What was Oklahoma’s, and in particular, Watonga’s contribution to the Sesquicentennial? It began with a Congressional and Presidential proclamation. The Honorable Calvin Coolidge, President of the United States of America requested that Oklahoma exhibit at the Sesquicentennial International Exhibition held in Philadelphia, June 1 to December 1, 1926.
This request originated in a joint resolution of Congress on August 29, 1922 inviting states and other nations to exhibit progress in art, science and industry, in trade and commerce and in the development of the products of the air, the soil, the mine, the forest and the seas. A second joint resolution of Congress approved on March 3, 1925 provided for the cooperation and participation of the states.
In response, on September 24, 1925 , M. E. Trapp, Governor of Oklahoma invited “the citizens of the State of Oklahoma, and the various agricultural, industrial and commercial organizations, to cooperate and participate in the Exhibition mentioned by sending such exhibits as will most fitly and fully illustrate their resources, their industries, and their progress in civilization.”
The Executive Advisory Commission for the Sesquicentennial, on which Mrs. Elva Ferguson served, had warned at their mid-January of 1926 meeting that many states could not respond with state exhibits as many state legislatures, including Oklahoma, were not in session. Still, Oklahoma did endeavor to send some private exhibits to Philadelphia for the Sesqui.
For example, Elva Ferguson writes that “Pawnee Bill” visited Watonga. “Major Gordon Lillie, better known as Pawnee Bill, accompanied by his brother and nephew, visited Watonga last Saturday. He was here to consult with W. R. Black in regard to taking his valuable collection to the Sesquicentennial exhibition at Philadelphia to show in connection with a display which he expects to take from his Pawnee ranch. Major Lillie also has a contract to engage a number of Indians for a show to be put on during the exposition and was here to look over the proposition of engaging some of the local Indians for this work.”
Perhaps some of the items and people from Watonga participated in Colonel Cummin’s Indian Congress ‘wild west shows #13-42’ held in the summer of 1926 at the Sesqui https://libwww. freelibrary.org/digi tal/item/50786 . Does anyone have information?