Press Release
May 28, 2026
Contact: Jessica Brogdon
Oklahoma Historical Society
Office: 405-967-9487
[email protected]
okhistory.org/grants
Okfuskee County Historical Society Awarded $20,311 Through the Oklahoma Heritage Preservation Grant Program
OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma Historical Society is pleased to announce that the Okfuskee County Historical Society has been awarded $20,311 through the Oklahoma Heritage Preservation Grant Program. This grant will be used to purchase professional scanning equipment to digitize and preserve the Okfuskee County Historical Society’s most significant collections—protecting fragile materials from deterioration while expanding public access through high-quality digital archives for researchers, educators, and the broader community.
“The Okfuskee County Historical Society preserves the history of Okfuskee County dating back to 1890,” said president Ronald Gott. “For decades, our records—covering families, veterans, cemeteries, schools, churches, and local businesses—have been carefully maintained in bound volumes and archival books. We are now launching a digitization initiative to protect these aging records and make them accessible online. By converting our collections to digital format, we will preserve fragile materials, improve research access for genealogists and families, and share our community’s story worldwide. Our goal is to ensure that Okfuskee County’s rich heritage remains protected and available for future generations.”
“With this well-deserving grant, Okfuskee County Historical Society will be able to further preserve the area’s rich heritage for future generations and use their collection to tell the story of Okfuskee County’s past,” said Rep. David Smith of Arpelar. “This grant will ensure the further celebration of Okfuskee County thanks to the new methods and technology to preserve the county’s rich heritage for upcoming generations.”
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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