January – March 2015 Edition
The Newsletter of the Museum of the Red River in Idabel, Oklahoma
Earthenware Spindle Whorl
West Mexico, ca. 800
Inside the first Museum, 1977
1st accessioned object (74.1.1)
to the Museum of the Red River’s collection
Gift of Quintus and Mary Herron.
Mary and Quintus Herron and
Mayor Troy Estes, 1975
House Disk, ca. 1970
Wayana-Apalai (Amazonia, Brazil)
Gift of Quintus Herron, 1981
“Avery Engaved” Jar, ca. 1400-1600
Caddoan (Southeast)
Williams Site (Red River County, TX)
Excavated 1978
“Heart” Basket, ca. 1925
Choctaw (Oklahoma)
Gift of Betty Sue Sessions, 1975
DIRECTIONS
2015 EVENTS (January - April)
The Museum celebrates forty years
of continuous service in 2015, and
we hope you will join in the
festivities as best you can. In
addition to commemorative events,
the Museum will highlight some of
its many strengths. There will be
new publications including
Oklahoma State Archeologist Dr.
Robert Brooks’ Archaeology of
Henry Moy, Director
McCurtain County, illustrated with
regional finds from the Museum’s collections. Also, adjunct
curator Bill Mercer’s Collections Highlights from the
Museum of the Red River, featuring the gifts of Quintus and
Mary Herron and their family will be available. A
monograph by Dr. Kenneth Carpenter focused on
Oklahoma’s State Dinosaur Acrocanthosaurus atokensis is
also being prepared. The most complete specimen was
excavated here in McCurtain County, and is the designated
State Dinosaur of Oklahoma. It is represented by the
Museum’s own cast ACRO skeleton.
Thursday, Jan 1
Museum CLOSED (Reopens Jan 2)
Over the course of the year, temporary exhibits will focus
heavily on the Museum’s collections. Four successive
installations in the Mary Bratton Curtis Gallery, will each
house forty objects acquired during four respective decades
(1975 - 1984, 1985 - 1994, 1995 - 2004, and 2005 - 2014).
The 40/40 exhibits will supplement the Collections Highlights
catalog.
The “official” celebration will take place Friday, April 24,
2015, coinciding with the Annual Dinner, beginning at 6:00
p.m. It will be a fun event with all patrons and supporters
invited. Join us!
Through Jan 25
Exhibit: Recent Acquisitions
Tuesday, Jan 13– Sunday, Jan 25
Exhibit: Expressions of Youth
Tuesday, Feb 3
Exhibit Opens: 40/40 (I):Selections from the Collections
Acquired 1975 - 1984 (through March 29)
Saturday, Feb 21
Workshop: Twining with Mary Smith
Saturday, March 7
Program: 10th Annual Acro Fest
Tuesday, April 7
Exhibit Opens: 40/40 (II): Selections from the Collections
Acquired 1985 -1994 (through June 21)
Saturday, April 11
Program: 10th Annual Mary H. Herron Memorial Kite Flight
Thursday, April 23
Workshop: Contemporary Masking with Patrick Riley
Friday, April 24
Museum Annual Dinner and Fancy Dress Birthday
Celebration
MUSINGS
I think I have one of the best jobs at
the Museum. As a Museum Assistant,
I work in the Store and “man” the
phones. The most important part of my
job and the most enjoyable is greeting
visitors and welcoming them to the
Museum. Often I am the only staff
John Malin
member they will see during their visit.
I am the one who gets to see the expressions on their faces
when they see the dinosaur or hear the children exclaim,
“Wow!” with excitement. I also get to hear their enthusiastic
comments and compliments after touring the Museum.
Basket, 20th century
Choctaw (Southeast)
Gift of Ron Wetherell to the
Museum’s Baker, Beasley, Wetherell Collection
I have had the opportunity to spend time with visitors from
most states and many countries. Recently, after introducing
myself to a gentleman from Oregon, he said, “I think your
mother was my 1st grade teacher at Glover, OK in 1939!” and
indeed, she was.
Wow! and they call this a job???
SUPPORT (2014)
(Names in bold type indicate gifts received in the last quarter.)
Gifts to the General and Programs Fund
Anonymous (2), Frances Graffham Allen, Lavetta Angelley–
In Honor of Quintus H. Herron, James Bailey, Virginia L.
