Please Help Save Our Museum

I promised you that I would climb on my soapbox at some point. Today is the day. And if I step on toes or insult your relatives or make you feel guilty that is not my intention. My intention is to call on the best brains I know to help solve a serious problem.

I ask you as a friend, family member, history lover, or even casual blog reader to please read all of this. I am posting it on both of my blogs this morning because I think it is that important. If you are a Caddo resident or former Caddo resident you need to read it carefully because I believe this problem is not only serious, but indicative of several problems affecting the future sustainability of our community.

I will start with a quote from Erma Taylor, known, loved and yes, feared, by many of us. I knew her as a music teacher, friend, Sunday school teacher, and boss. She was kind and generous, but also outspoken in her beliefs. She worked for years on many projects which benefitted Caddo citizens. This is from her history of Caddo:

 “Caddo is a quiet town with her own private problems.  She may not big in numbers, but is big in heart, as has been proven over the years when the deep needs of many people have been met by the kindness and generosity of her citizens.”

 

I pray that she is correct.

The Indian Territory Museum has had financial and employee problems for years. It was first managed privately and now is owned by the city. And the city is apparently tired of its problems. It is seeking to find a person or group to manage it or close its doors.

The museum must not close! It is a public trust. It is a valuable part of our community. It is a testament to the fascinating history of our community. It is a source of documents and photos that are precious to genealogists and those seeking their Indian heritage. And if managed properly it could be a valuable asset for our future. Small museums in other communities have become popular tourist attractions. Tourists bring in money that is spent on gas, refreshments, lodging, and souvenirs. Other communities seem to realize that the population of the entire country is aging and many baby boomers are interested in their family’s history. Also, the interest in “cowboys and Indians” has never waned and is a draw for many other museums.

One statement in that previous paragraph is the root of the problem. The museum has not been managed properly for several years. And interest in it has declined as a result. There have been legitimate complaints about the hours and days that it is open, as well as the fact that the people managing it know very little about Caddo’s history. The museum is not “user friendly” and has very little information posted that clearly traces and explains Caddo’s beginnings. Questions are then asked, but not answered.

Caddo’s museum was the dream of Beulah Markham. She worked tirelessly to promote it and to gather artifacts for it. Many others in the community gathered together to make it a reality:

The Bryan County Star

July 1, 1976

Plans for Caddo Museum Continuing

Caddo Bicentennial committee met Thursday, June 24, at 7:30 in the high school library.

Mrs. Erma Taylor presided, and asked Representative Guy Davis to discuss house bill 1745, which provided some help in financing the purchase of a building for preservation of items pertinent to Caddo history.

Mr. Davis gave tips on the formation of a Historical Society. He offered to ask a member of the State Historical Society to meet with citizens of Caddo and explain formation of a historical society.

Billy Miller was elected to choose two other members to help him search for a building to purchase for the Society. Bill Ammons and Ben Karnes have been chosen to aid Mr. Miller.

 

December 29, 1977

Caddo Museum

Caddo I.T. Museum and Library will very soon be a reality. The open house will probably be some day in January.

All citizens are encouraged to give artifacts to the museum. The library can also use books, magazine subscriptions, etc.

Watch for the official opening date and everyone is encouraged to come by. The museum is already being visited by many guests. Janet Jenkins

 

The museum was intended to be vital and changing and expanding. Mrs. Markham sought out new items and exhibits. She talked to people and engaged their interest in our town. Other curators followed in her footsteps…for a while. Now the museum is more of a storage warehouse. But that can change.

I am not in the museum business. I am not an authority or even very knowledgeable in this area. But someone out there is or could be. So I am offering some suggestions based on my limited experiences in our museum, other museums, and online. It is my hope that YOU will be interested enough to talk to your friends, pass this on to someone you know in Caddo, talk to a city council member you know, talk to members of your church or community organization, attend the next city council meeting, and help find a solution to this problem.

1. The museum should be managed by a governing board of five to seven people, in cooperation with the city.
2. Expenses should be managed by the city. Donations should be solicited by the board and there should be regular fund raising activities. The city should also apply for grants to maintain and improve the museum. Citizens might even be willing to have $1 added to their water bill for support of the museum. Creative thinkers find creative solutions to problems.
3. A specific and professional job description should be written for the curator position and if the current one does not meet the criteria she should be given a “grace period” for either compliance or termination.
4. For the safety of the staff and the security of the artifacts the museum should have one paid and one volunteer worker on duty each day. The museum board should recruit at least ten to fifteen volunteers to commit to two days of service per month. More is always better in order to be prepared for illness and absences.
5. The hours of the museum should be more accommodating for tourists, especially in the summer. It should be open from 9am to 3pm. The museum should not be closed during the lunch hour and the two staff members should alternate lunch breaks. The days that the museum is open should be at least Tuesday through Saturday.
6. The museum should have signs that briefly explain more of the displays and highlights of Caddo’s history. A tourist should leave with at least a basic idea of why Caddo exists.
7. There is plenty of reading material available on Caddo’s history and those who work at the museum should be required to read at least some of it or be familiar enough with it to look up the answer to a tourist’s question. “I’m not from here” is not an appropriate response.
8. The museum board should seek out support, training, and advertisement through sources such as the Oklahoma Museums Association and Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department.

I have made suggestions in the past, but they have fallen on ears that have not agreed with my belief in the value of the museum.  

No, I do not wish to be on the board. I do not have the time to give such a position the time and effort it would deserve. But there are MANY retired people in our community who could do so. There are many citizens who are employed part-time who could add this to their life. I would be willing to help with some of the writing required for advertising or for grants. I would be willing to provide any historical information needed by the board. I would be willing to help with fund raising events.

I have spent the past twenty years researching and promoting Caddo. Many of the websites that mention the museum link back to the website I created and maintain for TRAC. Many of the people who have sought my help with genealogy have later visited Caddo in person and stopped at the museum. Some have been happy with it; others have been disappointed. Some didn’t get to see it at all because it was closed.

I’m counting on YOU to help solve this problem.

“Caddo is a quiet town with her own private problems.  She may not big in numbers, but is big in heart, as has been proven over the years when the deep needs of many people have been met by the kindness and generosity of her citizens.”

 

Comments

[Betty]

You have said out loud just those things I tried to correct when the former curator resigned, but was "shot down" by the Board of Trustees when trying to hire a curator with experience. I have discussed with members of a civic organization to which I belong about it taking over the management of the museum, but the members will only consider it if the city gives the organization full control. It looks like no one wants to work with the city on anything. Some of the members of this civic organization have indicated they would be happy to volunteer their time, but are hesitant to work with the current curator.

I believe very much in the museum and have called the state historical society about what type of help they could offer and there was classes on restoration and maintenance of artifacts. Also, grant money was more readily available since the museum is also a library.

I will do whatever I can to help. I would be happy to look into the type of grants and services are available, but I am not a grant writer. I would be happy to revisit the management of the museum with the members of the above mentioned civic organization if you think that would help.

[mary]

So nice to hear some logic and reason still exists in our community. Good to know people are interested in saving this wonderful place!