Press Release
November 15, 2023
Contact: Matthew Pearce, Ph.D.
State Historic Preservation Office, Oklahoma Historical Society
Office: 405-522-4479
matthew.pearce@history.ok.gov
www.okhistory.org/shpo
Claremore Building Added to the National Register of Historic Places
OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma Historical Society and State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) are pleased to announce the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) designation for the following property in Oklahoma. The National Register of Historic Places is our nation’s official list of properties significant in our past.
Rogers County
Will Rogers Memorial Library
121 N. Weenonah Ave., Claremore
Constructed in 1937, the Will Rogers Memorial Library takes its name from the famous humorist William Penn Adair Rogers, who donated proceeds from the sale of his father’s property in downtown Claremore to help fund the construction of a library. The property is significant for its association with federal New Deal relief programs, specifically the Federal Emergency Relief Administration (FERA) and the Works Progress Administration (WPA). The combination of Rogers’s gracious donation and federal financial support reflected a concerted effort among local officials to utilize New Deal programs to improve public amenities. Upon completion, the library immediately met the community’s educational and social needs. The building continues to serve in an educational and social capacity by functioning as the Claremore Museum of History.
Listing in the National Register of Historic Places is an honorific designation that provides recognition, limited protection and, in some cases, financial incentives for these important properties. The SHPO identifies, evaluates and nominates properties for this special designation.
The State Historic Preservation Office 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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