Press Release
April 1, 2024
Contact: Nicole Harvey
Director of Strategic Initiatives, Oklahoma Historical Society
Office: 405-522-5202
nicole.harvey@history.ok.gov
www.okhistory.org/grants
Bristow Historical Society, Inc. Awarded Oklahoma Heritage Preservation Grant
OKLAHOMA CITY — The Oklahoma Historical Society (OHS) is proud to announce that the Bristow Historical Society, Inc. has been awarded a grant through the Oklahoma Heritage Preservation Grant Program.
“I’m pleased the Bristow Historical Society has been awarded new grant funds to educate the public on key historical events,” said Sen. Todd Gollihare, Kellyville. “I appreciate the Oklahoma Historical Society recognizing that the Bristow Historical Society is crucial to helping preserve our state’s heritage. Granting the Bristow Historical Society funding to record 30 new oral histories will give my constituents in Senate District 12 a better picture of Oklahoma’s past.”
“It is hard to know where we are going if we do not remember where we came from,” said Sen. Kyle Hilbert, Bristow. “This grant to the Bristow Historical Society will allow future generations to forever be able to access and know the history that shaped us into where we are today. This, of course, would not be possible without the incredible work of the volunteers at the Bristow Historical Society and others around Oklahoma.”
Bristow Historical Society, Inc. received $8,605 for a project that will record, transcribe, and integrate 30 new oral histories into its content management system. These resources will be made accessible to the public through both an onsite kiosk and the organization’s website, enriching historical knowledge and community engagement.
“We are thrilled to receive this Oklahoma Heritage Preservation Grant from the Oklahoma Historical Society,” said Joe Trigalet, project director. “Their generosity will allow the Bristow Historical Society to continue growing our oral history collection and expand into video histories. Today, our unique collection of over 70 histories is one of the largest in the area, and this project will fund 30 more. Thank you for recognizing the importance of preserving these life stories!”
The OHS will distribute over $520,000 in grant funds, with projects ranging from collections care and strategic planning to exhibit development and educational programming.
“Through the Oklahoma Heritage Preservation Grant Program, we’re not just funding projects; we’re investing in the preservation of Oklahoma’s rich and dynamic history,” said Nicole Harvey, director of strategic initiatives for the Oklahoma Historical Society. “These grants empower communities across the state to uphold their heritage for future generations, ensuring that the stories of Oklahoma continue to inspire and educate for years to come.”
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 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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