Bower, Rev. Charles and Jan Darby, Linda and Mike
DeBerry, Delcyne Grant, Nadya Green and Kevin Green,
Joyce Hall– In Memory of Cephis Hall, Jane and Tom
Harding, Janet Herron and Gamaliel Leyva, Julia Herron
- In memory of Quintus and Mary Herron, Richard “Pete”
Herron, Buck Hill, Bobby and Rebecca Kelly, Dr. Bruce
King, Nira Levine, John and Pat Malin, Henry Moy,
Carolynn Neal, Sheldon and Maria Ngouy, W.R. “Bob”
Norris, Lloyd W. Page– In Memory of Margaret “Peggy”
Page, Drethia Parsons, Parimal and Bhavisha Patel, John
and Ida Ramsey, David and Carolyn Sacks, Lewis and Karla
Schwartz, Jeff and V. Elaine Smith, Terry D. and Michelle
F. Walker, Jeanie and Bob West, Andy Wolov
Bob Terry Insurance & Financial Services, Inc., Edward
Jones, Inc. (Idabel), Herron Foundation, Inc., International
Paper Foundation, Lin’s Cuisine, Michael S. McElroy
Insurance, Quintus H. Herron Trust (Bequest), Tom Ellis–
Attorney at Law, Walmart Store #117 (Broken Bow, OK)
Gifts In Memory of Quintus H. Herron
(1923 - 2014)
Lavetta H. Angelley, Jeanette and Greg Bohanan, William
H. Denyer, Don and Peggy Dugan, Faith and Jack
Dulaney, William Eastep Family, Jim and Claudia Haas,
Joyce Hall, Robin and Ford Hendershot, Richard “Pete”
and Katie Herron, Suzannah Mary Herron, Nickey J.
Lambeth, John and Pat Malin, Bill Mercer, Phillip D.
Morgan, Ramona Morris, Henry Moy, Lowell and
Kathleen Provancha, Vicki and W. A. Ralls, Matthew T.
Renick, Vickie and Scott Smith, Dr. Lewis Stiles, Daniel
L. Vick, Lavetta Ward, Darrell and Kathie H. Whitten
Chebon Indian Trading, Inc. (Ron and Doris Smithee),
Hometown Rentals-Sales & Developments, McCurtain
Daily Gazette, WRN, Inc. (Bob Norris)
Basket Tray, ca. 1980
Attributed to Elsie Battiest
Choctaw (Oklahoma)
Gift of Steve Domjanovich
Gifts to the Collections Fund
Ron and Doris Smithee
Gifts to the Libraries
(including Research, Learning Center, and Reference)
June Beasley, D. Michael and JoNell Dann, Marshall and
Sally Gettys, Jeffrey Moy/Paragon Books, Henry Moy,
Doris Perkins, Betty Ramsey, Quintus H. Herron Trust
(Bequest)
Gifts in Kind
Whitney Aaron, Angelica “Cricket” Bohanan, Naomi
Bohanan, Rabecca Bohanan, Sofia Bohanan, Dr. Robert H.
and Pamela Brooks, Zac Cox, Bailey Eastep, Victoria
Eastep, Marshall and Sally Gettys, Kevin Green, Robin and
Ford Hendershot, Gamaliel Leyva, Charlotte Meares, Lorran
Meares, W. “Bill” Mercer, Dylan Miler, Glenn Nerwin,
Deah Raygadas, Kylie Rowan, Dr. Armin M. and Barbara
Sadoff, Ezekiel Shomo, Summer Shomo, Bryan Smith, Paul
Shepard, John Swineford, Sallie A.Webb, Ryan Weeks,
Saraih Weeks, Michelle and Russell Whiting, Paul Yih
AJ’s Steak & Pasta, Herron Foundation,Inc.,
Nerwin+Martin+Glenn, White Family Funeral Home
2013-14 Corporate Sponsors
(Business donors whose contributions support the Museum’s free admission policy)
Memorial Gifts to Herron Foundation, Inc.
Terry and Lila Cantwell, William E. Gentry
Ceremonial Axe Head, ca. 1000 B.C.
