In February 1824, the general-in-chief of the Army authorized the abandonment of Fort Smith and the creation of a new fort in the southwest. Col. Matthew Arbuckle selected a site near the Three Forks and named it Cantonment Gibson. Its mission was to protect white settlers, work for peace between tribes in the region, and establish a diplomatic relationship with Plains tribes. A few months later, Maj. Alexander Cummings established Cantonment Towson near the Kiamichi and Red rivers with a mission of protecting the international border and later, serving as a buffer between the Choctaw and Plains tribes. In this episode, we discuss the important role each fort played as well as what daily life was like for those stationed there. Our guests on this episode are Jennifer Frazee, director at Fort Gibson Historic Site, and Calista Stephens, director at Fort Towson Historic Site.

Maria Tallchief, Marjorie Tallchief, Yvonne Chouteau, Moscelyne Larkin, and Rosella Hightower were all American Indian women, born in Oklahoma during the 1920s, who went on to become prima ballerinas. Nicknamed the “Five Moons,” they achieved the pinnacle of success in their respective ballet careers, making their marks in America and on the international stage. They were named Oklahoma Cultural Treasures in 1997 and a beautiful mural in the state capitol, Flight of Spirit, pays tribute to them. Our guest on this episode is writer, director, actor, and dancer, Russ Tallchief, who is also the great nephew of Maria and Marjorie Tallchief.

The confluence of cultures in Oklahoma, from Blacks who arrived as enslaved persons from the southeastern United States to European immigrants, created the ideal environment for the musical form known as jazz to take root. Jazz performers such as Charlie Christian, the Oklahoma City Blue Devils, and the Ernie Fields Orchestra made their mark on the genre starting out in small clubs located in Tulsa’s Greenwood and Oklahoma City’s Deep Deuce districts and later traveling to New York, Chicago, St. Louis, and Los Angeles. In this episode, Trait Thompson and Dr. Bob Blackburn discuss Oklahoma’s early jazz scene and interview Carmen Fields, author of Going Back to T-Town: The Ernie Fields Territory Big Band. Ms. Fields discusses her father’s legacy, the musicians in the orchestra, his hits, and her brother, Ernie Fields Jr.

In 1964, Oklahoma Supreme Court Justice N.S. Corn was convicted on federal income tax evasion charges. While incarcerated, he provided testimony implicating himself, Justice Earl Welch, and Justice N.B. Johnson in a scheme to accept bribes in exchange for affecting the decision in cases before the court. The resulting scandal cast a shadow over the court and resulted in an impeachment trial in the state legislature. In this episode, Trait Thompson and Dr. Bob Blackburn explore the scandal and the environment that led to it. Their guest is Jari Askins, administrative director of the Courts and Lieutenant Governor from 2007 to 2011.

The Cherokee Nation lived in their ancestral homelands in the eastern United States for centuries before the first arrival of Europeans on American soil in the 1500s. As settlers arrived in larger numbers, the Cherokees were forced to cede or sell their lands, first to the British government and then to the United States through successive treaties. This ultimately led to the forced removal of the Cherokee Nation to Indian Territory in the 1830s. In this episode, Trait Thompson and Dr. Bob Blackburn discuss the events and significant court cases that paved the way for Cherokee removal west of the Mississippi River. Their guests are Jack Baker, Cherokee historian and citizen of the Cherokee Nation, and Lindsay Robertson, professor emeritus of Native American Law at the University of Oklahoma. 

To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Oklahoma Territorial Museum in Guthrie, the Daughters of the American Revolution hosted a fireside chat between former governors Brad Henry (2003–2011) and George Nigh (1979–1987) at the Guthrie Scottish Rite Temple in October 2023. In a conversation moderated by Trait Thompson and Michael Williams, registrar and collections specialist at the Oklahoma Territorial Museum, the governors delved into a wide array of topics, including their views on public service, their accomplishments while in office, and bipartisanship. Both governors are great storytellers and the listener will gain critical insight into each man’s time at the helm of Oklahoma’s government.

Oklahoma’s motto, Labor Omnia Vincit, means “work conquers all things.” Today, many people see it as a nod to the hardworking nature of our state’s citizens. In reality, it’s a tribute to organized labor, which was a significant political force in the formation of Oklahoma’s constitution and early laws. In this episode, Trait Thompson and Dr. Bob Blackburn discuss the business and agricultural climate in the United States that led to the labor movement in Oklahoma starting in the 1880s. They also cover Oklahoma’s early political leaders such as Peter Hanraty, Charles Haskell, and Kate Barnard, who rose to power thanks to the support of labor organizations. Their guest is Bob Burke, an Oklahoma City attorney and historian who has written more historical non-fiction books than anyone else in history.

The 1956 Frederick Bombers were the first integrated high school football team to win a state championship in the United States. Coached by Dean Wild, a previous state champion at Watonga, the team of 12 Black players and 27 white players went 14-0 that year and beat Okmulgee Dunbar 33-0 in the Oklahoma Class B state championship game. Coach Wild’s decision to integrate the team two years after the Brown v. Board of Education decision was not popular with some local leaders, but the players developed a special bond that has spanned the decades since that magical season. In this episode, Trait Thompson and Dr. Bob Blackburn speak to Danny Griffin, a running back on the team who was selected to the All-Area Southern Oklahoma team. Danny recounts his memories of growing up in Frederick and tells stories about his talented teammates.

When Clara Luper and her students went to New York City in 1957 to perform her play, Brother President, they experienced integration for the first time. The trip opened their eyes to a new way of living and became the impetus to try to bring freedom to segregated Oklahoma. As the NAACP Youth Council leader and a well-respected teacher, Clara Luper brought 13 students to the lunch counter at Katz Drug Store on August 19, 1958, and waited to be served. In this episode, Trait Thompson and Dr. Bob Blackburn discuss Oklahoma’s history of segregation and the fortitude it took to bring change. Their guest is Marilyn Luper Hildreth, daughter of Clara Luper and longtime Civil Rights activist whose idea for the Katz Drug Store sit-in sparked a nationwide movement.