By Tom Fink
February 3, 2010 — Local lawmakers Rep. Tad Jones and Sen. Sean Burrage said they were “shocked” at Gov. Henry’s proposal to consolidate the Will Rogers Memorial Museum, Dog Iron Ranch and J.M. Davis Arms & Historical Museum into the Oklahoma Historical Society.
“Obviously, Sen. Burrage and I are strongly opposed to the Governor’s plan to consolidate the (Will Rogers) Memorial and (J.M. Davis Arms & Historical) gun museum into the Oklahoma Historical Society,” said Rep. Tad Jones (R). “Although we’ve yet to speak with him personally about our opposition to this, we’ve already made our feelings known to the speaker and corporation chairman.”
Neither Jones or Burrage were consulted about the Governor’s proposal before the announcement. Both were “blindsided,” said Jones, who is the House floor leader.
“Normally, the Governor consults with local lawmakers where cuts or consolidations are proposed before he announces major changes within their districts, but Sean and I knew nothing about the Governor’s plans, with respect to wanting to consolidate Claremore’s museums and the Birthplace Ranch,” he said. “Truthfully, I’m not sure how consolidating them into the Oklahoma Historical Society would save money — possibly in some administrative costs — but this is a plan that’s been tried before, under Gov. Keating’s tenure, and it failed then.”
The Oklahoma Historical Society was founded in 1893 by members of the Oklahoma Territory Press Association, and over the years, has developed numerous collections and programs.
Currently, the OHS has more than 30 museums and historic sites statewide, among them: the Cherokee Strip Museum in Perry, the Museum of the Western Prairie in Altus, the Pioneer Woman Museum in Ponca City, the Pawnee Bill Ranch in Pawnee, Sequoyah’s Cabin in Sallisaw, the T.B. Ferguson Home in Watonga, the Jim Thorpe Home in Yale, the Tom Mix Museum in Dewey, and more.
“Claremore’s museums and the Birthplace Ranch have long been targets at the Capitol,” Jones said. “Legislators don’t understand the unique relationship between the Memorial and the Rogers family or why the gun museum is a state-funded agency — this is something that Sean and I are always having to explain to them.”
As the state budget enters negotiations, Jones said he and Burrage will voice their opinions in the House and Senate that consolidation of the Claremore museums and the Birthplace Ranch is “non-negotiable.”
“We are not convinced this (consolidation) would save the state a single dollar and we’re not convinced that the Oklahoma Historical Society is even interested in consolidating the gun museum and the memorial,” he said. “We would encourage people opposed to this idea to contact the Governor’s office and let him know how they feel.”
