News
The Smithsonian Exhibition
Key Ingredients: America by Food
The Society is proud to announce that it has been selected by the Arizona Humanities Council as one of six Arizona sites to host Key Ingredients: America by Food, a Smithsonian ‘Museums on Main Street’ traveling exhibition on the history of food in America. The exhibition will be held from March 19 through May 1, 2011. We are offering a spate of local programs, including speakers, workshops and festivals.
Collections & Archives Updates
We are proud to announce the receipt this year of a $2,000 grant from the Arizona Historical Society to to ensure the proper cataloguing and safekeeping of our collections and historic archives.
These include an archive of over 250 historic photographs, the Huggett Fammily collection of ranching artifacts, the Alice Carpenter Collection of Hohokam and other Native American Artifacts and a major collection of works by self-taught cowboy painter Lee Kannally.
Other recent efforts include the updating and weatherproofing of the collections storage facility, made possible by a second Arizona Historical Society grant, and the acquisition of state-of-the-art software and computer on which to house the digital archives, which was underwritten by the Sonoran Searchers of Questers.
Acadia Ranch Renovations
With the intensive efforts of Chuck Sternberg and a number of volunteers, the Society is undertaking major renovations to the Acadia Ranch Museum’s historic structure. Most recently, the kitchen and adjoining dining area have been completely restored and the porch trim repaired and repainted to match the original historic forest green. In 2009, the great room was renovated and the original fir floor uncovered and refurbished.
Other past efforts include major roof repairs and the restoration of the Acadia Ranch Bath House, including its exterior adobe walls and chimney. This work was funded by an $8,000 grant awarded by the Southwestern Foundation in 2005. In addition, water run-off has been diverted so as to mitigate impact on the exterior structure and other needed pruning steps have been taken to ensure that the the property's historic stone walls are preserved.
Exhibition Improvements
HEALTH SEEKERS IN ORACLE
Tuberculosis and Treatment, 1890s-1940s
A new exhibit devoted to the medical history of Oracle as a destination for sufferers from tuberculosis and other lung ailments. The exhibit, made possible with a grant from the Arizona Historical Society, was curated by local history author Catherine Ellis and fabricated by architectural designer Chuck Sternberg. With the generous loan of medical tools and equipment and other artifacts from McFarland State Park, OHS is able to give today’s visitors an idea of what it was like for patients at Acadia Ranch 100 ago, when fresh air and a good diet were the only front-line treatment.
EARLY ORACLE SNAPSHOTS
Funded by the Arizona Historical Society, this introductory hallway exhibit on the region’s history covers the period from the first days of the Hohokam, Sobaipuris and Apache through the rise of cattle ranches and tuberculosis health resort hotels of the early 1900s. Drawing on the Society’s extensive photo archives, the exhibit offers a window onto the mutli-racial pioneer world of early Oracle and the surrounding region.
TEMPORARY EXHIBITS
Let’s Have a Picnic! Outdoor Eating from Wikiups to Homesteads to Hotels is being created to complement the Smithsonian exhibition Key Ingredients: America by Food. Leading the curatorial effort is well-known local history writer Catherine Ellis. Architectural designer Chuck Sternberg ((also OHS Board of Directors President) is in charge of design and fabrication. OHS Administrator June Rettig will provide graphics. The exhibit is funded by a grant from the Arizona Humanities Council.
Other temporary exhibits include: The Forgotten 'C': Arizona Citrus and the Artwork It Inspired, which has also visited the Tempe Historical Museum and Sahuaro Ranch Park; Dudes & Cowboys: 100 Years of Rancho Linda Vista, an exhibit devoted to the first Arizona dude ranch that catered to Hollywood; and The Rossis: Three Generations of Arizona Artists.
Oral History Outreach
The Oracle Historical Society is gathering oral histories from long-time Tri-Community residents. Spearheaded by Margaret Guyton, this project has received new life thanks to the tremendous efforts of Susan Woodruff, who has been collecting oral histories related to food from community residents.
Past efforts include a grant award from the Arizona Historical Society. To build support, we also offered an Arizona Humanities Council-funded series of talks, Oral Histories Along the Border, and formed an outreach advisory council.
More recently, OHS is partnering with area organizations to involve children in doing oral history, most notably for a Día de los Muertos altar project sponsored by the Arizona Commission on the Arts. This year, we will work with 4-H Desert Thunder, RLV OracleArt and area schools to enlist students in interviewing their family elders for family food histories, as part of the Key Ingredients initiative. To participate or learn more, please call (520) 896-9609 or email OracleHistoricalSociety @ gmail . com.
New Website Launch
Welcome to a whole new look for the Oracle Historical Society’s website. We are retiring the old site after nearly six years of service. The new site improves functionality and offers a clean and updated design. Design/coding donated by Emily Düwel @ ThinkSense Studios. Web server space donated by Jim Hewitt @ Barn Jazz Productions
American Flag Ranch Roadway Project
In the Fall of 1999, the Society acquired The American Flag Ranch on Mt. Lemmon Road. In recognition of its important historic role as one of Territorial Arizona’s first post offices, it has been placed on the National Register. Phase One of the project has entailed working with County officials and community partner Kalamazoo Materials to re-route Mt. Lemmon Road, so as to ensure the building's long-term preservation. Phase Two will include the extensive restoration and beautification of the property, as well as the creation of public-use facilities geared towards hikers and horseback riders interested in exploring the adjacent portion of the Arizona Trail.
Lee Kannally Artwork Restoration
The Oracle Historical Society is looking to collaborate with the Friends of Oracle State Park on continuing the restoration of a major collection of paintings by cowboy painter Lee Kannally, whose refurbishment was initiated some years ago by artist, educator and long-time OHS member Andrew Rush.
Lee, whose family built the magnificent Kannally Ranch – current home of Oracle State Park – was known as one of the most skilled ropers of his time. Suffering damage from nerve gas poisoning during World War I, Lee painted most of his work while bending over his bed with the canvas flat on the floor. You can see a number of these paintings on display at the Acadia Ranch Museum and by appointment at the now-closed Oracle State Park.
Spirit of Oracle Video
In 2004, local author Barbara Marriot received an Arizona Historical Society grant to create a video on the history of Oracle. She was assisted by Arizona public historian Jim Turner, Arizona Journal Editor Bruce Dingus and Alex Kimmelman of Pima Community College. H. Tom Thompson, Oracle history expert, both contributed expertise and played the part of an early prospector who doubles as lead narrator.
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