artifacts and photos. "Meeting with these folks and hearing their stories, especially the children who lived in the Governor's Mansion and helped on campaigns, has given us a great insight into the role of the family in the life of a governor," Blackburn said.
In addition, in the Samuel Roberts Noble Gallery on the third floor is an exhibit devoted to the First Ladies. It features photographs, artifacts relating to each woman's personal career and to her campaign contributions, several inaugural gowns and other apparel, such as Molly Boren's wedding dress.
The Chesapeake Corporation donated $275,000 to construct the exhibits.
The Oklahoma History Center is a Smithsonian Affiliate museum and as such features Smithsonian quality exhibits.
The regular admission charge for the museum is $5 for adults, $4 for senior citizens (age 62 and older), $3 for students and children ages five and under will be admitted free. In addition there is a family rate of $15 for an unlimited number of family members visiting the museum together. Group rates will be available. Organized student groups will be admitted free. There will not be a charge for access to the research library.
The Oklahoma History Center is located at 2401 N. Laird Street, the northeast corner of N.E. 23rd & Lincoln Blvd. just east of the Oklahoma State Capitol. Its hours of operation of the museum are Monday through Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Sunday Noon to 5:00 p.m. The museum will only be closed three days per year: News Years Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
For additional information about the exhibit and the Oklahoma History Center, call (405) 522-5248