Education Classes and Programs
at the Oklahoma History Center
“Fear and Scapegoating during a Pandemic,” Pandemic Perspectives: Stories Through Collections (virtual)
Tuesday, September 29, 3 to 4 p.m.
The National Museum of American History is launching a series of talks that combine questions raised by the current pandemics and historic objects in the national collections. Curators and historians will virtually share objects, using them as a springboard for a lively discussion that explores how the past can help us better understand the present. The format will be a moderated dialogue among panelists with the audience posing questions. This event is free, but preregistration is required.
The blame game associated with the COVID-19 pandemic is nothing new. Xenophobia, ethnic scapegoating, and racial fault have long been associated with communicable diseases. Drawing on museum collections, speakers will explore the history of government leaders, the media, and the public at large blaming immigrants and underserved communities for epidemics, and will discuss how to break this pattern for the future.
“The Legacy of the Green Book” presentation (virtual)
Thursday, October 15, 6 p.m.
Join Smithsonian Affiliations, the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service, and author, photographer, and cultural documentarian Candacy Taylor to explore the legacy of the Green Book, its impact on communities, businesses, and families, and its relevance today. This virtual Zoom event will be a simultaneous broadcast to select Smithsonian Affiliate partners only. After the program’s interview segment, participants will have the opportunity to submit questions in the chat.
In 1936, Victor Hugo Green, a Harlem postman, began publishing a guide for African American travelers to offer travel options during America’s Jim Crow era. The Green Book, as it was known, was a sustained success—for almost thirty years—providing Black travelers information on hotels, restaurants, service stations, and other facilities where they could expect welcome “without humiliation.”
“Cemetery Symbols: Carved in Stone” program (virtual)
Saturday, October 31, 1 to 3 p.m.
Join us as we explore the meaning behind historic gravestones. Gravestones and cemeteries are rich in a language of symbols, and symbols can be difficult to interpret because their meaning changes over time. By examining the grave markers, one can learn more than just the person’s name. This virtual class will provide the skills necessary to investigate the past through tombstones. The cost is $5 for OHS members and $10 for nonmembers. Registration opens on September 18 and closes on October 15.
To find out about all OHS classes, programs, and events across the state, view the online calendar.