Personal Papers & Family Histories

These collections include personal letters, photos, notes, newspaper clippings, and memorabilia of families and prominent people in Oklahoma. Scroll down to browse the list, or search our collection guides using the search box below.

Albrecht, A. E.

Papers, 1861-1973
(¼ linear in.)

The German born Albrecht family homesteaded on land southwest of Edmond. Their file includes family history, photographs of the family farm, and memorabilia.

Argo, Jim

Photo Collection, 1960s-2000s

This collection currently contains just over 2400 photos. The images in the collection represent present day Oklahoma with such themes as landmarks, skylines, festivals, museums, recreation, rodeos and cowboys. The photos date from the 1960s through the 2000s.

Jim Argo was Kansas born and Texas reared. His photojournalism career began in 1960 while a student at Texas Tech University. He worked for two Texas newspapers before coming to the The Daily Oklahoman and Oklahoma City Times in 1963. He developed a passion for photographing his adopted state, winning numerous awards for photography and writing.

Argo co-authored two books on Oklahoma for the Oklahoma Historical Society and was a major photographic contributor to 12 others. He was inducted into the Oklahoma Journalism Hall of Fame in 1997.

Argo retired as The Oklahoman photo editor in 2003. He has done three books on Oklahoma since retirement, Images of History, Oklahoma Impressions, and Oklahoma City Impressions.

Photos from this Collection can be searched in the Oklahoma Stock Image Collection.

Ayler, Alice - Orphan Train Collection

Collection, 1982-2002
(15 linear ft.)

As a long time resident of Oklahoma City and a graduate of UCO, Alice Bullis Ayler donated her Orphan Train Collection to the University. Materials include an autobiography by Ayler, interviews with other orphan train riders, photographs, video tapes, books, newspaper articles, awards, and memorabilia.

Betz, Don

Collection, 1931-2004
(VF 16 linear ft.)

Materials include lecture notes, meeting minutes, photographs, memorabilia, books, newspaper articles, awards, and more.

A frequent writer and speaker, Dr. Betz has addressed international, motivational and educational topics for more than 30 years. Dr. Betz received his B.A. in Political Science and Philosophy from the University of San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA, and his M.A. and Ph.D. in International Studies from the Graduate School of International Studies at the University of Denver, Colorado, USA. He has taught on three different semester voyages as a Visiting Professor with the University of Pittsburgh Semester-At-Sea program. In July 1999 he completed Harvard University's Institute for Educational Management (IEM).

Bray, Sidney C.

Collection, 1932-1965
(36 linear ft.)

Included in the Bray donation are World War II financing records, promotional materials, scrapbooks, photographs, federal publications, press releases, and special memorabilia.

Bryan, Frances

Photo Collection, (1966-present)

Contains over 500 images that focus mainly on architecture from 1966 to the present. Most of the images document Edmond, Oklahoma but also included are town photos of Guthrie, El Reno, Yukon, OKC, Locust Grove and Chandler.

After graduation from Southeast High School in Kansas City, Missouri, in 1953, Bryan received a one-year scholarship to study at the Kansas City Art Institute, courtesy of the Kansas City Advertising Club.

At the end of that first year, her father's untimely death prompted her to leave academia and go to work. Bryan joined a crew of window decorators at the Palace Clothing Company in downtown Kansas City. They were responsible for three stores: downtown, North Kansas City and Prairie Village. Bryan enjoyed creating window displays, but after several years went scouting for better pay.

Bryan was working for IBM Corporation and transferred to their Oklahoma City office in 1961. After marrying Don Bryan, she was officially an Edmondite and took advantage of the close proximity to UCO to attend art and creative writing classes.

Bryan has designed greeting cards, teaching aids, business logos, and the Official Seal of Edmond. Designed and produced with art partner, Pat Darcey, the MY-TOWN-TOO project consists of small wood replicas of Old North Tower, the old police station, Wide-A-Wake Café, and Rodkey Mill. This project was one of the official mementos of Oklahoma City's Centennial Celebration.

But, chiefly, Bryan is a watercolor artist, inspired by photographic images of "old town" Edmond and its environs. When Edmond's pre-statehood homes and farms began to make way for tract homes, strip malls, and parking lots, her photographic intent took a serious turn to document the area's architectural history that she loved so much.

Essay: Frances Bryan on photography and the growth of Edmond.

Photos in this collection can be searched in the Oklahoma Stock Image Collection.

