Press Release
March 23, 2023
Contact: Nicole Harvey
Director of Strategic Initiatives, Oklahoma Historical Society
Office: 405-522-5202
nicole.harvey@history.ok.gov
www.okhistory.org/grants
Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma Awarded Oklahoma Heritage Preservation Grant
OKLAHOMA CITY — The Oklahoma Historical Society (OHS) is proud to announce that the Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma has been awarded a grant through the Oklahoma Heritage Preservation Grant Program.
“It says something important about the quality of the organizations in Senate District 1 that three received grants,” said Sen. Micheal Bergstrom, Adair. “History preservation is important, so we do not lose the true story that we need to pass on to future generations.”
“I’m thankful to the Oklahoma Historical Society for this grant funding that will assist the Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma in their pursuit of learning additional details about their history,” said Rep. Steve Bashore, Miami. “Our House district will be culturally richer for these resources.”
Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma received $20,000 for a project titled “Exploring Intergenerational Family Connections,” which will help fund genealogical research to identify tribal family relations. Utilizing a tribal genealogist for research, the George J. Captain Library staff will work with families to get photographs and documents associated with individuals and families to create collections and a family history booklet. The information will also be used to create an exhibit that will be on display demonstrating tribal family history and intergenerational family connections at the George J. Captain Library.
“Our Eastern Shawnee Tribe today has no geographical boundaries as we have individuals and families throughout the US and the world,” said Chief Glenna J. Wallace. “Regardless of time or physical location, these individuals and families are the fabric of our tribe. This grant will be the thread to proudly weave those intergenerational connections into a more cohesive tribe.”
The OHS will distribute over $575,000 in grant funds, with projects ranging from collections care and strategic planning to exhibit development and educational programming.
“These grant funds continue to empower local communities to collect, preserve and share their history for future generations of Oklahomans with over 150 projects funded to date,” said Nicole Harvey, director of strategic initiatives and grants administrator for the OHS.
The Oklahoma Heritage Preservation Grant Program is a grants-in-aid program offered by the Oklahoma Historical Society to encourage 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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