History of the UCO Laboratory of History Museum

May 21, 2008

UCO Laboratory of History Museum
Timeline

• In 1915, history professor Lucy J. Hampton founded the Central State Normal Historical Society. The purpose of the society was to “…collect, arrange, and preserve historical material…illustrative of and relating to the history of Oklahoma…”  The museum was called the Laboratory of Original Evidence. It was first housed in a classroom in the basement of Evans Hall. The museum was primarily used for teaching history to the Normal School students, but local school classes often came to tour the museum.

 

• By 1917, hundreds of items had been collected and the Society had grown to over 100 members. The collection included Native American items, photographs, historical furniture, books, weapons, documents, coins, Civil War items, pioneer objects and material relating to early campus life. Collected documents, photographs and objects were used to teach history as examples of original evidence.

 

• In 1921, as the demand for classroom space increased, the museum items were stored in the attic of Old North.

 

• In 1931, space was available to set up the museum on the mezzanine level of Evans Hall.

       

• In 1953, the museum was moved to the first floor of Evans Hall. An article tells us that it was moved to a bigger space which was “…the original section set aside in the Library Building for the Museum…” The museum was upgraded and new display cases and bookcases were installed.

 

• 1958 – Lucy J. Hampton retires after 48 years of teaching. Roger Umphers, Social Studies professor, becomes the new curator.

 

• 1974 – Dr. Royce Peterson, history professor, becomes director and the museum becomes the Laboratory of History Museum.

 

• 1980s – Students enrolled in the Museum Studies program through the Department of History and Geography begin working in the museum. The museum aids the Museum Studies program in the capacity of a “hands-on” training resource for the students.

 

• 1989 – Jan. 1990 – Artifacts removed and stored during renovation of Evans Hall

 

• 1990-2007 – Laboratory of History Museum located on mezzanine level of Evans Hall

 

• 2008 – Heidi Vaughn hired as first full-time director of the museum. Vaughn obtained a M.A. in History-Museum Studies from UCO in 1998.