Burchardt, Bill

Collection

This collection of fiction and non-fiction materials is predominantly Western and Southwestern in theme. Items in the collection include rare and out-of-print works, classics in Oklahoma history, award-winning titles, and recognized authors. Bill Burchardt, the author of numerous short stories, articles, and novels, graduated from the University of Central Oklahoma in 1938.

Bill edited Oklahoma Today Magazine for 23 years from 1957-1980 as editor-in-chief. He was named a UCO Distinguished Former Student in 1963 and has won many other awards, among them the Oklahoma Writing Award in 1965 and the Wrangler Western Heritage Award in 1975.

His historical novels have been published in England, Germany, and Sweden as well as the United States. Other items in his collection include audiocassette tapes of interviews with Native Americans regarding their language, traditional songs, and dances.

Burke, Bob - Film and Television Autograph Collection

Collection, 1962-2006
(1236 items)

This collection includes film posters, lobby cards, photographs, film scripts, and other materials produced by the film and television industries. Almost every artifact has been signed by the director, actor, or actress who made the film or television program. The collection represents a fascinating sample of American celebrity culture, showcasing the personalities, styles, and images that have dominated our collective popular imagination through movies and television.

Cobb, Jonas B.

Papers, 1874-1968
(4 linear in.)

Included in this family's records are letters, legal and financial documents, speeches, newspaper clippings, store ledgers, family bible, and memorabilia of the Cobb family. Jonas Cobb was a doctor in Colgate, Indian Territory, in the 1890s.

Cowles, C. B.

Papers, 1891-1957
(1 linear ft.)

Charles Cowles is the son of Chauncey Cowles and Olga Jo Lovett all three graduates of the University of Oklahoma. Included in their family papers are letters, marriage certificates, photographs, oil portraits, and a 1926 scrapbook kept by Olga Lovett-Cowles during her association with Central State Normal College. C.B. Cowles, a Harvard Business School graduate, is the only surviving member of his family and intends to leave his sizable estate to the University.

Coyner, Ray

Memorabilia, 1908-1985
(10 items)

Included among the items in this small but interesting collection are a letter to Governor William "Wild Alfalfa Bill" Murray and reply regarding the completion of Highway 77, a WWII rations book, the 1908 Edmond Post Office record, and comments on the year 1908.

Dillon, Robert - Music Collection

Collection, 1909-2012
(22.15 linear feet, 17 boxes)

The collection includes original compositions, arrangements, publisher correspondence and royalty statements, academic materials, general correspondence, personal memorabilia, photos, and audio performance tapes.

Drummond, Alfred A. (Jack)

Papers, 1918-1980
(140 linear ft., 32 cass. tapes)

The typed, printed, and handwritten materials in this collection include business and personal correspondence, legal, and financial documents, newspapers, maps, photographs, audio tapes, and personal memorabilia. The cassette tapes are interviews conducted by Terry Hammons from 1978-1980 in preparation for his book on Drummond.

George, John

Collection, 1938-1998
(513 volumes, 235 serial titles, and 4 linear ft. of vertical files)

This collection was donated by Dr. John George, retired UCO Professor of Political Science and Sociology. It is one of the region's largest and most diverse collections on political extremist groups. It is rivaled only by the Wilcox Collection in the Kenneth Spencer Library at the University of Kansas and the Political Ephemera Collection in the Manuscripts Department at Tulane University.

Contained in this collection are 513 volumes, 235 serial titles, and 4 linear feet of vertical files dealing with political extremist groups. Materials include both "right wing" and "left wing" groups. Newsletter and journals identified with the "right wing" include the Conservative, Patriotic, Anti-Communist, Libertarian, Pro-Family, Anti-abortion, Ethnic (White) Nationalist, Gun Rights, Free Market, and many others too numerous to mention. The "left wing" materials, while not as extensive, express the values, opinions, and beliefs of such groups as the Liberals, Socialists, Radicals, Revolutionaries, Feminists, Gays, Marxists, Anti-War, Environmentalists, and Ethnic (Minority) Nationalists.

Getzoff, Douglas

Collection, 1992-2006
(30 cu. ft.)

The collection consists of architectural drawings of his sets, notebooks on how to construct the sets, scripts, slides and video of major UCO and Shakespeare in the Park productions from 1992-2006.

Gill, William E.

Papers & Library, 1929-1986
(2.5 linear ft.)

The personal papers of William E. Gill include correspondence from his legislative year, research notes and book drafts, manuscripts, campaign materials dated between 1930-1934 and special political issues of newspapers. Among the political figures represented in these papers are William Murray, Jack Walton, Lyle Boren, and Leon Phillips.