Luristan, Iran
Gift of MAW
All Smiles Dental, Bob Terry Insurance and Financial
Services, Castelano Designs, Chandler-Hewitt Drugs,
Choctaw Electric Coop, Colonial Lodge Independent Living,
Complete Care Medical, D & M Chipping, Don Shaw–
Attorney, First State Bank–Valliant, G.I. Surplus and Pawn,
Hill Nursing Home, Inc., Hometown Rentals, Sales &
Developments, The Idabel National Bank, International
Paper Foundation, Janitor’s Local Supply, Jerry L.
McCombs, P.C., Native American Art Appraisals, Judy’s
Wholesale Furniture, McCurtain Co. Bar Association,
McCurtain Daily Gazette, Michael S. McElroy Insurance,
Routh Enterprises, Palace Drug, Rustin Concrete, SETCO,
Walmart Store #117 (Broken Bow), Weyerhaeuser Corp.
EXHIBITS
UPCOMING EXHIBIT
Jack Bell Hall (Mary H. Herron
Community Conference Center)
40/40 (I): 1975 - 1985 (Feb 2 - March 29)
Forty objects acquired by the Museum during it’s first decade
of service
Biennial Expressions of Youth (Artists, 10 - 19)
(January 13-25)
Mary Bratton Curtis Gallery
Recent Acquisitions, 2014 (through Jan 4, 2015)
40/40 (I): 1975 – 1984 (Feb 2 - March 29)
40/40 (II): 1985 - 1994 (April 5 - June 21)
40/40 (III): 1995 - 2004 (June 30 - Sept 6)
40/40 (IV): 2005 - 2014 (Sept 15 - Nov 29)
Hafted Celt, 1200-1500
Caddoan (Southeaast)
Gift of Quintus Herron, 1981
Perino Archaeological Study Area
Housing study collections of regional archaeological material,
this area honors the memory of Gregory S. Perino (1914-2005),
archaeologist and the Museums first director (1975 - 1984).
Lifeways Gallery
Gorget, 1400-1600
Caddoan (Southeast)
Roden Site, (McCurtain County, OK)
Excavated 1977
Selections from the permanent collections that illustrate the
four ethnological themes Domestic Life, Beliefs, Technology
and Art, and Encounters.
Nathaniel and Lana Grey Gallery
Chinese JADE (through March 22, 2015)
OsteoDontoKeratic: The “Stuff” of Tools and Treasures
(April 26 - September 6)
Melanesian Visions: Art of the South Pacific
(September 15 - January 3, 2016)
Basket, ca. 1980
Ho Chunk (Northeast)
Lucy Funmaker
Museum Purchase, 1983
RECENT ACQUISITIONS
Gifts to the Collections (October - December, 2014)
Corn husk dolls (2) by Nellie May Patterson Gansworth
[Tuscarora, 1888- 1984] and group of five (5) copper jewelry
pieces [American Southwest, early 20th century]
Gift of Paul A. Shepard (Tucson, AZ)
Stirrup-Spout Vessel, ca. 250 B.C.
Chavin style, Peru
Gift of Michael Bernstein
Mask, 800-400 B.C.
Olmec (Veracruz, Mexico)
Gift of Dr. Ernesto and Luisa Lira
Native American baskets from contemporay Choctaw (US
Southeast), Micmac and Penobscot (US Northeast
Woodlands) cultures
Gift of Ron and Lynne Wetherell (Green Cove Springs,
FL), to the Museum’s Baker-Beasley-Wetherell Collection
Wood sculpture (late 20th century) inspired by El
Monumento a la Resistencia Indigena, a concrete on iron
work installed in 2001 at Leon Viejo, Nicaragua, highlighting
a 1528 incident where locals were attacked and killed by
Spanish-trained dogs. It commemorates the plight of native
Americans facing colonialism in the 16th century
Gift of Dr. Alvin O. Turner (Norman, OK)
Southeastern US ethnographic artworks including two (2)
woven pictorial sashes by Leon Bell (Creek); one trade cloth
sash by Martha Berry (Cherokee); miniature basket by
Earnestine Wells (Chitimacha); lidded “alligator” basket by
Ruth Poncho (Koasati); coiled basket by Edith Langley
(Koasati); basketry tray attibuted to Elsie Battiest
(Oklahoma Choctaw); another basket, dance belt and shawl
(Choctaw style)
Gift of Steve Domjanovich (Norman, OK)
Twentieth-century baskets from Seminole (2) (US
Southeast), Yupik (US Arctic), Pima (US Southwest) and
Choctaw (US Southeast) cultures; three (3) Hopi dance
rattles; sixteen (16) books for the Research and Public
Reference libraries
Gift of June Beasley (Flagstaff, AZ), to the Museum’s
Baker-Beasley-Wetherell Collection
Basket Tray, 1998
John Paul Darden (Chitimacha)
Museum Purchase
Items of personal adornment and tools (6) from various
contemporary native groups of Amazonian Brazil; ceramic
stirrup-spout vessel (Chavin style [Peru], ca. 250 BC);
reference books (6) on native South American cultures.
