Press Release
January 4, 2022
Contact: Kathy Dickson
Oklahoma Historical Society
Office: 405-522-5231
kdickson@okhistory.org
www.okhistory.org
Jennifer Frazee Named New Director at Fort Gibson Historic Site
OKLAHOMA CITY — The Oklahoma Historical Society (OHS) has named Jennifer Frazee as the new director at Fort Gibson Historic Site, located in Fort Gibson in eastern Oklahoma.
“I am very pleased to introduce Jennifer Frazee as director of Fort Gibson Historic Site,” said OHS Executive Director Trait Thompson. “Jennifer has been with the OHS for nine years, heading up the interpretive program at Hunter’s Home in Park Hill.”
Omar Reed, the previous director, retired at the end of 2021 after 18 years of dedicated service to the OHS at Fort Gibson Historic Site. According to Thompson, “Omar launched new programs at the fort, including interpretation of the First Kansas Colored Regiment, and made history of his own as the first African American site director for the OHS. He has kept the fort going through hard years of budget cuts. We thank him for his service and wish him the best in his new adventures.”
Frazee started her career with the OHS as an intern while working on a graduate degree at Northeastern State University in Tahlequah. She took on the important task of researching and developing programs to tell the history of the enslaved people at Hunter’s Home. “Jennifer will be missed at Hunter’s Home, but we are very pleased to see her advance, and we are excited to see what she develops at Fort Gibson,” said David Fowler, regional director with the OHS.
“I truly love Hunter’s Home and the history of the family and site,” said Frazee. “I have loved the opportunity to work on changing the site to a living history farm and to expand the interpretation of the lives of the enslaved people who built the home and labored on the site. Though I will miss Hunter’s Home, I am very excited for the challenges and opportunities ahead of me at Fort Gibson,” continued Frazee. Frazee lives in Fort Gibson with her family.
“Jennifer has a very busy time ahead with planning for the 200th anniversary of the founding of Fort Gibson in 2024,” said Thompson. “It is an exciting time at the fort and the community of Fort Gibson.”
For more information about the Fort Gibson Historic Site visit www.okhistory.org/fortgibson.
Fort Gibson Historic Site is a division of the Oklahoma Historical Society. 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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