SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Upcoming Programs | ||||
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April 11 (Saturday) 7-9 p.m. @ Stillwater Community Center |
An Evening with Les Gilliam, the Oklahoma Balladeer Feel the warmth of the campfire and smell of the cooking pot of beans as you go on a musical trail with this OK Music Hall of Fame inductee, who will entertain with Western music,fascinating stories, and a special tribute to Oklahoma artists. ASL interpreter will be present. Intermission refreshments will be provided by Friends of the Library. Les Gilliam, designated the official "Oklahoma Balladeer" by the state Legislature in 1998, is an award-winning singer/songwriter and recording artist from Gene Autry, Oklahoma. Gilliam's concerts include cowboy, western swing, country and gospel music along with fascinating stories about the songs and artists who performed them. Among Gilliam's many awards are his 2010 induction into the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame, his prestigious 2005 Wrangler Award from the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum, and a 2006 Oklahoma Governor's Arts Award. In 2010, his composition and recording of the song Oklahoma 1955 was selected as the Western Swing Song of the Year by the Academy of Western Artists. During his distinguished career, Gilliam has performed at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.; the International Country Music Festival in Vienna, Austria; the Gene Autry Film and Music Festival in Gene Autry, Oklahoma; Rex Allen Days in Wilcox, Arizona; and the Gene Autry Museum of the American West in California. Mr. Gilliam will be performing at the finale event. |
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April 13 (Monday) 7 p.m. @ Stillwater Public Library |
We Were There: U.S. Marshals Past and Present With Leslie Higgins, U.S. Marshal Museum in Ft. Smith, AR Learn about the peace keeping men of the American west. Explore the history of the major events of the U.S. Marshals Service in the late 19th century in Indian Territory and Fort Smith. Co-sponsored by the U.S. Marshals Museum.ASL interpreter will be present. Leslie S. Higgins is the Director of Education for the U.S. Marshals Museum, a museum-in-planning to be built in Fort Smith, Arkansas. She has been with the USMM since March 2011. Prior to joining the USMM, she worked as a tour guide at the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C. Ms. Higgins holds a Master of Arts in History from Arkansas Tech University (2006) and a Master of Arts in Teaching in Museum Education from the George Washington University in Washington, D.C. (2008). |
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Completed Programs | ||||
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March 2 (Monday) 6:30 p.m @Stillwater Public Library |
Kick off Dr. Clarance Benes, in character as Rooster Cogburn, brings the Old West to life as he introduces readers to our “One Book, One Community” pick. Books will be distributed to readers who sign up for a book discussion. ASL interpreter will be present. Dr. Clarance Benes earned a PhD. in Education with experience as a high school teacher and higher education instructor. He has both acting and directing experience and has developed and hosted numerous “murder mystery party” skits including a U.S. Marshal skit. Dr. Benes will provide an impersonation of Rooster Cogburn at the kick-off event. |
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March 7 (Saturday) 3 p.m. @ Postal Plaza |
Oklahoma Women with True Grit “Oklahoma Women with True Grit” is a multi-media staged reading of an original play presented by the Oklahoma Oral History Research Program (OOHRP) at the OSU Library. The play is based upon oral history interviews collected by OOHRP faculty Tanya Finchum and Juliana Nykolaiszyn, and adapted and directed by OOHRP Visiting Assistant Professor Julie Pearson-Little Thunder. Created especially to resonate with themes raised by the classic Charles Portis novel, these stories come from real Oklahoma women, including a woman four-star general, a legislator, an activist, an artist and a tribal leader. In their ability to handle any situation from a bomb threat to Russian machismo, these women prove themselves the equal of Mattie Ross in grit and persistence. ASL interpreter will be present. Dr. Julie Pearson-Little Thunder is a Visiting Assistant Professor with the Oral History Research Program at the Oklahoma State University Library, Stillwater, Oklahoma. Her primary work with OOHRP involves interviewing Oklahoma Native artists for the Oklahoma Native Artist Project (ONA). Little Thunder has a Ph.D. in Theatre Studies from the University of Kansas and several of her plays have been developed by Native Voices at the Autry a national Native playwriting initiative. Her playwriting/directing work at OSU includes “Can’t Turn Me Around,” a play drawing upon oral histories of women in the Oklahoma Legislature from OOHRP’s digital collections. Dr. Pearson Little-Thunder will be developing reader’s theatre presentation on “Oklahoma Women with True Grit.” |
