subscribesubscriber servicescontact usabout ussite mapBuy a Classified
Tue, Dec 02 2008 

Published August 19, 2007 01:06 am -

Ancestors passed down great stories


By Nancy Calhoun
Genealogy and Local History, Muskogee Public Library

What a state! What a story!

People of all ages love a good story. Our ancestors traditionally passed down lessons to be learned and their heritage through stories and story tellers.

Bob L. Blackburn and Paul F. Lambert surely had that in mind when they chose how to tell the story of Oklahoma’s first 100 years in “You Know We Belong to the Land, the Centennial History of Oklahoma.” Events in Oklahoma’s history are told through stories about the people who lived it.

Lavishly illustrated with photographs and paintings, the book is a visual feast for Oklahoma enthusiasts. It includes photographs and references to Muskogee and the surrounding area. Sections are devoted to Muskogee notables Alice M. Robertson, J.J. “Jake” Simmons Jr., Alexander Posey, and Ora Eddleman.

Copies are available at Muskogee Public Library, both in the adult collection and in genealogy and local history.

Indian and pioneer papers

Other stories of Oklahoma people are included in the “Indian and Pioneer Papers.” More than 11,000 interviews were conducted by more than 100 writers scattered across the state. The headquarters was right here in Muskogee where Grant Foreman served as project director. Since the WPA project was undertaken in the late 1930s, there were plenty of pioneers alive who remembered Oklahoma statehood, pre-statehood, their move to Oklahoma, and even slavery.

The interviews were typed into more than 45,000 pages which filled 112 volumes. There are only two complete bound sets of the originals: one at the Oklahoma Historical Society and one at the University of Oklahoma. However, they are available on microfilm at Muskogee Public Library in genealogy and local history.

The interviews tell the story of the migration to Oklahoma and the pioneers’ early life here. Pioneers of all nationalities and from diverse backgrounds were interviewed. While not everyone has a relative in the papers, someone interviewed may have mentioned the relative or described the area where they resided. The set has over 85,000 index cards to aid in searching the collection.

Your story

Oklahoma’s centennial year is the ideal time to record your own Oklahoma experiences for the next generation.



print this story    email this story    comment on this story   

Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.




monster
wheels
Premier Guide
Find a business

Walking Fingers
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more...
Premier Guide


Find a job! Find a Home! Find a car!

Premier Guide

Premium Jobs

3307-Route Sales Rep
Needed immediately in Muskogee for established, well-respected company. Fantastic career opportunity with great starting...>MORE

3320-Receptionist
Busy medical office seeks front desk receptionist. Experience preffered. Must be able to handle various types of patient...>MORE

3306-Hourly Managers Needed
For ALL Muskogee Locations
Applications are being taken at the Braum's store at 301 North 32nd

ASSISTANT
...>MORE

3242-Sheet Metal Fabrication
(Experience Required)
Drafter
(Experience in CAD & Architectural Required)
IMMEDIATE JOB OPENINGS!!
...>MORE

3317-Customer Service Reps
Jackson Hewitt Tax Service Hiring FT/PT bilingual customer service reps. Will TRAIN! Some computer & people skilld requi...>MORE

3308-Federal Career Opportunities Available

VA Regional Office
Muskogee, OK

Apply your knowledge and skills serving our nation's veterans and
...>MORE

3295-Sales Opportunity
Are you driven to win, able to work independently, a goal setter? If so, we'lll help you succeed. We offer:
- Inten
...>MORE

3316-Restaurant Opening
Denny's Re-Opening SOON!
New Owners - New Management
Now accepting applications for all positions:
Cooks,
...>MORE

See all ads

Premium Autos

3321-2004 Chevy 3/4 ton
4x4 pickup, LS package, duramax, diesel, Allison Transmission. Regular Cab, 176K miles, $12,000. 918-689-0829...>MORE

3297-2005 Cobalt LS
68k mi., extras, premium sound, power int., cruise, 918-685-6620 ...>MORE

3319-Honda 2008
Charlie Robert Frank 230, excellent conditiion, less than 300 miles. New $4600, take $3500. Street legal & tagged. Benef...>MORE

See all ads

Premium Extras

3331-Pyrennes Puppies
1st shots and wormed. $50 each. 918-687-1721 or 360-3074...>MORE

3312-Kimball Spinet Piano
Beautiful Walnut cabinet $950. 918-557-1602...>MORE

3327-Registered Angus Bulls
1-16 months $950. 1-8 months $750. 918-645-2770 or 918-463-5333...>MORE

3313-AKC Siberian Huskies
6 weeks, beautiful blue eyes, 1 shots and wormed. $350. 918-869-1365...>MORE

3311-Miniature Poms
2 female, 8 wks, 1st shots & wormed. $350. Call 918-478-3429....>MORE

3328-Firewood
$50 a rick, 4x4, round bales, good quality $12. Ford 3000 tractor, works great $3300. 918-478-4106.521-2976....>MORE

3300-AKC Yellow Lab Puppies
7 wks, $250 ea., Adult Yellow AKC Lab, females, $100 ea. 918-822-3081. ...>MORE

3298-AKC ShihTzu
Cute Furballs, tri-colored. Call 918-683-4344...>MORE

See all ads


 

Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc.CNHI Classified Advertising NetworkCNHI News Service
Associated Press content © 2008. All rights reserved. AP content may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Our site is powered by Zope and our Internet Yellow Pages site is powered by PremierGuide.
Some parts of our site may require you to download the Flash Player Plugin.
View our Privacy Policy
Advertiser index