Press Release
April 25, 2025
Contact: Jessica Brogdon
Oklahoma Historical Society
Office: 405-522-0780
[email protected]
okhistory.org/grants
The Chisholm Awarded $25,000 for Oklahoma Heritage Preservation Grant Project
OKLAHOMA CITY — The Oklahoma Historical Society (OHS) is pleased to announce that The Chisholm has been awarded $25,000 through the Oklahoma Heritage Preservation Grant Program. This funding will support expanding its digitization capacity, enabling collaboration with community stakeholders to identify digital content and transition additional resources to The Gateway to Oklahoma History.
“I am pleased to hear the Oklahoma Historical Society Board has awarded two grants in my district to The Chisholm in Kingfisher, along with the Okeene Historic Preservation Group,” stated Rep. Mike Dobrinski, Okeene, who had two grantees in his district. “Both of these organizations provide valuable historic resources in my district, and work very hard not only to ensure local history is preserved but do so economically in a sustainable fashion. It is my honor to represent both of these fine organizations and continue to support and promote the efforts of OHS at the Capitol.”
“The Chisholm houses a unique and extensive photograph collection that chronicles rural life in western Oklahoma through more than 100,000 images from the 1910s through the 1970s,” stated Jason R. Harris, executive director. “These pictures capture the essence of life in Oklahoma throughout the period. This grant will help us continue to make this collection available to the public.”
The Oklahoma Heritage Preservation Grant Program awarded more than $577,000 to 40 projects statewide this year, supporting initiatives such as collections care, exhibit development, strategic planning and educational programming.
“The Oklahoma Heritage Preservation Grant Program is a powerful tool for connecting communities with their history,” said Trait Thompson, executive director of the Oklahoma Historical Society. “These grants help local organizations preserve and share stories that might otherwise be lost, strengthening our shared identity and ensuring that future generations can experience Oklahoma’s rich heritage.”
The grant program supports tribal and municipal governments and not-for-profit historical organizations throughout the state. Awards range from $1,000 to $25,000 for projects that advance the collection, preservation and sharing of Oklahoma history. Applications for the next grant cycle will open this fall. For more information, visit okhistory.org/grants.
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 okhistory.org.
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