The Oklahoma Historical Society is an important repository and promoter of Oklahoma’s proud history, and our own Thompson B. Ferguson had an important role in its beginning. According to Mrs. T.B. (Elva) Ferguson’s book “They Carried the Torch…” the Oklahoma Historical Society was incorporated in January 1895. The directors were 21 newspaper-associated men including T.B. Ferguson of Watonga and A.J. Seay of Kingfisher as well as at least one professor from OU, also a Territorial governor. While the Society had been organized and sponsored by the Oklahoma Press Association (May 27, 1893), it was not until 1896 that it was incorporated.
“The Oklahoma Historical Society (OHS) was founded …by members of the Territorial Press Association to preserve newspapers. Over the years the OHS has developed numerous collections, programs, research centers, museums, historic homes, and military sites across the state. The OHS is an agency of the State of Oklahoma and a private membership organization governed by a Board of Directors. Mrs. Ferguson comments on the “Magnificent building at the state capital developed from humble beginnings in Kingfisher, referring to the 1930 Wiley Post Building on N. Lincoln. Encyclopedia OK Hist & culture.
Today, the Oklahoma Historical Society operates 25 sites around Oklahoma. Several are in Western Oklahoma including the Chisholm Museum in Kingfisher, The Cherokee Strip Heritage Center in Enid, Oklahoma Route 66 Museum in Clinton, the State Capitol Museum in OKC, the Ok. Territorial Museum and Carnegie Library in Guthrie. The Sod House Museum at Aline and the Ft. Supply Historic District are temporarily closed OK History Index. The Ferguson Home Museum was previously one of the sites. The Oklahoma History Center is an 18acre campus near the State Capitol.
The Society publishes the Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and leads the Historical Markers, Oklahoma Centennial Farms and Ranches, and National Register of Historic Places programs.
The Friends of the Ferguson Home have benefitted from the historian for the center, Dr. Matthew Pearce who presented on the centennial of Oklahoma’s flag, and Michael Mayes’ presentation on early Oklahoma jails, including our own 1893 Watonga/Blaine County Jail. The Oklahoma State Historic Preservation Office administers federal grants. The Society produces Chronicles of Oklahoma and the monthly “A Very OK Podcast” with the former director, Bob Blackburn and current director, Trait Thompson.
And it all started with early editors of territorial newspapers, such as T.B. Ferguson of the Watonga Republican.