Press Release
March 28, 2023
Contact: Nicole Harvey
Director of Strategic Initiatives, Oklahoma Historical Society
Office: 405-522-5202
nicole.harvey@history.ok.gov
www.okhistory.org/grants
Prairie House Preservation Society Awarded Oklahoma Heritage Preservation Grant
OKLAHOMA CITY — The Oklahoma Historical Society (OHS) is proud to announce that the Prairie House Preservation Society has been awarded a grant through the Oklahoma Heritage Preservation Grant Program.
“I am thrilled to learn that the Prairie House Preservation Society will receive grant funds to work on long-range planning,” said Sen. Mary Boren, Norman. “ Developing a strategic plan is the first step in maintaining a successful organization that can help preserve this important historic site for years to come.”
“I am proud of the Prairie House Preservation Society and their tireless work to preserve part of Oklahoma’s identity,” said Rep. Annie Menz, Norman. “There are many reasons that east Norman should be proud, and this organization is one of them. I look forward to seeing the ways in which it will grow!”
The Prairie House Preservation Society received $5,000 for a project titled “Prairie House Preservation Society five-year comprehensive strategic plan,” which will help fund a five-year strategic plan that will establish organizational goals and provide a framework for the priorities of restoring the building, launching sustainable programs and the ongoing preservation efforts necessary to realizing the organization’s mission. Funds will be used to hire a strategic planning professional to write a five-year plan alongside the executive director and board president.
“The Prairie House Preservation Society is thrilled to receive the Oklahoma Heritage Preservation Grant, as it will transform our strategic planning sessions into a useable working document,” said JD Merryweather, executive director. “As a relatively new nonprofit, we have many fundraising needs, and the Prairie House’s restoration is at the top of our list. We look forward to working with the Oklahoma Historical Society and receiving their support.”
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 okhistory.org.
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