Gift of Michael Bernstein (Tucson, AZ)
Mounted golden eagle, collected in 1916 and exhibited at
Heartland of America Museum
Gift of/Transfer from Heartland of America Heritage
Foundation (Weatherford, OK)
RECENT ACQUISITIONS (continued)
Gifts to the Collections (October - December, 2014)
Seven (7) bronze weapons and a pin from Israel and Iran
(ca. 2500 - 700 BC)
Gift of MAW (Claremont, CA)
Group of five (5) art ceramics (Korean, ca. 1775 -1925)
Gift of Gertrude Ferguson (Kansas City, MO) from the
Kenneth Ferguson Collection of Asian Ceramics
Spoon of worked buffalo horn by Gerald Cournoyer
(Oglala Sioux, b. 1966)
Gift of Ben Pickard (Oklahoma City, OK)
Silk Dragon Robe for the theater [China, ca. 1925]
Gift of Evanira Birdman (Tucson, AZ)
“Pictograph” paintings (2), by Derrell Davis (American)
including Primitive Cave Art, Orange Free State, Africa
(1976) and Primitive Art, Black Kei– Cape, S. Africa (1977);
natural- pigmented clay on slate
Gift of Sally and Marshall Gettys (Norman, OK)
Thirty-three (33) ethnographic works representing various
prehistoric to contemporary cultures of central America,
including Olmec, Maya, Chupicuaro, Shaft Tomb (Mexico),
and Chorrera (Ecuador) (1200 BC - AD 500); dance masks
(7) [Mexico, ca. 1965]
Gift of Dr. Ernesto and Luisa Lira (Corpus Christi, TX)
Other Donors to the Collections in 2014
Anonymous, Peter and Ginny Carl, B. Michael and JoNell
Dann, Sally Gettys, Quintus H. Herron, Quintus H. Herron
Trust (bequest), Gamaliel Leyva and Jan Herron, Norman
Mitchell, Mary Sue Mills– In Memory of Evelyn Cecil Frey,
Bob and Maryan Pickering, Dr. and Mrs. David Rilling, Paul
Shepard, John Swineford, Dr. Richard Weiss, Terry Wright,
Friends and Family of Quintus H. Herron
Ceramic Figure, ca. 1970
by Teodora Blanco Nunez (1928 – 1980)
Santa Maria Atzompa (Oaxaca, Mexico)
Museum Purchase
Theatrical Dragon Robe, ca. 1925
China
Gift of Evanira Birdman
Museum Purchases
Large, wood splint fish trap (Catawba, early 20th century)
Woven cane basket by John Paul Darden (Chitimacha)
Beaded cloth sashes/baldrics (2) (Choctaw-style, 20th century)
Oak splint basket (2007) by Davis Welch (Cherokee)
Two-piece velvet dress with silver buttons [Navajo, 20th
century]
Group of six (6) carved stone fetishes [Hopi, mid-20th century]
Group of twelve (12) ceramic figurines (mid-20th century) by
Teodora Blanco Nunez [1928 -1980, Santa Maria Atzompa,
Oaxaca, Mexico]
Sekyahoote Katsina Rattle, ca. 2000
by Davis Yaiva
Hopi (Southwest)
Gift of June Beasley
Baker, Beasley, Wetherell Collection
Carved and painted wood Okame (goddess of luck) mask in
lacquered storage box [Japan, ca. 1930]
Group of ten (10) cloisonne enameled bowls [Chinese, early
20th century]
PEOPLE & PROGRAMS
State Archeologist Dr. Robert Brooks provided an update on
fieldwork taking place in Oklahoma. His public presentation,
a part of Oklahoma Archeology Month in October, was
co-sponsored by the McCurtain Gem and Mineral Club.
