Press Release
May 28, 2026
Contact: Jessica Brogdon
Oklahoma Historical Society
Office: 405-967-9487
[email protected]
okhistory.org/grants
Southwestern Oklahoma State University Foundation Awarded $24,967 Through the Oklahoma Heritage Preservation Grant Program
OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma Historical Society is pleased to announce that the Southwestern Oklahoma State University Foundation has been awarded $24,967 through the Oklahoma Heritage Preservation Grant Program. This grant will fund the digitization of 130 seven-inch film reels of SWOSU athletic competitions from the 1960s to the present, preserving them with archival materials and making them freely accessible online via the SWOSU Digital Commons.
“We are grateful to receive this preservation grant, which significantly strengthens our ability to safeguard and sustain important historical materials for future generations,” said Jason Dupree, library director at Southwestern Oklahoma State University. “This funding will directly support the stabilization of original films from deterioration, improve storage conditions, and enhance their access through digitization and documentation.”
The Oklahoma Heritage Preservation Grant Program is the Oklahoma Historical Society’s primary tool for supporting grassroots history and preservation efforts across the state. Through this year’s competitive grant cycle, the Oklahoma Historical Society Board of Directors approved $509,439 in awards to 30 eligible organizations, helping communities throughout Oklahoma preserve their unique histories and make them more accessible to the public.“The organizations receiving these grants are doing essential work to preserve Oklahoma’s history at the local level,” said Trait Thompson, executive director of the Oklahoma Historical Society. “Whether caring for collections, improving exhibits, or expanding educational programs, these projects help keep our shared history visible, accessible, and relevant across the state.”
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 improve collections stewardship, develop exhibits, expand public programs, and strengthen organizational capacity. Applications for the next grant cycle will open January 1, 2027. 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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