Local History
Wilson and Area History
Located in the Museum library are albums reflecting aspects of Wilson and the area’s history. Most of this information has come from Wilson’s newspapers beginning with 1915 and continuing through the present. This is an on-going project focusing on adding more prior years’ information and keeping up with current news. Information is also available on Cornish, Dillard, Hewitt, Joiner, Oil City, Orr, Reck, Rexroat, Rubuttom, Simon and Zaneis, among others.We are happy to assist with most research projects; however, $10.00 per hour is charged for in-depth searches. Please contact the Museum for further information.
About Wilson
- Bicentennial Edition of The Daily Ardmoreite: Wilson 1914–1976
- The Founding and Early Beginnings of Wilson: 1913-1914
- History of the Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Pacific Railroad (i.e., The Ringling Railroad): (Articles and pictures regarding the development of the railroad)
- History of Wilson, Oklahoma, 1975 (The Wilson Bicentennial Organization)*
- Naming of Wilson
- News Around Wilson (Various newspaper columns)
- New Wilson, Oklahoma: 1915-1920
- The Ringling Road (Photographs and brief history by C. Dwane Stevens)
- “Unforgettable Saturday Night” (Article featured in Oklahoma Today in 1979 describing Saturday night in Wilson and Healdton in the 1930’s)
- Wilson, Oklahoma, Hometown U.S.A.: Homecoming 1990 (A history of Wilson)*
- Writings about Wilson
* available for sale in the Museum store
- Accountants, Attorneys and Insurance Agents
- Bakeries and Confectioneries
- Banks
- American National
- Bank of Wilson
- City State
- First National
- New Wilson State
- Oklahoma State
- Producer’s State
- Barbers and Hairstylists
- Books/Book Signings and Book Stores
- Buchele and Company
- Cafes, Diners and Restaurants
- Car Dealers and Automobiles
- Charles Grad Sales and Service
- Cleaners and Laundries
- Clothing Stores
- Collier Brothers
- Contractors, Construction and Housing
- Convenience Stores
- Drug Stores
- Electricians and Plumbers
- The Fair Store
- Florists and Gift Shops
- Furniture Stores
- General or Dry Good Stores
- Gins/Flour/Feed/Seed/Etc.
- Grocery Stores
- Hardware and Appliance Stores
- Hotels and Rooming Houses
- Ice Plant
- The Junque Store
- L.O. Addy's Men's Wear
- Loan, Pawn and Thrift Shops
- Lumber Companies
- Mashore’s – Reba’s
- Mettry Dry Goods
- Photography
- Service Stations, Garages, Tires and Accessories
- Shoe Stores and Shoe Repair
- Theatres
- Variety Stores
- Area Church Registries
- Church Hi-Lites
- Wilson Ministerial Alliance
- Abundant Life Church of God
- Ash Street Church of Christ
- Assembly of God Church
- Dillard Methodist Church
- East B Street Church of Christ
- First Baptist Church
- First Methodist Church
- Free Will Baptist Church
- Nazarene Church
- Pentecostal Church of God
- Pentecostal Holiness Church
- Primitive Baptist Church
- Rexroat Baptist Church
- River of Life Church
- Rose Hill Baptist Church
- Rose Hill Baptist Church Records
- Women's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU)
- Zaneis Baptist Church
- American Angus Association
- American Legion and Auxiliary
- 1931 American Legion Auxiliary Cook Book
- Boy Scout Troup # 43
- Boy Scout Memorabilia of Carl Cumpton
- Chamber of Commerce
- Chamber of Commerce Sidewalk Project
- Cub Scouts
- Eastern Star
- 4-H and FFA
- Friendship, Neighborhood, Ryonis, and Worthwhile Clubs
- Girl Scouts
- Hardy House, and Boys and Girls Club
- I.O.O.F. Lodge
- Rainbow Girls
- Rebekah Lodge
- Rotary
- RSVP Club
- Sewing Clubs
- Lucky Thirteen
- Needleworkers
- Sew and So
- Stitch-Away
- Stitch-In-Time
- Thimble
- Willing Workers
- Wilson Homemakers Club
- Woodmen of the World
- Animals and Pet
- Art Exhibits and Cultural Events
- Caring for Others
- Community Calendars
- Community Choir
- Country Club
- Dance and Gymnastics
- DHS Awards to Wilsonites
- Early Wilson Sports
- Entertainment Around Wilson
- Fall Festivals
- Farmer’s Market and Gardening
- Fire Department Women’s Auxiliary
- Get-Togethers and Parties: Adult and Youth
- Grand Marshals
- Junior and Special Olympics
- Music, Piano and Voice
- Pageant Participants
- Parties: Farewell/Miscellaneous
- Swimming Pool
- Time and Weather
- Trips Taken by Wilsonites
- Vehicular Accidents
- Wilson Beautification or “Let’s Clean Up Wilson!”
