February 11, 2014
OKPOP Museum Begins Production of Documentary Focused on the Life and Legacy of Bob Wills
The Oklahoma Historical Society's Oklahoma Museum of Popular Culture (OKPOP) announces its upcoming OKPOP+Films documentary series, which will examine Oklahoma stories from the world of popular culture and the influence of those stories on today's entertainers. The series will begin by exploring the life and legacy of the King of Western Swing, Bob Wills, with the documentary "Still the King: Bob Wills. The Man. The Music."

The project will showcase hundreds of photographs, artifacts, audio recordings and film clips from the Bob Wills Estate that were presented to the Oklahoma Historical Society to be part of the permanent collections at the OKPOP. 

The OKPOP staff will be working with documentarians Kevin Meyer and Chris Turner to create a film that tells the story of Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys with interviews from people influenced by his music. "The Historical Society is already creating the content for the OKPOP Museum. Beyond collecting and preserving the photographs, documents and artifacts, we need to share these stories with the world," said Jeff Moore, project director for the OKPOP Museum. "A first-rate documentary allows us to share these stories with new audiences."

To jumpstart the fundraising for the project, Meyer and Turner have launched a crowdfunding page on the popular A&E-sponsored site RocketHub. This gives Oklahomans and music lovers around the world the opportunity to help and participate in the documentary. Over the next three months, the duo hopes to raise $250,000 to cover the expenses. The RocketHub page, which launched on Feb. 9 with a May 6 end date, can be found at www.okpop.org. The documentaries and footage will be housed in the OKPOP museum and incorporated into the final interactive exhibits.

"We are using the same business plan that we used when the Oklahoma Historical Society created the Oklahoma History Center in 2005," added Moore. "State funding paid for the construction of the building and the OHS has been able to successfully fund all of the exhibits, collections care, and educational programming through private fundraising efforts. A crowdfunding campaign allows us to involve a broader base of supporters for the project and the OKPOP."

"'Still the King' will explore Bob Wills' influence in music today," Meyer said. "And because this film will ultimately be housed in a museum setting, it will be available for countless generations to view. It's an important musical legacy and we need to carry that forward."

Meyer lists such artists as Carrie Underwood, Merle Haggard and Toby Keith as those inspired by Wills' music.

Moore said the team chose Wills as the first subject of the OKPOP+Film series not only because of his strong influence on today's music but also because of his compelling background and history. 2014 marks the 80th anniversary of Bob Wills' move to Tulsa. "He overcame amazing odds to become one of the most popular fiddle players in the world," Meyer said. "He played by ear and didn't stop until he knew the music was right. His music flourished during the Great Depression and World War II, giving hope to millions of people who found refuge in the music."

Production is just beginning on "Still the King," with plans for a Leon Russell documentary already in the works.

Pending approval from the Oklahoma Legislature, the OKPOP Museum could open as early as 2018. When constructed, the OKPOP 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.
Index to Hastain's Township Plats of the Creek Nation Now Available on OHS Website.

The Research Center section of the OHS website now includes a searchable index to Hastain's Township Plats of the Creek Nation. Published in 1910 by E. Hastain in Muskogee, Oklahoma, this book offers maps showing the location of lands allotted to members of the Creek Nation. The new database includes more than 20,000 names and transcriptions of hand-written notations from the original published version. These notations typically list the allottee's name and roll number, and indicate the location of homesteads. This database is a compliment to the Dawes Final Rolls of the Five Civilized Tribes.

 

Researchers may search the database by name or roll number. Search results also provide a link to an online version of Hastain's, allowing researchers to view a high quality scan of the original information. Visit http://www.okhistory.org/research/hastains to search the database.

 

Beginning Cross Stitch
Saturday, February 22 from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.
Oklahoma History Center |Oklahoma City, OK

Join the Oklahoma History Center in a beginning counted cross-stitch class from 1 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, February 22. No previous knowledge of needlepoint crafts or sewing is necessary. Participants will explore the history of cross-stitch and view cross-stitched artifacts from the Oklahoma History Center's collection. Students will obtain the skills needed to begin cross-stitching independently. The class is for ages twelve and up. Class space is limited so register today! Cost for the class is $15 and all supplies are provided. For more information on the class or to register please contact at education@okhistory.org or (405) 522-3602.

Created Equal: America's Civil Rights Struggle
February Events at the Oklahoma History Center
Created Equal Gallery Walk & Talk: Realizing the Dream

Saturday, February 15, 2014 at 10:30 a.m.
Join local scholars as they discuss the Oklahoma History Center's newly renovated exhibit, Realizing the Dream, and Ada Lois Sipuel Fisher's role in Civil Rights law from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on February 15. There is no age requirement but parental guidance is suggested. The event is free and registration is required.   

 

Created Equal Film Screening: The Loving Story Wednesday, February 19, 2014 at 7:00 p.m. (rescheduled event)
The OHS will be hosting a screening of the Emmy-nominated documentary, The Loving Story, in conjunction with an initiative from the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History titled: Created Equal: America's Civil Rights Struggle. There is no age requirement but parental guidance is suggested. The event runs from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. The event is free and registration is not required.  

 

Created Equal Panel Discussion: Arguing for Equality

Thursday, February 20, 2014 at 7:00 p.m.
The OHS will be hosting a panel discussion on Civil Rights and the Constitution featuring local scholars February 20 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. The discussion will feature clips from four documentaries that are a part of an initiative from the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History titled: Created Equal: America's Civil Rights Struggle. There is no age requirement but parental guidance is suggested. The event is free and registration is not required.  

 

Bessie Coleman Live

Thursday, February 27, 2014 at 10:30 a.m.
Join the Oklahoma History Center Thursday, February 27, for an interpretive school program for Black History Month! Elementary students are invited to attend this onetime special performance at 10:30 a.m. at the History Center. Bessie Coleman was the first African-American woman to become a licensed pilot. Born in Texas, Coleman attended Langston University in Oklahoma and had deep Oklahoma roots. Registration is required for student groups. This program is sponsored in part by SONIC, America's Drive-In.  

 

Sojourner Truth Live!

February 27-28, 2014
Join the Oklahoma History Center for Sojourner Truth Live! Born a slave, Sojourner Truth was a preacher, suffragist, abolitionist, and more. With an emphasis on her most famous speech, "Ain't I a Woman," this program will introduce the audience to a variety of aspects through historical interpretation. Thursday the museum will open at 6 p.m. with the performance beginning at 7 p.m. Friday afternoon the museum will host an afternoon matinee at 2:30 p.m. In addition, the museum will host a special student program Friday morning at 10:30 a.m. This program is designed for 8th-12th grade students and registration is required for all programs.  This program is sponsored in part by SONIC, America's Drive-In.

 

For more information or to make reservations (when required) to any of the events please call (405) 522-3602 or email education@okhistory.org 

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Visitor Info  
From the Encyclopedia...

From 1865 to 1920 African Americans created more than fifty identifiable towns and settlements commonly known at all black towns.  Learn more about these communities here.
 

Nicole Harvey, Editor

nharvey@okhistory.org
(405) 522-5202