Oklahoma on the Wall
Oklahoma on the Wall is an Oklahoma Council for History Education (OKCHE) project that explores the history and significance of New Deal-era post office murals across Oklahoma. Through teacher workshops, oral history interviews, and a traveling exhibit, the project connects these public artworks to the Great Depression, federal arts programs, and the stories of Oklahoma communities. The project provides educators and the public with resources to explore how local history connects to broader national themes.
As part of the Oklahoma on the Wall project, OKCHE hosted three teacher workshops in Tulsa, Norman, and Madill to explore the history and significance of Oklahoma’s New Deal-era post office murals. Led by Dr. Kristy Brugar of the University of Oklahoma as the History and Civics Workshop Leader, the workshops equipped educators with historical context and primary source resources to help students connect Oklahoma’s local history to broader national stories of the Great Depression, New Deal, and public art. Through these experiences, teachers explored ways to bring the stories behind these historic murals into their classrooms!
“Through workshops in Tulsa, Norman, and Madill, OKCHE’s Oklahoma on the Wall project reached 50 teachers across 25 school districts, spanning all five of Oklahoma’s congressional districts!”
Teaching with Primary Sources in the Great Plains Podcasts
Explore how OKCHE is using the Library of Congress digital collections to bring Oklahoma history to life! Featured in the Teaching with Primary Sources in the Great Plains podcast, the Oklahoma on the Wall project highlights how educators can use historic post office murals and primary sources to connect local history to broader national stories. Listen to learn more about the project, its impact on Oklahoma teachers, and new ways to bring primary sources into the classroom.
Traveling Exhibit
Bring Oklahoma on the Wall to your community! This traveling exhibit explores the history and significance of Oklahoma’s New Deal-era post office murals, highlighting the artists, communities, and historical events behind these works of public art. Through engaging historical content and primary sources, the exhibit connects Oklahoma’s local stories to the Great Depression, federal arts programs, and the broader American experience.
Schools, libraries, museums, and other educational institutions are invited to request the exhibit to share this important history with their students and communities.
Oklahoma on the Wall is an Oklahoma Council for History Education (OKCHE) project funded through the Library of Congress Teaching with Primary Sources (TPS) Regional Grant Program.