The Museum was honored to have local organizations,
businesses and schools participate in the Festival of Trees.
The 7th annual Fall Antiques & Arts Festival and Basket
Symposium featured local artists and craftsmen along with
several antique dealers. In conjunction with the Festival, the
Museum sponsored a symposium focused on Southeastern
Baskets, which included a lecture on historic and
contemporary basket weaving. There were also traditional
basket weaving demonstrations by nationally recognized
weavers from Oklahoma, Mississippi, and Louisiana.
Marshall Gettys, editor of Basketry of Southeastern Indians,
led the symposium along with Diane Dixon and Steve
Domjanovich. They addressed the characteristics and
identification of native American tribal baskets and the state
of the craft today. Basket weaving demonstrators included
Angelica Bohanan (Oklahoma Choctaw), Eleanor
Chickaway (Mississippi Choctaw), and Eveline Steele
(Oklahoma Choctaw), along with master weavers Tom
Colvin of Louisiana and Diane Dixon of Mississippi. Thanks
to Steve McGowan of Idabel, who allowed the weavers use
of his river cane patch.
The winners were (from left) Idabel Middle School Art
(School group), Midway Transmission and Salvage
(Business), McCurtain County Breast Cancer Group
(Community Organization), with Honorable Mentions going
to Denison 4-H and Idabel After the Bell Club. The
People’s Choice winner was Idabel Middle School Art. The
Mary H. Herron Community Conference Center was
beautifully decorated during the month of December with all
of the participants’ trees.
Jamie Carter presented a drawing workshop that focused on
Native American portraiture. Students learned how to draw
and shade eyes, mouth, nose, and other facial features using
charcoal. Participants chose one of three portraits.
The Museum’s Programs staff visited the After the Bell
program of the Idabel Public Schools in November to help the
students turn ordinary Christmas decorations into 3-D art.
Museum Affiliates
The Museum offers the use of its facilities to other non-profit and educational groups for a nominal fee. Those
wishing to make use of the facilities regularly (for monthly meetings or scheduled events) may participate in the
Affiliates Program, an annual membership program which reduces fees by as much as 90%. Current affiliates
include McCurtain Gem and Mineral Club, IIDA, McCurtain County Historical Society, Idabel Main Street,
Kiamichi Family Medical Clinic, Idabel Chamber of Commerce & Agriculture, Langston University, McCurtain
County Goat Growers, McCurtain County Art Club, Little River Conservation District, McCurtain County Bar
Association, McCurtain Memorial Hospital Corp., McCurtain Community Fund, and the Idabel FFA.
Herron Foundation
Board of Directors
Tina Foshee-Thomas, Mayor of Idabel
William C. Gentry, Esq.
Donald Herron, President
Janet Herron, Secretary
John Ramsey
Terry Walker
Sallie Webb
Idabel Museum Society
Board of Directors
Dr. Robert Brooks
Dr. Bruce King, Vice President
Carolynn Neal
Judy Petre, President
John Ramsey
Dr. Lewis Stiles, Treasurer
Terry Walker
Henry Moy, Executive Secretary
Lavetta Ward, Treasurer
Museum Hours
TUE–SAT 10 AM–5 PM, SUN 1 – 5 PM
Closed Mondays and national holidays
Museum of the Red River
Staff
Jeanette Bohanan, Communications
Christina Eastep, Head of Programs
Terrance King, Custodian
John Malin, Museum Assistant
Sherron Mitchell, Gift Shop Manager
Henry Moy, The Quintus H. Herron
aMuseum Director
Vickie Smith, Business Manager
Daniel L. Vick, The Mary H. Herron
aKeeper of Collections
Free Admission/Donations Accepted
Reservations appreciated for groups
of ten (10) or more.
Idabel Museum Society
www.museumoftheredriver.org
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
812 E. Lincoln Road
Idabel, OK 74745
(580) 286-3616
Okame mask
Japan
ca. 1930
Museum Purchase