Press Release
March 4, 2021
Contact: Nicole Harvey
Grants Administrator, Oklahoma Historical Society
Office: 405-522-5202
nharvey@okhistory.org
www.okhistory.org/grants
95th Division Foundation Awarded Oklahoma Heritage Preservation Grant
OKLAHOMA CITY — The Oklahoma Historical Society is proud to announce that the 95th Division Foundation has been awarded a grant through the Oklahoma Heritage Preservation Grant Program.
The 95th Division Foundation has been awarded $7,974 that will fund the creation of a virtual tour of the museum, which is hard to access in-person due to its location on the grounds of Fort Sill. This funding also will provide for an online research center that will use oral histories, historical documents and visual aids to teach the public about the experiences of World War II and post-World War II soldiers, both in and out of combat.
"The 95th Division Foundation is excited to receive a grant from the Oklahoma Historical Society in furtherance of its work to preserve and share the legacy of the soldiers of the 95th Infantry Division, the Iron Men of Metz," said James Archer, foundation board member. "Specifically, the grant will help to create a virtual tour of its Memorial Museum at 95th Division Headquarters at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, and to transcribe and preserve over one hundred audio recordings of its World War II veterans. In addition, the foundation maintains monuments, secures memorial highway signage and offers a scholarship to descendants of veterans in honor of their sacrifices."
A total of just over $460,000 in grant funds will be distributed, with projects ranging from collections care and exhibit development to strategic planning and educational programming. "This is only the second year for this grant program. As organizations wrap up their grant projects from last year and as we see the quality of the applications that came in for this grant cycle, it is clear that there is a strong need for this type of grant program," said Nicole Harvey, OHS grants administrator.
The Oklahoma Heritage Preservation Grant Program is a grants-in-aid program offered by the Oklahoma Historical Society with a goal of encouraging the collection, preservation and sharing of Oklahoma history at the grassroots level in all parts of the state. Open to tribal and municipal governments and not-for-profit historical organizations located in Oklahoma and registered with the Oklahoma secretary of state, this grants program offers funding ranging from $1,000 to $20,000 for projects focused on collections, exhibits and programming. Applications for this annual program open in the fall and award announcements are made in January. For more information visit www.okhistory.org/grants.
The mission of the Oklahoma Historical Society is to collect, preserve and share the history and culture of the state of Oklahoma and its people. Founded in 1893 by members of the Territorial Press Association, the OHS maintains museums, historic sites and affiliates across the state. Through its research archives, exhibits, educational programs and publications the OHS chronicles the rich history of Oklahoma. For more information about the OHS, please visit www.okhistory.org.
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