Press Release
June 21, 2021
Contact: Larry O’Dell
Oklahoma Historical Society
Office: 405-522-6676
lodell@okhistory.org
www.okhistory.org
Oklahoma Historical Society Presents the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum with 2020 Outstanding Regional Historical Museum Award
OKLAHOMA CITY — At the annual Oklahoma History Conference, held virtually this year, the Oklahoma Historical Society (OHS) named the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum as the 2020 Outstanding Regional Historical Museum. The OHS Board of Directors chose the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum from among all the museums in the state.
“The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum has a more than 65-year history of sharing its internationally renowned collection of Western art and providing educational programs to promote interest in the legacy of the American West,” said OHS Executive Director Trait Thompson. “The Oklahoma Historical Society is proud to honor this great member of the Oklahoma museum community with this award.”
The OHS also presented the following awards during the conference:
Outstanding Local OHS Support Group: Oklahoma Genealogical Society
Joseph B. Thoburn Student Historian Award: Priya George, Jenks High School
William D. Pennington Teacher Award: Greg Oppel, Edmond Memorial High School
Muriel Wright Award for Outstanding Article in The Chronicles of Oklahoma: Linda D. Wilson
Outstanding Thesis on Oklahoma History: Bradley Fritch, University of Central Oklahoma
Outstanding Book on Oklahoma History: “Breaking Down Barriers: George McLaurin and the Struggle to End Segregated Education,” by Dr. David Levy, David Ross Boyd Professor of History Emeritus, University of Oklahoma
Since 1993 the OHS has honored individuals based on their contributions to the preservation, collection, interpretation and dissemination of Oklahoma history by inducting them into the Oklahoma Historians Hall of Fame. This year the OHS inducted six new members: longtime Oklahoma Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer Melvena Heisch, who retired in 2017; Tulsa journalist and documentarian Jack Frank; OHS African American curator and historian Bruce Fisher; musician and music historian Steve Ripley; Muskogee and African American cultural tourism advocate Cassandra Gaines; and early University of Oklahoma Western History Collection Director Gaston Litton.
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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