Public History at Oklahoma State University
Public History offerings at Oklahoma State University include undergraduate courses in methods, historic preservation, oral history, and digital history, with a Digital Studies Certificate available. At the Master's level, students can earn a degree on the Public History track with emphasis in a variety of fields including historic preservation, museum studies, or oral history. OSU offers a Certificate in Museum and Curatorial Studies that can be earned separately or in conjunction with a graduate degree program. At the PhD level, Public History is currently offered as a minor field. While many Public History students choose to focus on United States History, faculty at OSU are also equipped to advise Public History track students in European or World History.
Local institutional partners include the Oklahoma Oral History Research Program, the Stillwater Museum of History (where one OSU Public History graduate student serves on the Board of Directors each year!) the OSU Museum of Art and others.
Public History students at OSU are currently working on projects such as building the Diverse Sexuality and Gender Collection, investigating the history of WAVES in Stillwater during World War II, curating a permanent display exhibit, Black Settlers in Tulsa, and researching the history Stillwater's Booker T. Washington School building.
Our program prides itself on working with students to develop individualized experiences that benefit their own particular work and career goals, and with institutional partners from the local level to the international.
For more information email [email protected]
Local institutional partners include the Oklahoma Oral History Research Program, the Stillwater Museum of History (where one OSU Public History graduate student serves on the Board of Directors each year!) the OSU Museum of Art and others.
Public History students at OSU are currently working on projects such as building the Diverse Sexuality and Gender Collection, investigating the history of WAVES in Stillwater during World War II, curating a permanent display exhibit, Black Settlers in Tulsa, and researching the history Stillwater's Booker T. Washington School building.
Our program prides itself on working with students to develop individualized experiences that benefit their own particular work and career goals, and with institutional partners from the local level to the international.
For more information email [email protected]
Follow us!
Facebook: OkState Univ. Public History
Twitter and Instagram: OKStatePubHis
For the record: our social media accounts are managed by OSU Public History graduate students, who can apply for the position of Social Media Intern and earn credit, a stipend, and valuable experience with online engagement! Ask the Director of Public History for more information. The current social media intern is Katanna Davis.
Recent News
Graduate students Arlowe Clementine, Jace Earwood, B Hinesley, and Macy Jennings made history at the Oklahoma History Conference!
Their panel presentation Fluid Resistance: A Queer Analysis of Art and Politics in Oklahoma was the first-ever full session dedicated to LGBTQ+ history at the Oklahoma History Conference.
You can watch the full session here:
Their panel presentation Fluid Resistance: A Queer Analysis of Art and Politics in Oklahoma was the first-ever full session dedicated to LGBTQ+ history at the Oklahoma History Conference.
You can watch the full session here:
Current Projects
Booker T. Washington School Exhibit and Preservation Project
The Booker T. Washington High School Building stood for decades as a symbol of both the optimism and tenacity of Stillwater's African American community, and a harsh reminder of Oklahoma's rigid system of segregation. A frame structure stood on this site for well over a decade before the current brick building was begun in the 1920s. Following the integration of public education in the mid-20th century, the Washington School building transitioned to housing several community organizations before being permanently closed. The building itself is now in a deteriorated state, and flooding in the area has hindered past preservation efforts.
Segregation was law in Oklahoma when the Washington School building opened to students; there were dozens other schools throughout the state that served the needs of African American students. Washington School was one of only two high schools in Payne County that were open to African American students. The other (also named Booker T. Washington) was located in Cushing, and has long since been torn down. Stillwater's Washington School is, in other words, the only standing building in the county that so directly represents this history.
In the spring of 2021, OSU Public History graduate students teamed up with Civil and Environmental Engineering students to conduct survey work and collect information about the Washington School building. This fall, in partnership with community members, the Stillwater Museum of History, and the Stillwater Public Library, the OSU Public History program will be working to produce a mobile exhibit dedicated to the history of Washington School. We are proud to play a part in ongoing efforts to save this historic structure.
The Booker T. Washington High School Building stood for decades as a symbol of both the optimism and tenacity of Stillwater's African American community, and a harsh reminder of Oklahoma's rigid system of segregation. A frame structure stood on this site for well over a decade before the current brick building was begun in the 1920s. Following the integration of public education in the mid-20th century, the Washington School building transitioned to housing several community organizations before being permanently closed. The building itself is now in a deteriorated state, and flooding in the area has hindered past preservation efforts.
Segregation was law in Oklahoma when the Washington School building opened to students; there were dozens other schools throughout the state that served the needs of African American students. Washington School was one of only two high schools in Payne County that were open to African American students. The other (also named Booker T. Washington) was located in Cushing, and has long since been torn down. Stillwater's Washington School is, in other words, the only standing building in the county that so directly represents this history.
In the spring of 2021, OSU Public History graduate students teamed up with Civil and Environmental Engineering students to conduct survey work and collect information about the Washington School building. This fall, in partnership with community members, the Stillwater Museum of History, and the Stillwater Public Library, the OSU Public History program will be working to produce a mobile exhibit dedicated to the history of Washington School. We are proud to play a part in ongoing efforts to save this historic structure.
We're proud to get our hands dirty...
Past Projects
Vernon AME Church Stained Glass Windows Documentation Project, Tulsa, Oklahoma
"Remnants and Light: the Historic Stained Glass Windows of Vernon AME Church"
In 1921, a white mob descended on the Greenwood District in Tulsa, killing hundreds and burning more than 35 city blocks to the ground. In the aftermath of the Tulsa Massacre, congregation members of Vernon AME Church donated time, energy and money to rebuilding, and at least 19 stained glass windows honoring congregation members and organizations were installed in 1926. OSU Public History students were honored to work with Vernon in the fall of 2020 to research the names and organizations featured on the windows. Our deep research in public records, census documents, city directories, and church archival materials was meaningful and rewarding - we were proud to achieve a 100% success record in tracking down every individual named on a window. Projects like this represent the very best of what Public History can do.
"Remnants and Light: the Historic Stained Glass Windows of Vernon AME Church"
In 1921, a white mob descended on the Greenwood District in Tulsa, killing hundreds and burning more than 35 city blocks to the ground. In the aftermath of the Tulsa Massacre, congregation members of Vernon AME Church donated time, energy and money to rebuilding, and at least 19 stained glass windows honoring congregation members and organizations were installed in 1926. OSU Public History students were honored to work with Vernon in the fall of 2020 to research the names and organizations featured on the windows. Our deep research in public records, census documents, city directories, and church archival materials was meaningful and rewarding - we were proud to achieve a 100% success record in tracking down every individual named on a window. Projects like this represent the very best of what Public History can do.