Green, Dr. Donald E.

Papers, 1950s-1990
(4 linear ft.)

Papers include personal correspondence, professional correspondence, class notes taken by him as a student at the University of Oklahoma and Texas Tech University, academic papers written by students of his courses, several archaeological journals, and various office files.

Hampton, Lucy Jeston

Papers, 1910-1965
(3.5 linear ft.)

Papers, which include personal correspondence, course development materials, speech drafts, correspondence from her many speaking engagements, and lecture notes, chronicle her many achievements.

Harris, Marilyn

Papers, 1931-2007
(30 cu. ft.)

This collection consists of the original drafts of all 20 books, correspondence with publishers and editors, galleys, fan letters, cover art for her book, research used in the writing of her books, as well as a complete collection of her works in paper, hardback, and foreign language titles.

Hirsch, Pearl Birlew

Papers, 1937-1972
(38 volumes)

Pearl Hirsch wrote daily entries about the events and people in her Oklahoma life. These 38 diaries give an understanding of what everyday life was like from the 1940's - 1970's.

Hommel, Bill - African Art Collection

Collection, 1971-1978
(2,991 images)

Dr. William Hommel taught African Art at the University of Maryland for 10 years and the University of Central Oklahoma for 25 years. This collection of images and videos was developed during Dr. William Hommel's four research trips to Sierra Leone, Africa. He carried out research among the Mende during the summers of 1971, 1973, 1976, and 1978. 

Ingram, Rev. Job

Papers, 1845-1930
(18 items)

A Methodist, and later a Baptist minister, Ingram (1845-1930) traveled extensively in the United States. During his career he was a chaplain in the Spanish-American War, was an active speaker for the Prohibition Amendment, and delivered many sermons and speeches, the most noted being the memorial address for Governor Abraham Seays in 1915.

The journals include entries during his experience in the Spanish-American War, family histories from all the states, counties, and cities were he lived, and a scrapbook of news articles pertaining to Prohibition.

Jackson, Dr. Joe

Papers, 1898-1990
(1 ½ linear in.)

The papers of this former history professor include documents used in his doctoral dissertation written on the history of education in Eastern Oklahoma.

Keim, John Brown

Papers, 1902-1918
(1 ¾ linear ft.)

This collection consists of letters, legal documents, and miscellaneous commercial business files from the family of John Brown Keim, who owned and operated Keim Lumber in Enid, Oklahoma.

King, Ruth 

Collection, 1930-
(1 ½ linear in.)

Her collection includes letters, photographs, news column clippings on Edmond, and other interesting articles and histories of many Oklahoma towns and counties.

Levy, Dr. Bertha, MD

Papers, 1966-1982
(3 linear ft.)

The donation of Dr. Levy includes letters, handouts from meetings, and documents from State Directors Conferences on the establishment of the Oklahoma Medicare/Medicaid programs.

McCan, Rubye

Photo Collection, 1960s-1980s

The Rubye McCan Collection consists of over 600 images, mostly from the 1960s through the 1980s. Oklahoma subjects in the photos include parks, lakes and rivers, train depots, grain elevators, barns, scenic landscapes, sunsets, mountains, boats, and Oklahomans in recreational pursuits.

Rubye McCan taught in the Oklahoma City public school system for 27 years. She contributed photographs to Oklahoma Today magazine for more than 15 years and had more than 40 full page published photos. She was the only female photographer for the publication at that time. She also had photographs published in Orbit Magazine and the Daily Oklahoman.

As a founding member of the Oklahoma Watercolor Society she exhibited her one-person show, developed to take art and Oklahoma history to small towns across the state. Her works have also been shown several times at the Oklahoma State Capitol and around Oklahoma City.

This Collection can be searched in the Oklahoma Stock Image Collection.

McConathy, Dale

Collection
(3,600 volumes)

This collection includes 3,600 volumes (23 of them authored by McConathy) covering a wide range of liberal arts subjects, many of which are extremely valuable art and art history books. Dale McConathy, born in McAlester, Oklahoma, received a B.A. from the University of Central Oklahoma, an M.A. from the University of Oklahoma, and did work toward his Ph.D. as a university fellow in the interdisciplinary Institute of Liberal Arts at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia.

Dale was named Distinguished Former Student by UCO in 1969 and was posthumously awarded the Centennial Broncho Award during the Centennial Homecoming in October 1990. A critic, writer, editor, and educator, McConathy’s career included associations with such magazines as Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, and Time in varying editorial capacities.

