The Will Rogers Memorial Museum is a 19,052-square-foot (1,770 m2) museum in Claremore, Oklahoma that memorializes entertainer Will Rogers. The museum houses artifacts, memorabilia, photographs, and manuscripts pertaining to Rogers' life, and documentaries, speeches, and movies starring Rogers are shown in a theater.[1] Rogers' tomb is located on its 20-acre (8 ha) grounds overlooking Claremore and Rogers State University.
Until March 7, 2016, the museum was managed by the Will Rogers Memorial Commission, a state agency. On that date, the Governor of Oklahoma signed legislation dissolving the state commission and transferring the property and all its assets to the Oklahoma Historical Society, another state agency.
Will Rogers was born near Oologah, Oklahoma, where his father had settled. He had originally purchased the land the Memorial occupies today in 1911, a plot containing 20 acres (8.1 ha) that overlooks the Tiawah Valley, as a site for his retirement home. The price was reportedly $500 per acre. After his death, it was passed on to members of the Rogers family. Will's widow Betty donated the property in 1937, during the Great Depression, to the state of Oklahoma as the site of a memorial to her husband. She also donated all of Will's papers and many personal effects as the core of the memorial's archives on Rogers [2]
The Oklahoma legislature appropriated $200,000 for the construction of the museum on the site. The original 15,000-square-foot (1,400 m2) limestone building was designed by John Duncan Forsyth. Groundbreaking occurred April 21, 1938, with Will's sister, Sallie Rogers McSpadden, turning the first spadeful of dirt. Construction was completed November 4, 1938, on what would have been Rogers' 59th birthday.[3] The museum opened in 1938, three years after Rogers' death.[4]
An 11,000-square-foot (1,000 m2) addition was constructed in 1983 than added almost double the space for a theater, larger gift shop, offices and archives, and more spacious quarters for displaying the collections, grouped by the various arenas of Rogers' life and career.[3]
Will Rogers Memorial Museum in Claremore, Oklahoma 2021091100008Will Rogers Memorial Museum in Claremore, Oklahoma 2021091100011
Interioredit
The rotunda contains a famous sculpture of Will Rogers by artist Jo Davidson. The pedestal is inscribed with a famous quotation by Rogers, "...I never met a man I didn't like." The statue is another cast of the work that the artist created in 1938 and which has represented the state in the National Statuary Hall at the United States Capitol.[3]
The 1983 addition includes a large library and offices that serve as research areas for scholars and writers. This area covers 2,400 square feet (220 m2) and holds more than 2000 volumes relevant to Will Rogers, plus other topics such as Indians, genealogy, vaudeville, early motion pictures. and history of the 1879–1935 era. Museum archives also contain an estimated 18,000 photographs, as well as thousands of original manuscripts, private letters, contracts, and personal papers, as well as motion pictures, home movies, and audio tapes.[3]
Exterioredit
The tomb of Will Rogers is outside the building, and overlooks the city of Claremore. Other family members interred there are Rogers' wife, Betty (1879–1944), three of their four children: Fred Stone Rogers (1918–1920), Mary Amelia Rogers Brooks (1913–1989), and James Blake (Jim) Rogers (1915–2000). Jim's wife, Marguerite Astrea Kemmler Rogers (1917–1987) as well as Jim's oldest son, James Kemmler (Kem) Rogers (1939–2014) are also interred there.[3][a]
Merger with the Oklahoma Historical Societyedit
On March 7, 2016, Governor Mary Fallin signed Senate Bill 1570 into law, which put the Will Rogers Memorial Commission, which governed both the Will Rogers Memorial Museum and the Dog Iron Ranch, Will Rogers' birthplace in Oologah, under the control of the Oklahoma Historical Society. The new law became effective immediately.[6]
There was little opposition to the merger, which was unanimously approved by the Joint Appropriations Budget Committees of both the Oklahoma House of Representatives and the Senate. Tad Jones, director of the Memorial, noted that the Memorial had previously been targeted by political budget cutters for several years, and a bill had been introduced during the previous year to eliminate state contributions to the museum. He expressed a belief that the merger would reduce pressure to cut the museum's funding.[7]
The merger was enthusiastically approved by Rogers' descendants, according to Jennifer Rogers-Etcheverry, a member of the Will Rogers Memorial Commission and great-granddaughter of Will Rogers. She said that she saw no disadvantages to the merger. The Act also requires that the governor appoint a direct descendant of Rogers to the OHS board of directors.[7]
^"Will Rogers Memorial Museum". Will Rogers Memorial. Retrieved June 24, 2008.
^"Will Rogers Memorial Commission" (PDF). State of Oklahoma. Retrieved June 24, 2008.
^ abcde"Will Rogers Memorial Museum in Claremore, Oklahoma." April 5, 2016, at the Wayback Machine Accessed April 6, 2016.
^Shepard, Ginger (December 19, 2006). "New executive director named for Will Rogers Museums in OK". Journal Record. Retrieved June 24, 2008.
^Nazario, Sonia. "Ailing Will Rogers Jr., 81, Commits Suicide." Los Angeles Times. July 11, 1993. Accessed April 11, 2016.