- Wilson Eagle Statue
- Wilson Park
- Wilson Public Library
- Angel Food Ministries
- City Government
- Crime and Law Enforcement
- Department of Corrections
- Fire Department and Fires
- Four City Coalition
- Highways and Roads
- Nutrition Site/Meals on Wheels
- REAP, SODA and SORC
- Red River Bridge
- Sales Tax
- Share Program
- Sidewalks and Streets
- Tag Agency
- Telephone Agencies
- Utilities
- Wilson Economic Development Association
- Wilson Post Office
- Works Progress Administration (WPA)
- Dentists and Eye Doctors
- Good Samaritan Hospice and Good Health Care Professionals
- Health Related Issues
- Medical/Charitable Fundraisers
- Physicians and Clinics
- Wilson Nursing Center
- "Down A Country Road," by Barbara Watson Dobbs
- Wilson Newspaper History
- Advertisements
- “Correna’s Chat Line,” by Correna Wilson-Pickens
- Letters to the Editor
- “Looking Back”
- Memories of Wilson People
- Miscellaneous (Articles that do not fit into specific categories)
- “Museum Memories,” by Melinda Taylor
- “Remember When,” by Correna Wilson-Pickens
- Special Wilsonites, by Peggy Herrin
- “Town Talk,” by Peggy Herrin
- “Wilson Moving Forward,” by Correna Wilson-Pickens
- Years in Review (Brief synopsis of news items throughout the year)
- Cities Service
- Early Oklahoma Oil: A Photographic History 1859-1936 by Kenny A. Franks, Paul F. Lambert and Carl N. Tyson
- Halliburton Services
- Healdton, Loco, Duncan and Lawton Oil/Gas Fields in 1915*
- Interstate Oil Pipeline Company: Seniority Book, Northern Division, Tussy Station: 1953
- Oil Fields and Refineries
- Oil On Stream! A History of Interstate Oil Pipeline Company, 1909-1959 by John Loos
- Oklahoma Pipe Line Company
- Petroleum – Engineering Study: Healdton Oilfield 1953 by U.S. Department of Interior Bureau of Mines
* available for sale in the Museum store
- Administration
- Principals and Superintendents
- Wilson and Area Teachers
- Teachers of the Year
- Wilson Public Schools
- Academics
- Gifted and Accelerated Programs
- Honor Rolls
- Activities
- Band and Alumni Band
- Basketball (High School)
- Basketball (Junior High)
- Bowling and Weight Lifting
- Cheerleaders and Flag Corp
- Cross Country and Track
- Elementary/Youth Sports
- Football (High School – this includes Homecoming)
- Football (Junior High)
- Lady Eagle Sports
- Proms
- Students Working Against Tobacco (SWAT)
- Alumni Activities
- Alumni/Restoration Association
- Class of 1934: 70th Reunion
- Class Reunions
- College and University Students
- Graduates (What they are doing today)
- No-Host Reunions
- Miscellaneous
- All Sports Club
- Community Educational TV
- PTA/PTVO
- The Old Gym
- School Annuals
- Wilson school annuals are available for: 1923, 1926, 1927-28 (Athletic Edition), 1928, 1946, 1948-1962, 1964-1984, 1988-1995, 1997, 1999-2008. Annuals that are missing and we need to add to our collection are the following: anything before 1923, 1924-1925, 1929-1945, 1947, 1963, 1985-1987, 1996 and 1998. In addition, we would accept duplicates of other years if someone wants to dispose of them.
- School Newspaper
- The Eagles Voice: Various years from 1928–1998
- Specific Grade Information
- Wilson Elementary School
- Early Childhood Center
- Head Start
- Pre-K
- Pre-K Students of the Week
- Kindergarten
- First Grade
- Second Grade
- Third Grade
- Fourth Grade
- Fifth Grade
- Wilson Elementary School Students of the Month
- Early Childhood Center
- Wilson Middle School
- Sixth Grade
- Seventh Grade
- Eighth Grade
- Wilson Middle School Students of the Month
- Wilson High School
- Freshmen
- Sophomores
- Juniors
- Seniors
- Senior Activities and Commencements
- Senior Scholarships
- Senior and Junior High Honors
- Girl’s State/Boy’s State
- Honorary or Junior Rotarians
- Wilson High School Students of the Month
- Wilson High School Students of the Week and Blue Ribbon
- Scholars as designated by The Ardmoreite
- Wilson High School Foreign Exchange Students
- Wilson Elementary School
- Journal of Carter County Schools, 1923, by Kate Galt Zaneis
- Ambrose Ward
- Ardmore Higher Education Center
- Black Jack
- Board Tree
- Bryant
- Carter-Humble
- Central Ward
- Dillard
- Graham annual, 1939 (in Mary Jones Wilson Archives)
- Hewitt
- Post Oak
- Reck
- Rexroat annuals for 1949-50, 1953, 1954 and 1956-58
- Rexroat Eagle's: 1941-1943
- South Ward
- Southern Oklahoma Technology Center
- Strawn
- Waurika annuals for 1953, 1954, 1956 and 1958
- Zaneis
- Christmas
- Christmas Displays of Be and Bo Ward
- Easter
- Fathers Day
- Fourth of July
- Grandparents Day
- Halloween
- Labor Day
- Memorial Day
- Mothers Day
- New Years
- Thanksgiving
- Valentines Day
- Veterans Day
- Dillard
- Dillard Fire Department
- Dundee
- Hewitt
- Hewitt Masonic Lodge
- Joiner
- Oil City
- Orr
- Reck
- Rexroat
- Rubottom
- Simon
- Zaneis
- Chronicles of Oklahoma (2003-Present)
- Mistletoe Leaves (Oklahoma Historical Society Newsletter, 2003–Present)
- Oklahoma History (Newspaper articles relating to Oklahoma’s history)
- Senator Johnnie Carl Crutchfield
- State and National Congressmen
- A History: 1997–Present
- Awards
- Friends of the Museum
- Volunteer of the Year
- Pictures: 1997–Present
- The Museum Building: A History of the building built by Dr. W. A. Darling in 1926
- Chickasaw Nation History
- Butch Bridges Compilation of Oklahoma History
- Carter County Genealogical Information
