2007-08
Board of Directors

Chuck Sternberg, President
Cinnamon Schiek, Secretary-Treasurer
Margaret Guyton, Dick Kirkpatrick, William Knight,
Hector Lovemore, John Rendall, Arthur Smith,
Kent Thornell, H. Tom Thompson (ex officio)

Administration

June Rettig, OHS Administrator
Karen Guss, Museum Archivist

The Oracle Historical Society, Inc. was founded in 1977 as a non-profit 501(c)3 educational organization.

Mission. The mission of the organization is to preserve historical artifacts and properties; to educate, to encourage awareness and appreciation of the unique cultural-historical heritage of the community of Oracle and surrounding areas; and to promote alliances that enhance the Society's ability to influence the future by honoring the past.

Acadia Ranch. To these ends, in 1978 the Society purchased and stabilized the Acadia Ranch building, which today serves as its headquarters and a museum devoted to regional history. In 1984, the Acadia Ranch was nominated to the National Register of Historic Places.

Oracle Historian. In the same period, the Society published a number of issues of The Oracle Historian, which continues to serve as a valuable resource on Oracle history. The Society also sponsored the Oracle Historical Resource Survey, thanks to a 1979 grant from the Arizona State Historic Preservation Office, which has proved instrumental in its efforts to advocate for historic preservation in the community.

Photo Archive. In 1992, over 250 historic photographs were acquired that today form the basis of the Society's extensive photo archive, which is housed in the Lisa Armstrong Memorial Reading Room. The reading room also offers a documents archive, research files and numerous books on local history. Call (520) 896-9609 to schedule an appointment.

Capital Improvements. Thanks to grants from the Arizona Historical Society, Southwestern Foundation and Sonoran Searchers of Questers, today the Society is engaged in making major capital improvements to the Acadia Ranch structure. These include the full restoration of its bath house (one of the oldest in Oracle), the repair and refinishing of interior surfaces and the restoration of its Great Room, as well as repair of roof, drainage and plumbing.

American Flag Ranch. In 1999, the Society acquired the historic American Flag Ranch, which the Society hopes to transform into an accessible resource for the community and visiting guests. (read about)

Kannally Paintings. Another important preservation effort involves the cleaning and cataloguing the paintings of Lee Kannally, an early Oracle rancher whose primitive yet delightful depictions of the cowboy life of the 1920s have gained wide popularity. (read about)

As you might guess, achievements, past and future, take personal effort and time from the Board and the Society's membership as well as grants and generous tax-deductible contributions. To learn how you can become involved, please join our membership.  You can download our membership application (click on link below) or find out more by visiting our membership page.

Membership Application: Download PDF form.

To correspond with OHS, please email oraclehistoricalsociety @ gmail•com or write to:

Oracle Historical Society
& Acadia Ranch Museum
P.O. Box 10 • Oracle, AZ 85623

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