OHS Masthead
April 17, 2012

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Heritage Center Wins Innovator of the Year Award

 

The Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center was recently chosen by The Journal Record as a 2012 recipient of the Innovator of the Year Award for Innovative Partnership between a state agency and a local organization. The new Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center is the result of a unique operating partnership between the Oklahoma Historical Society which supplies the museum staff and owns and manages the facility and the Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center, Inc., a local non-profit that raised $10 million for the facility transformation and oversees daily operations.

 

Each spring the Innovator of the Year Awards are held to celebrate business innovation by honoring Oklahomans who set themselves apart with products and services that change the marketplace and make the state a better place to live and work.

 
For more information on the Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center visit www.csrhc.org.

Ongoing Excitement at the Oklahoma History Center Research Center

Oklahoma City, OK

by JA Pryse, Digital Projects Archivist

 

Throughout history humans have immortalized their cultures by sharing their lives with future generations. Through these records we have discovered worlds in which we will never live, memories of ancestors long past, cultural practices, government structures, architectural styles and mechanics, educational establishments, artistic preferences, and much more. The stories passed down represent areas of knowledge that have otherwise been lost. Over time cultures change, societies ebb and flow, and humans have been able to observe most cultures of the past through evolving technical advancements.

 

One such vehicle humans have employed to record their lives has been the use of the newspaper. Relative to Oklahoma history we look to the newspapers of our State. Though young in statehood, Oklahoma is very rich in history. Unbeknownst to many Oklahomans there have been more than 4,000 newspaper titles between the 1840's and the present date. This means millions of pages of newspapers. One such newspaper that has been a treasure in Oklahoma is The Black Dispatch.

 

The Black Dispatch was established in 1915 by Roscoe Dunjee to address and attack racial discrimination through a productive and informative platform. The written word is a powerful tool in relaying injustice as well as success. Dunjee set forth to accomplish both. The Oklahoma Historical Society has the fortune to have thousands of issues on microfilm. Within this collection of microfilm the OHS has digitized all issues from 1915-1923. To take it one step forward the OHS Digitization staff has edited images, condensed into readable formats, and taken the material through the process of Optical Character Recognition (OCR).

 

What does OCR mean to our members, patrons, and staff? Essentially this process allows the patron to search specific terms within each newspaper. For example, if a patron is researching a specific person and wanted article information, news or facts concerning the individual they would search the term within the year:The Black Dispatch   

 

         

 

 Newspaper Year: 1919

 Term: BOOKERTEE

           

 

 

 

  

The Black Dispatch has been an vital asset to the African American culture in Oklahoma City, as well as the Nation. Allowing for The Black Dispatch to be easily accessed and navigated will continue the true intent of Mr. Dunjee.

 

For first-hand experience, contact the Oklahoma Historical Society, Research Division, at (405)522-0689.

Murrell Home Flyer 

Oklahoma History Center

DONATE NOW   Download, fill out the annual giving form, and mail it to:

 

Development Department

Oklahoma Historical Society

800 Nazih Zuhdi Drive

Oklahoma City, OK  73105


For a full listing of benefits, download the membership 
brochure
.

Membership Brochure 2010  

OHS EVENTS   

 

4/28  Rural Heritage Festival, 10am, (580)336-2405
 
4/27  Spring Encampment, 10am, (918)478-4088

4/20  Tangible History "Staffordshire Pottery," 12:10-1pm, (918)336-2491x104

 

Oklahoma History Center:

4/26  The Homestead Act and Oklahoma's Land Runs, 7pm, (405)522-0785

 

4/28  Dutch Oven Cooking, 1pm-5pm, (405)522-0785









The Importance of History...
 
"History is philosophy teaching by example."
 
Dionysius
Oklahoma
 Historical Society 
800 Nazih Zuhdi Dr.
Oklahoma City, OK 
 73105
  

 Shelly Crynes, Editor

[email protected] 
(405)522-0317