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March 9 (Monday) 4 p.m. @ OSU Library |
Oklahoma Women with True Grit | ||
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March 10 (Tuesday) 1 p.m. @ Stillwater Public Library |
Oklahoma Women with True Grit ASL interpreter will be present. |
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March 1-5 p.m. @ Multi Arts Center |
Lost Skills of the Old West
Come out for an afternoon of rootin’ tootin’ fun while you experience the life skills needed to survive in the wild west! Activities & demonstrations include: Dutch oven cooking, spinning, candle making, and blacksmithing. Participants will eat a Dutch oven meal and take home candles. Registration and a $25 fee is required. To sign-up, call 405-747-8084 or email multiartscenter1@gmail.com. |
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March 16-20 Museum hours @Wondertorium |
Old West Activities for Children Introduce your kids and grandchildren to the Old West at the Wondertorium's Spring Break crafting series. Free with the purchase of museum entry fee. Visit www.wondertoium.org for museum hours and entry fees. March 16 - Dreamcatchers |
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March 19 (Thursday) 6 p.m. @ Stillwater Public Library |
“True Grit” Original Film Screening with commentary by Dr. Bill Hagen Watch this western classic on the big screen with popcorn and drinks. Rated G; 128 minutes. Directed by Henry Hathaway. Starring John Wayne, Kim Darby, and Glen Campbell. ASL interpreter will be present. Dr. William M. Hagen has recently retired after 38 years of teaching at Oklahoma Baptist University in the English Department. He has served as a participating scholar for several Red Dirt Book Festivals held in Shawnee, OK, and served as a scholar in several Big Read programs. Most recently he has presented True Grit in several library programs and written an essay on the two filmed versions of the novel. Dr. Hagen regularly reviews fiction for World Literature Today. Dr. Hagen will be providing commentary for film screenings. |
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March 22 (Sunday) 2:30 p.m. @ Sheerar Museum |
Gun That Won the West with David Kennedy Learn about the most popular “True Grit” era firearms, including the Winchester ’73, a favorite of Old West giants like Billy the Kid and Jesse James. View the museum's Notorious Payne County exhibit. ASL interpreter will be present. David Kennedy is the Curator of Collections of the Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center in Enid, Oklahoma. His responsibilities have included care of collections, exhibit design and fabrication, and technology management - for both exhibits and infrastructure. Prior to his move to Oklahoma, Kennedy was the Curator of the Cody Firearms Museum of the Buffalo Bill Historical Center (2003-2009). Having received a Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of Texas at El Paso in 1998, Kennedy received his Master of Arts in History from Montana State University (MSU) in 2000. He is the author of Guns of the Wild West: A Photographic Tour of the Guns that Shaped our Country’s History and the content adviser for Katherine Brevard's The Story of Guns: How They Changed the World, a book on firearms for a middle school audience. He has been active with the Mountain-Plains Museums Association (MPMA) as a Board Member or committee chair for a decade and has served as the MPMA representative to AAM CurCom for much of this time. Mr. Kennedy will be presenting “The Gun That Won the West” program at Sheerar Museum in conjunction with exhibit. |
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March 23 (Monday) 4 p.m. @ Stillwater Public Library |
Oklahoma Kid An after school program for the whole family featuring Marty Tipton who will present trick roping and Wild West history. ASL interpreter will be present. Marty Tipton, also known as The Oklahoma Kid, is a trick roper and professional cowboy having been trained at the 101 Ranch and roping in one form or another for over 30 years. He also teaches trick roping and history at schools and libraries. He has developed a program in conjunction with the statewide initiative “Oklahoma Reads True Grit.” Tipton is working on a second book telling in depth the hidden stories about the Wild West and why it was called wild. Mr. Tipton will perform as the “Oklahoma Kid’ incorporating “True Grit” and science into his program for children. Visit www.theoklahomakid.com. |
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March 27 (Friday) 6 p.m. @ OSU Student Union |
Western Heritage Juried Art Exhibition A juried art show of contemporary artworks celebrating our Western heritage. Coordinated by Brandon Mitts, Manager, OSU Allied Arts and Special Events. Find out more about submitting art work. |
