OHS EXTRA! from Oklahoma Historical Society

October 9, 2012

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CSRHC Volunteer Orientation
Thursday, October 11, 2012, 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center
Enid, OK

Come, stake your claim as a volunteer and be a part of all that's happening at the Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center. New Volunteer Orientation will be held on Thursday, October 11, 2012, from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the Conference Room of the Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center, 507 S. 4th Street, Enid.

The Heritage Center is looking for ethusiastic people who enjoy helping others and have a passion for history. There are a variety of fun and meaningful volunteer opportunities to choose from including information desk attendants, curatorial assistants and tour guides. There is a special need for volunteers interested in helping with Christmas in the Village.

Volunteers normally work one morning or afternoon shift per week. Shifts are available on weekdays and on weekends. Volunteer orientation provides an inside look at what being a member of the Heritage Center team is all about before making a decision. Following orientation, individuals will complete an interview process including a background check.

For more information on becoming a Heritage Center volunteer, please contact Andi Holland, Director, at (580) 237-1907 x223 or aholland@okhistory.org.

New Oklahoma City National Register Listings

The Oklahoma State Historic Preservation Office is pleased to announce one new National Register of Historic Places listing. The National Register of Historic Places is our nation's official list of properties significant in our past.

The Mayfair, located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma County is significant as an example of a property type that is specified in the multiple property form for "Midtown Brick Box Apartments, 1910-1935, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma."

These apartments help convey the historic development and growth in the Midtown area of Oklahoma City. The Mayfair is among the last of the Midtown Brick Box Apartments to be constructed during the period of significance.

The Midtown Brick Box Apartments represent a distinct alteration in the Midtown's previous forms of multi-family dwellings such as wood-framed duplexes, or flats for two, four or six families. The Brick Box Apartments are significantly different from these housing forms and they provided amenities such as the "latest" in kitchens and bathrooms, as well as personal services that were not available in more basic multiple dwellings.

Perhaps more importantly, the Mayfair represents a portion of the city's social history because it helps reflect the transitions in living areas for white collar workers, and it represents their ideas about what was acceptable apartment housing. When the Mayfair was constructed, most wealthy residents who settled in Midtown prior to 1910, had continued to move north both within Midtown and out of the Midtown area from 1910 to 1935. During this period, blue collar workers had continued to move north as well, moving further into Midtown but staying mostly south of NW 10th Street. Midtown by 1930 tended to be white collar north of NW 10th Street, and blue collar south. The Mayfair's location was in the northern most section of Midtown, an area where the more well-to-do moved as they continued their northward migration into other areas over several decades.

Listing in the National Register is an honorific designation that provides recognition, limited protection and, in some cases, financial incentives for these important properties. The SHPO identifies, evaluates, and nominates properties for this special designation.

For detailed information, contact Lynda Ozan at (405)522-4478 or email lozan@okhistory.org.

Project OKPOP

Okie Creative Highlight

Patti Page

By Nicole Harvey

Getting her start on Tulsa's, KTUL, Claremore native Patti Page, then Clara Ann Fowler, went on to be one of Oklahoma's biggest stars. Taking her stage name from KTUL's program sponsor, Page Milk Company, Page released her first hit single "Confess" in 1948. She earned her first gold record with her next single, "With My Eyes Wide Open I'm Dreaming". One year later, she recorded "Tennessee Waltz" which was the largest-selling single in country music history. Aside from a prolific music career, Page also made the transition into film teaming up with fellow Oklahomans James Garner and Tony Randall in Boys' Night Out (1962)

"I am very proud of the fact that I grew up in Oklahoma," Page said about the prospect of the new OKPOP museum in a recent interview with Oklahoma Historical Society staff. "I think that it's something that they should see and appreciate, and know that they could be there, too. I just want to commend you on what you're planning to do. I think that's fabulous. There aren't many states like that that have people that want to do that."

The OKPOP Museum, located in the Brady Arts District of Tulsa, will be a 75,000 square-foot, four story building dedicated to the creative spirit of Oklahoma's people and the influence of Oklahoma artists on popular culture around the world. The underlying theme of this innovative and interactive museum will be "Crossroads of Creativity," whether it is in the field of music, film, television, theatre, pop art, comic book, literature or humor. The museum will collect artifacts, archival materials, film and video and audio recordings that reflect Oklahoma's influence nationally and internationally.