Oklahoma Memoirs

If you have problems with this page you can also view it here.

This introduction offers a brief guide to the character and possible uses for a database of annotations for almost three hundred memoirs by varied Oklahoma writers I compiled during the past thirty years. My related publications and academic presentations exploring their scope and value are cited in the following.

The memoirs were largely written by "non-elites," who were not likely to have been known outside their particular communities or families. Frequently, this meant that their memoirs were self published. The database expanded subsequently to include memoirs from some better know figures from Oklahoma’s past. The original focus of the study was to define the potential use of individual books as sources for anecdotes or information to enrich or correct prevailing historical narratives. That approach seemed most useful to topical, local, and family research.

Increasingly however, it became apparent the books held value as a collective resource and for other larger purposes. Together they may permit one to "probe the soul of Oklahoma." Beyond that local focus, the memoirs may facilitate definition of the zeitgeist for an era or larger populations of people, a traditional pursuit of historians. It may also lead to a better understanding of "mentalities," the habits of mind of both eras and societies, the goal addressed by the annalistes.

Together, these qualities produce an "inside out" view of history. That view of the past, as filtered through the perspective of ordinary Oklahomans offers important challenges to either the top down or bottoms up view prevalent in many historical narratives. It stresses history as remembered in stories, a collective literature of times and places, the importance of local influences, the roles of faith in land, family, religion in shaping people and cultures, shocking and poignant reminders that the past held its own unique horrors as well as the foundations of some of those of the present.

At some point in the process of studying the books I realized I was gaining something more than historical understanding. I found encouragement and inspiration in reading about other people’s struggles along with other content that enriched my life. Some of the books were just good reading.

My hope for the database is that it will provide the foundation for others to pursue their own historical research and personal goals. Ideally, that will also lead to expansion in two directions.

First, details, such as expanded lists of names could be added for present entries.

Second, individuals, college classes or other groups might undertake identification and annotation of books not included in the present data base. I am certain there are extant publications not included in this list and new examples are being published regularly.

Finally, I would hope that this project will draw attention to the value of memoirs in general and thereby spur more people to share their stories the future.