The Edmond Sun

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November 23, 2009

Society re-opens Guthrie museum

Van Mitchell

EDMOND — The State Capital Publishing Museum in Guthrie is getting a chance to re-open its doors thanks to an affiliation agreement between the Oklahoma Historical Society and the Logan County Historical Society.

State budget cuts previously forced OHS to close the museum, at 301 W. Harrison Ave., in early August. Museum officials hope to re-open the museum in December.

Bob Blackburn, OHS executive director, said the Logan County Historical Society has agreed to enter into an affiliation contract agreement with OHS to take over the day-to-day operations of the museum.

As part of the agreement, OHS will provide LCHS a $28,000 budget to operate the facility. Blackburn said that money could be used for employee salaries.

“Our affiliation program started about eight years ago as a way to get more mileage out of the money we invest in our museums and historical sites,” Blackburn said. “It’s a management contract. We (OHS) keep doing everything we have been doing in servicing our buildings. None of that will change. The Logan County Historical Society will get a contract to run the day-to-day operations of the museum.”

Blackburn said the affiliate program has proven successful at other museum sites, in part due to local involvement and control.

“We found that all of our affiliate programs benefit their museums or historical sites,” Blackburn said. “They are more utilized. The (state) employees feel like they are part of the team. They help recruit volunteers. They are helping the museums succeed.”

Blackburn cited low visitor attendance, high utility costs and the resignation of a museum employee as additional contributing factors in closing the historical facility.

The State Capital Publishing Company building went up in 1902 and was the fourth home of the State Capital Company, which was organized in 1889 just prior to the first Oklahoma Land Run. Located in downtown Guthrie, the structure was one of the first in Oklahoma to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Inside the museum is a large collection of original furnishings and printing equipment. Museum exhibits include the history of the State Capital Company, printing technology and other aspects of life from the territorial and early statehood era.

Blackburn said OHS has invested about $1 million in the past 20 years to repair and update the facility. The building doesn’t have air conditioning and is normally closed during the summer. Utilities normally run about $28,500 per year.

Blackburn said with ongoing state budget cuts his agency has been forced to make additional staff cuts. This is his third go-round of budget cuts at OHS. His agency suffered cuts in 1994, 2002 and 2009.

Blackburn praised Guthrie museum officials for planning ahead.

“We’ve had a soft hiring freeze at OHS,” Blackburn said. “We’re down 28.5 positions since the first of the year with 24 positions here at the History Center eliminated. We’ve tried to cut everywhere. We’re delaying the day of reckoning for our museum and sites.

“The Guthrie group is ahead of the curve. Guthrie is pretty safe. They have been proactive in stepping forward like this. It’s a positive step and I want to commend them for stepping forward.”

Mary Coffin, executive director of the Guthrie Chamber of Commerce, said she welcomed the news that the museum would re-open.

“The Logan County Historical Society is picking it up and they are going to have it open,” Coffin said. “They are looking to hire someone part-time. We are excited. We don’t want to see it closed down. I’m glad we could work something out.”

Blackburn said OHS will continue to work to find ways to make all of Guthrie’s historical museums as successful as possible.

“We’re not finished,” Blackburn said. “We want to get better all of the time.”

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