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March 27 (Friday) 7 p.m. @ OSU Student Union Theater |
“True Grit” Modern Film Screening with commentary by Dr. Bill Hagen Watch this moden classic on the big screen. Rated PG-13; 110 minutes. Directed by Joeal and Ethan Cohen. Starring Jeff Bridges, Hailee Steinfeld, Matt Damon, and Josh Brolin. Co-Sponsored by the Student Union Activities Board. ASL interpreter will be present. Refreshments will be sold by the Student Union Activities Board. |
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March 28 (Saturday) 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. @ Stillwater Public Library
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Western Writers' Colloquium with writers Michael Wallis, Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz, Patricia Loughlin, and Bob Blackburn At this one-day colloquium, four Oklahoma writers and scholars will provide a learning experience for anyone interested in writing, researching, and publishing Western literature. Registration required & $10 fee for lunch. Read more and find required registration information. |
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March 28 (Saturday) | Jim Howard & the Highway Home Square Dance This event is limited to adults with developmental disabilities and their caretakers Contact sdelano@stillwater.orgfor information Jim Howard has been calling square dances since 1989 when he assisted at the National Square Dance Convention held in Oklahoma City, OK. Jim has called many dances in and around Oklahoma City, calling fulltime for two local square dance clubs. Jim had the opportunity to call all over in the western region of the U.S. and became one of the most sought after callers in that area. Jim enjoys teaching, whether it is a new caller or a new square dancer, the joy comes when you get to see “the light bulb go on” as they truly start to understand. Jim is a member of American Caller’s Association, the Oklahoma State Caller and Teachers Association. Mr. Howard will be leading square dance instruction for program for adults with developmental disabilities. |
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March 31 (Tuesday) 6-8 p.m. @ Territorial Plaza, Perkins |
Frank "Pistol Pete" Eaton: Preserving Traditions of the Old West with David Peters Between 6:00 and 7:00, tour Frank Eaton’s home and other buildings at the Territorial Plaza; then at 7:00 convene in the Old Church for presentation featuring materials from the Frank Eaton Collection at the OSU Library. ASL interpreter will be present. Co-sponsored by Payne County Historical Society. David Peters has been employed at the Edmon Low Library for 28 years in the General Reference Department, Map Room, and Special Collections and University Archives, where he is currently Acting Head and Coordinator of Special Collections. Peters was a co-author for The Campus book of the OSU Centennial History Series. In 2007 he authored a coffee table book titled The Campus of OAMC 1891-1957 and he is currently working on another OSU pictorial volume. Peters co-authored the book Tabor College: a Century of Transformation, 1908-2008 and for the past twelve years he has written history articles for OSU’s STATE Magazine. His involvements include OSU Staff Advisory Council, OSU Flexible Compensation Committee, Life Member of the OSU Alumni Association, Payne County Historical Society Board, and Stillwater Rotary Club. He has been named an OSU Library Outstanding Employee, received the OSU Distinguished Service Award, and a multiple recipient of the Greenberg/Howland Personnel Development Award. Mr. Peters will present a program in conjunction with tour of Frank Eaton home in nearby Perkins, OK. |
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April 7 (Tuesday) 4 p.m. @OSU Library |
Choctaw Light Horsemen and Culture with Ryan Spring Learn about these hard fighting horsemen, charged with protecting their people and lands in Indian Territory. Co-sponsored by the OSU Native American Student Association. Ryan Spring is the GIS/GPS Specialist for the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma Historic Preservation Department. His job duties include using GIS (Geographic Information System) and GPS (Global Positioning System) technology to aid in protecting sites important to Choctaw people, creating cultural maps for education, and conducting Choctaw cultural presentations, research, and advisement. Ryan also enjoys playing Choctaw stickball for the Choctaw Nation’s Stickball Team as well as helping coach stickball to youth and adults in his community. Mr. Spring will provide a program a historical program on the Choctaw Light Horsemen. |
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April 7 (Tuesday) 7 p.m. @Stillwater Public Library |
Choctaw Light Horsemen and Culture with Ryan Spring ASL interpreter will be present. |
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