Oklahoma's Conservation Heritage Oral History Collection

About the Collection

The Oklahoma's Conservation Heritage Collection is a series of interviews with people involved in the conservation of natural resources in the state. Throughout the state’s history Oklahomans have struggled with extreme weather from drought and the Dust Bowl to devastating flooding. Conservation efforts to combat soil erosion, protect land and communities from flooding, and improve water quality have been a vital part of our state’s history.

A long-standing government partnership involving USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (federal), the Oklahoma Conservation Commission (state) and Conservation Districts (local) have been responsible for working with landowners and land users to install conservation practices on the ground. The interviews in this collection focus on individuals whose careers were devoted to the conservation of Oklahoma’s natural resources. The interviews were conducted in partnership and sponsorship with the Oklahoma Conservation Historical Society with funding provided by the Natural Resources Conservation Service. More archival material from this history can be found at the Oklahoma Historical Society.

 

Additional Resources

• Phillips, F. Dwain. (2004) Out of the Dust: The History of Conservation in Oklahoma in the 20^th Century
• Burns, Ken. (2012) The Dust Bowl [Documentary]
• Caldwell, Larry (2020) USDA Watershed Programs Facts and Figures: A Reservoir of Watershed Program Information https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/resources/data-and-reports/usda-watershed-programs-facts-figures

Conservation Organization Links

• Natural Resources Conservation Service https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/
• Oklahoma Conservation Historical Society https://www.oklahomaconservationhistory.org/
• Oklahoma Association of Conservation Districts https://www.okconservation.org/

 

View the Collection

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Contact Us

Oklahoma Oral History Research Program
207 Edmon Low Library
Oklahoma State University
Stillwater, OK 74078
Phone: 405-744-7685
liboh@okstate.edu

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