By the age of 35, he was Executive Director of Art Park, a 200-acre park dedicated to the visual and performing arts located along the scenic Niagara River gorge in Lewiston, New York. It was created and developed at the direction of Governor Nelson Rockefeller in the 1960s and still supports public art today. At the time of his premature death in 1988, Dale McConathy was Chair of the Visual Arts Department at New York University.

Nation, Winona Morris

Papers, 1970-1991
(4 linear ft.)

Her papers include typed and handwritten manuscript materials. A collection of her poems was posthumously published in a book entitled If I Still Hold Earth As Dear.

Parker, William H.

Papers, 1918-1919
(¾ linear in.)

Recollections of the World War is a 167-page diary kept by Parker during WWI and includes sketches and photographs. Parker was from Atoka, Oklahoma and compiled these memories of his experiences while stationed in Roffey, France during WWI. Parker's papers also include letters from friends and family after his return to the United States.

Pugh, Ed

Photo Collection, 1960s-1970s

The Edward Pugh Collection contains 514 images documenting Oklahoma's natural resources and historic black communities in Oklahoma City from the 1960s through the 1970s.

Dr. Ed Pugh was a professor in the History & Geography department at the University of Central Oklahoma from 1997 until 2006. His photographic subjects reflect his professional interests in human and topographical geography. Many of the photos feature geological concepts such as the effects of erosion on watersheds, sociological concepts such as suburbs and public housing, and aerial views that illustrate geographical concepts.

Born and raised in Oklahoma City, Edward Jackson Pugh was a geographer, resource conservationist, faculty member and a prolific researcher and writer. Ed Pugh spent three years in the U.S. Army serving in Europe and South Vietnam, earning the Bronze Star and Purple Heart before his discharge in 1969. He would go on to earn a B.A. in Geography from Central State College, and an M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Oklahoma.

In 1979 he joined Governor George Nigh's staff serving as Senior Executive Assistant for Natural Resources, Energy, and Environmental Affairs, advising on the management and protection of Oklahoma's natural resources. Dr. Pugh would also serve President George Nigh as Executive Assistant at the University of Central Oklahoma where he would later become a full time Assistant Professor in the History and Geography Department.

This collection can be searched in the Oklahoma Stock Image Collection.

Rader, Lloyd

Papers, 1906-1982
(4 linear ft.)

This unique collection contains historic photographs of a life dedicated to government service--Lloyd Rader was the Director of the Oklahoma Department of Human Services from 1951-1982. The collection includes genealogical information and family history, photographs, diaries, news clippings, memorabilia, scrapbooks, letters, plaques and awards, a history of Hinton County, Oklahoma, cassette tape interviews, and a video biography of Rader with his friends and co-workers assembled by CSU-TV.

(See also Oklahoma Department of Human Services Records)

Rankin, Guy M.

Papers, 1926-1982
(6 linear in.)

The personal manuscripts and published items of Guy Rankin include letters, editorials, essays and speeches, the bulk of which address political and economic issues.

Rice, Earl M.

Papers, 1809-1967
(5 sheets)

Dr. Earl Rice, lecturer in the UCO department of Math and Science since 1953, include birth and death records and biographical sketches of his family.

Spearman, C. H., Jr.

Papers, 1951-1985
(3 linear ft.)

Papers contain correspondence, reports, rules, campaign materials, publicity, debate speech materials, and some awards and recognition memorabilia from his years of service in Oklahoma state government. While the materials reflect the background and training of Spearman in the 1950s, the majority represents his years in the House of Representative.

Stiles, Gladys

Memorabilia, 1889-1986
(4 ½ linear in.)

This collection includes news clippings, photographs, and handwritten manuscripts about Guthrie history, including a letter from A. Jennings regarding the removal of the seal from Guthrie to Oklahoma City.

Voegelein, Fredrick Leo

Papers, 1944-1983
(¾ linear in.)

In 1905 Frederick Leo Voegelein, son of Rev. Job Ingram, wrote One Year in the Life of a Homesteader. The book includes a prologue written by Frederick’s son Glen Voegelein.

Wilson, H.C. and Rena

Papers, 1944-1983
(38 journals; incomplete)

The Wilsons lived in the Oklahoma City area from 1925-1987. Rena worked for Zales Jewelers while her husband, H.C., was an independent oil lease man. Their papers include newspaper clippings, photocopies of letters, and handwritten journals on local people and events.