FIFTY CONSERVATION ORAL HISTORIES NOW COMPLETED!

Pictured are OCHS President Ben Pollard, OSU Oral History Librarian Dr. Tanya Finchum, and OCHS Secretary Larry Caldwell at the History Symposium hosted by the Oklahoma Historical Society April 2023.

After nearly five years of work, Oklahoma State University’s Oklahoma Oral History Research Program (OOHRP) has completed 50 conservation oral histories.  The oral histories are housed in Oklahoma’s Conservation Heritage Oral History Collection on the Oklahoma State University (OSU) Library’s website.  A video recording and a transcript of each oral history can be accessed at: https://library.okstate.edu/oralhistory/digital/.  

Creating oral histories with Oklahoma conservationists was one of the first projects undertaken by the Oklahoma Conservation Historical Society (OCHS).  The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) provided much of the funding.  According to OCHS Board President, Ben Pollard, it was the commitment of recently retired NRCS State Conservationist Gary O’Neill that made the project possible.  “Gary believed in the importance of preserving Oklahoma’s proud conservation history and helped secure the funds for the project.  We are indebted to Gary for his support of this project,” Pollard said.

Collection and archiving of the oral histories were done by staff and students of the OSU OOHRP.  Pollard said OCHS is also indebted to Sarah Milligan, head of the OOHRP, for her commitment to the project of preserving Oklahoma’s conservation history. All 50 oral history interviews were conducted and recorded by Dr. Tanya Finchum, Oral History Librarian at OSU, with assistance from OCHS board members.  Here is what Dr. Finchum had to say about the project.  “This collection offers snapshots from various perspectives, of the history of conservation in Oklahoma, and taken as a whole, to me, is also a story of hope.  Each generation involved in conservation efforts has given the next generation of Oklahomans hope by demonstrating that with effort, passion, and knowledge things can and do get better.”

The Collection includes oral histories from several viewpoints.  There are oral histories from former NRCS state conservationists and field personnel, Dust Bowl survivors, leaders of the Oklahoma Association of Conservation Districts, watershed program pioneers, conservation district directors and employees and commissioners and staff of the Oklahoma Conservation Commission.

The board of the Oklahoma Conservation Historical Society thanks the 50 conservationists who provided their stories for the collection, the NRCS for funding the project and the great work of the staff of the OSU Oklahoma Oral History Research Program.