Chronicles of Oklahoma
Volume 3, No. 1
April, 1925
EDITORIAL
Page
94
One of the handsomest and, from a historical point of view, one of the most timely state publications recently put out is
a 250-page volume entitled "Maine Forts," issued by the state libriarian [sic] of Maine. The neatly printed and elegantly bound volume is filled with historical sketches and brief descriptions of
the military posts of Maine, past and present, and is embellished by numerous photo-engravings, maps and charts. The story
of the state of Maine is linked with the stories of its military posts and forts, several of which date from the period of
the American Revolution. Oklahoma has a part to perform in this same line. The Oklahoma Historical Society is ready to do
its full duty in this matter but it must have the co-operation of the state and its people in order to make the undertaking
the success that it should be.
At a meeting held in the parlors of the Huckins Hotel, in Oklahoma City, on Thursday, Februry [sic] 12, a committee consisting of representatives of the Oklahoma Historical Society, the Oklahoma Educational Association,
the Oklahoma societies of the Daughters of the American Revolution and the Sons of the American Revolution and the Oklahoma
Division of the United Confederate Veterans was organized by the election of Col. R. A. Sneed, of Oklahoma City, as chairman
and Miss Muriel H. Wright, of Olney, as secretary, for the purpose of devising ways and means to raise funds for the purpose
of placing suitable markers or monuments on various places of historic interest, such as sites of early missions, trading
posts, government military stations, tribal schools, academies and seminaries, battlefields, graves of distinguished pioneers,
noted camping grounds on some of the overland trails, etc. It is understood that several other societies are to be invited
to join in the movement. Another meeting of the committee is to be held in the not distant future, when detailed plans the
furtherance of. the project will be formulated and adopted.
Page
95
The list of patriotic societies in Oklahoma is being increased by the organization of a state society and local chapters of
the National Society of the U. S. Daughters of 1812. A year ago, the national regent, Mrs. Samuel Preston Davis, of Little
Rock, Arkansas, appointed Mrs. Frank Korn, of El Reno, as organizing state regent for Oklahoma. The state chapter as organized
in Oklahoma City, June 17, 1924, and the next one was recently instituted at Tulsa, Feb. 26. Other chapters are in the process
of organization at Ponca City, Blackwell and Lawton. Already the membership includes two venerable matrons whose fathers were
actual participants in the second struggle between the United States and the mother country, which ended 110 years ago—Mrs.
Elizabeth Arthur Edwards, of Oklahoma City, and Mrs. Cornelius Trump, of Blackwell. As many of the officers and enlisted men
of the garrisons of the first military posts in Oklahoma, many Indians of the five civilized tribes and a number of white
intermarried citizens of various tribes which settled or were located in this state were veterans of htat [sic] war, this new Society will find much work to do. The organizing state regent, (who, by the way, is a director of the
Oklahoma Historical Society), will be glad to hear from other ladies of the state who are descended from ancestors who served
in the army or navy of the United States during the War of 1812 and who would be interested in organizing local chapters at
other points in the state.
It will be recalled that, last year, the semi-centennial of the battle of Adobe Walls was celebrated in Hutchinson County,
Texas—in the Panhandle country—by the dedication of a monument or marker on the spot, in the presence of a gathering of 2,500
people, with appropriate and impressive ceremonies, and that in the wilderness, remote from any town. On the 12th of September,
next, there will be a similar ceremony and dedication, on the site of the Buffalo Wallow fight, near Gageby Creek, in the
eastern part of Hemphill County. Oklahoma has a number of historic spots which should be likewise marked.
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