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From Collections
George Shirk Manuscript Collection 1952-1969 [2010.115]
Oklahoma History Center
by JA Pryse
Oklahoma City was settled on April 22, 1889, by means of "The Land Run". Over 50,000 homesteaders rushed the unassigned land and claimed their piece of the 2 million acres.[1] Eighteen years later, John Henry Shirk brought his wife Carrie Hinderer Shirk to Oklahoma City and set into motion a future of historical changes. By 1913 when George Shirk was born, Oklahoma City was the largest city in Oklahoma.[2] In two decades following Shirks birth, Oklahoma City grew exponentially in its commercial, business and transportation industries. By 1928 Oklahoma City had a significant stockyard system and that same year oil was discovered.[3] Oklahoma was flourishing and so were its residents. As Oklahoma City was growing George Shirk was emergent in his life as well. His finished project would be a part of history and an important part of the Oklahoma Historical Society (OHS), which George Henry Shirk became a fundamental figure. The OHS was one of the most important parts of Shirk's life and his commitment to making the OHS thrive was remarkable.
George Henry Shirk was born May 1, 1913, in Oklahoma City. Shirk was born to John Henry and Carrie Hinderer Shirk of Goshen, Indiana. John Henry Shirk moved the family to Oklahoma City in 1907 to pursue a life and career. One hundred years later, Oklahoma City; a once inhospitable prairie, grew and prospered year after year, due in part by the contributions of the Shirk family.
The manuscript records from the life and career of George Henry Shirk consist of over 11 linear feet of correspondence, financial records, military notes, manuals, newspaper and magazine clippings, handwritten notes, brochures, banners, certifications, membership cards, oversized documents and newspapers, and publications.
The records have been compiled from several sources, which included significant contributions from the Oklahoma Historical Society (OHS). Other sources of contribution included family member Lucyl Shirk, George Shirk's sister and historian, as well as multiple organizations, groups and clubs with which Shirk was involved.
The collection includes over 20 years of documents from more than 30 committees, organizations, clubs and agencies including: The Oklahoma Historical Society, The National Trust for Historic Preservation, The Oklahoma State Preservation Society, multiple water project committees, City development committees, the Bicentennial Celebration Committee, the Oklahoma Civil War Centennial Commission, The Indian Territory Posse of Oklahoma Westerners, The Oklahoma State Fair Naming Streets Commission, Oklahoma Track Makers, multiple monument and marker committees, The Butterfield Overland Mail Centennial Committee, The Forts Sill Centennial Commission, The Frontiers of Science Foundation, The Chisholm Trail Centennial Commission, The Oklahoma Philatelic Society and the American Philatelic Society, The Urban Affairs Committee and the Oklahoma Urban Renewal Commission[4].
Shirk was a member of more than 100 different clubs and organizations. Clubs included: The Red Cross, The Zoological Society, The Army and Navy Club, The Texas Philatelic Club, The Beacon Club, The YMCA, The Indian Club, The Shriners, The Masonic Lodge, The Auto Club of America, and a vast number of additional clubs. Publications within the collection include: "100 Years After", multiple selections from "The Chronicles" written by George Shirk, book reviews, news clippings and the University of Oklahoma Press printed book titled, "Oklahoma Place Names". Other items that are included within the collection are stamps, rare publications and images.
Shirk's correspondence include some of Oklahoma's most well-known figures such as E.K. Gaylord (owner and publisher of the Daily Oklahoman newspaper and entrepreneur), Muriel Wright (teacher, editor, historian and Shirk's personal friend), Stanley Draper, J. Howard Edmondson (Governor of Oklahoma), Henry Bellmon (Governor of Oklahoma), and many more.
The OHS mission is "To preserve and perpetuate the history of Oklahoma, and its people, by collecting, interpreting and disseminating knowledge of Oklahoma and the Southwest" [5](OHS 2010). George Shirk fulfilled all of these aspects over his life and career and held Oklahoma and Oklahoma's great history close to his heart, even supplying his own time, finances, resources and knowledge. Shirk was an attorney, a Veteran, a Mayor, a business man, a historian, President of many organizations and most significantly a vehicle of hope for our great city.
[1]Everett, Dianna, The Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture. 2, Dianna Everett. Oklahoma City: Oklahoma Historical Society, 2009.
[2] Meredith, Howard. Mr. Oklahoma History. Odie B. Faulk. Oklahoma City: Western Heritage Books, 1982
[4] George Shirk Collection, Oklahoma Historical Society Research Division 1952-1969
[5]Oklahoma Historical Society, "About the OHS." 2010. http://www.okhistory.org/about.html (accessed November 27, 2010). |
ph Warrick. It formerly belonged to Janet and Joseph's mother, Lucille Warrick, who had received it as a gift from her uncle Walter Johnson, while growing up in Pawhuska, Oklahoma, during the 1930s. Mr. Johson, the original owner of this doll, served in the Oklahoma legislature during the 1930s, as head of the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, and as director of the Johnson Funeral Home in Pawhuska from 1934 to 1979. This doll was displayed in Lucille Warrick's home in Edmond from 1960 to 2009.
