The (nearly) Ultimate Local Memories (and nostalgia) Site

[RadicalModerate]

(for the "Historians Perspective" minded)

Chronicles of Oklahoma

Note: "Select Volume" seems to the most User-Friendly option.

P.S. Here is a citation that I stumbled across earlier today that served as a reminder of the value of that site.
And provided a moment to reflect upon the Oklahomans of Today as compared to those who predate our occupation of This Great State (including, of course, OKC proper)

http://digital.library.okstate.edu/C.../v013p101.html

(plus it provides a mirror in which to reflect upon and/or compare our modern, technofueled journalistic style with that of yesteryear or whatever.)

[zookeeper]

Chronicles is a great resource, no doubt about it.

Rad, Have you checked out Voices of Oklahoma? John Erling has done an incredible job and has oral histories of some great Oklahoma figures. They are LONG interviews and very comprehensive. The Bud Wilkinson interview is superb. The sit-down with former Senator Fred Harris is like walking into a time machine. Fred remembers everything and drops Oklahoma names from the past left and right and he's - 82! Great site.

Some other superb oral histories on the site:
Danny Williams
Henry Bellmon - A sensible - and honorable - man who did the public business. There was a day when he WAS the Republican Party in Oklahoma.
Barry Switzer
Former Governor David Hall
Mr. Oklahoma City - Lee Allan Smith
Oral Roberts - I know, I know....but a fascinating and absorbing interview. One of the best on the site.
Marian Opala - What a story!
Wilma Mankiller - Great story of this bigger than life tribal chief.
Larry Nichols
Former OKC Mayor Ron Norick
CC Bob Anthony (obviously a great public servant...really good interview)
Former Governor George Nigh
Eddie Sutton
Even names you may not even recognize are fascinating. Like Ed Malzahn, President and Chairman of the Board of Ditch Witch at age 92. Sharp as a tack! Unbelievable.
And many, many more.

Remember, these interviews aren't short. But that's what makes them true oral histories. I can't say enough about this site. Can you tell I like Voices of Oklahoma? If you visit, prepare to spend the day as some of these interviews are two hours +.

[RadicalModerate]

I've listened to a couple of those audio clips. But it was a long time ago.
Thanks for reminding me of that collection. I'll have to check it out again.

I think that maybe I listened to part of the Fred Harris interview and the one with Danny Williams.
Is there also an old recording of Alfalfa Bill Murray in there? (That may be somewhere else.)

Here's a clipping from The Chronicles site indicating to me that people were much tougher back then (1835) than we are today.
Chronicles of Oklahoma

I just thought of something: What ever happened to Doug Loudenback(sp?)?
His website(s) are yet another marvelous source of information.

[Jim Kyle]

What ever happened to Doug Loudenback(sp?)?
His website(s) are yet another marvelous source of information.

Last I heard his health was failing. That happens to us as we get older, unfortunately!

[RadicalModerate]

I'm genuinely sorry to hear that . . . He seems like such a nice person.
And dedicated to preserving so many of the little, historical tid-bits of our local history that help to put the larger things in perspective.

[OKCisOK4me]

Last I heard his health was failing. That happens to us as we get older, unfortunately!

No bueno :-(

[zookeeper]

Last I heard his health was failing. That happens to us as we get older, unfortunately!

I hate hearing that. Last I heard his wife was having open-heart surgery.