Press Release
March 17, 2022
Contact: Nicole Harvey
Director of Strategic Initiatives, Oklahoma Historical Society
Office: 405-522-5202
nharvey@okhistory.org
www.okhistory.org/grants
Five Civilized Tribes Museum and Center for the Study of Indian Territory Awarded Oklahoma Heritage Preservation Grant
OKLAHOMA CITY — The Oklahoma Historical Society (OHS) is proud to announce that the Five Civilized Tribes Museum and Center for the Study of Indian Territory has been awarded a grant through the Oklahoma Heritage Preservation Grant Program.
“I am delighted that the Five Civilized Tribes Museum was awarded funding through this grant program,” said Sen. Dewayne Pemberton, Muskogee. “Muskogee has a rich history and these funds will play an important role in helping our community continue to preserve our state’s unique history.”
“I'm privileged to live in an area of the state with a rich and proud Native American culture,” said Rep. Avery Frix, Muskogee. “This grant funding will be instrumental in helping our Five Civilized Tribes not only preserve their history but tell the stories that celebrate their heritage and educate the public of their significant contributions to our state.”
The Five Civilized Tribes Museum and Center for the Study of Indian Territory has been awarded $8,500 for a project titled “Collections Reframing, Matting and Repair,” which will provide for the updated preservation and protection of 62 items in the permanent collection. This will include reframing and replacement of museum glass and acid-free matting. The collection has been acquired over the past 55 years and since that time, improvements have been made to how to care and preserve collections. This grant will allow the museum to preserve these items utilizing current museum best practices.
“The Five Civilized Tribes Museum is grateful for the support from the Oklahoma Historical Society,” said Sean Barney, executive director. “The funds granted will assist the museum in the restoration process and in fulfilling its mission to preserve the history and culture of the Cherokee, Choctaw, Muscogee, Chickasaw and Seminole tribes.”
The total amount of funds that will be distributed this year is just over $558,000, with projects ranging from collections care and strategic planning to exhibit development and educational programming. “Entering our third year of the Oklahoma Heritage Preservation Grant Program, the OHS is thrilled with the program’s success,” said Nicole Harvey, director of strategic initiatives and grants administrator for the OHS. “To date, the program has funded over 120 projects that are aiding with collecting, preserving and sharing Oklahoma history for local communities across the state.”
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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