^"Will Rogers Memorial Commission Transferred To Oklahoma Historical Society." News on 6. March 7, 2016. Accessed April 9, 2016.
^ abSturgill, Kristy, "Legislation proposes merging Will Rogers Memorial with Oklahoma Historical Society." Claremore Progress. February 24, 2016. Accessed April 13, 2016.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Will Rogers Memorial Museum.
Will Rogers Memorial Museum website
Will Rogers Memorial Museum information, photos and video on TravelOK.com Official travel and tourism website for the State of Oklahoma
"Writings of Will Rogers", broadcast from the Will Rogers Memorial from C-SPAN's American Writers
Oklahoma SB 1570 (Undated draft) "SUBJECT: Will Rogers Memorial" Accessed April 11, 2016.
Voices of Oklahoma interview with Doris "Coke" Meyer, grand-niece to Will Rogers. First person interview conducted with Doris "Coke" Meyer, Will Rogers grand-niece on May 17, 2009.
October 28, 2023
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Not to be confused with Rogers Post Site or Will Rogers Memorial Center The Will Rogers Memorial Museum is a 19 052 square foot 1 770 m2 museum in Claremore Oklahoma that memorializes entertainer Will Rogers The museum houses artifacts memorabilia photographs and manuscripts pertaining to Rogers life and documentaries speeches and movies starring Rogers are shown in a theater 1 Rogers tomb is located on its 20 acre 8 ha grounds overlooking Claremore and Rogers State University Will Rogers Memorial MuseumEstablished1938LocationClaremore OklahomaCoordinates36 19 15 N 95 37 54 W 36 32083 N 95 63167 W 36 32083 95 63167TypeHistory and art museumDirectorTad JonesWebsitewww willrogers comUntil March 7 2016 the museum was managed by the Will Rogers Memorial Commission a state agency On that date the Governor of Oklahoma signed legislation dissolving the state commission and transferring the property and all its assets to the Oklahoma Historical Society another state agency Contents 1 History 2 Interior 3 Exterior 4 Merger with the Oklahoma Historical Society 5 Gallery 6 See also 7 Notes 8 References 9 External linksHistory edit nbsp Interior with Jo Davidson s statueWill Rogers was born near Oologah Oklahoma where his father had settled He had originally purchased the land the Memorial occupies today in 1911 a plot containing 20 acres 8 1 ha that overlooks the Tiawah Valley as a site for his retirement home The price was reportedly 500 per acre After his death it was passed on to members of the Rogers family Will s widow Betty donated the property in 1937 during the Great Depression to the state of Oklahoma as the site of a memorial to her husband She also donated all of Will s papers and many personal effects as the core of the memorial s archives on Rogers 2 The Oklahoma legislature appropriated 200 000 for the construction of the museum on the site The original 15 000 square foot 1 400 m2 limestone building was designed by John Duncan Forsyth Groundbreaking occurred April 21 1938 with Will s sister Sallie Rogers McSpadden turning the first spadeful of dirt Construction was completed November 4 1938 on what would have been Rogers 59th birthday 3 The museum opened in 1938 three years after Rogers death 4 An 11 000 square foot 1 000 m2 addition was constructed in 1983 than added almost double the space for a theater larger gift shop offices and archives and more spacious quarters for displaying the collections grouped by the various arenas of Rogers life and career 3 nbsp Will Rogers Memorial Museum in Claremore Oklahoma 2021091100008 nbsp Will Rogers Memorial Museum in Claremore Oklahoma 2021091100011Interior editThe rotunda contains a famous sculpture of Will Rogers by artist Jo Davidson The pedestal is inscribed with a famous quotation by Rogers I never met a man I didn t like The statue is another cast of the work that the artist created in 1938 and which has represented the state in the National Statuary Hall at the United States Capitol 3 The 1983 addition includes a large library and offices that serve as research areas for scholars and writers This area covers 2 400 square feet 220 m2 and holds more than 2000 volumes relevant to Will Rogers plus other topics such as Indians genealogy vaudeville early motion pictures and history of the 1879 1935 era Museum archives also contain an estimated 18 000 photographs as well as thousands of original manuscripts private letters contracts and personal papers as well as motion pictures home movies and audio tapes 3 Exterior editThe tomb of Will Rogers is outside the building and overlooks the city of Claremore Other family members interred there are Rogers wife Betty 1879 1944 three of their four children Fred Stone Rogers 1918 1920 Mary Amelia Rogers Brooks 1913 1989 and James Blake Jim Rogers 1915 2000 Jim s wife Marguerite Astrea Kemmler Rogers 1917 1987 as well as Jim s oldest son James Kemmler Kem Rogers 1939 2014 are also interred there 3 a Merger with the Oklahoma Historical Society editOn March 7 2016 Governor Mary Fallin signed Senate Bill 1570 into law which put the Will Rogers Memorial Commission which governed both the Will Rogers Memorial Museum and the Dog Iron Ranch Will Rogers birthplace in Oologah under the control of the Oklahoma Historical Society The new law became effective immediately 6 There was little opposition to the merger which was unanimously approved by the Joint Appropriations Budget Committees of both the Oklahoma House of Representatives and the Senate Tad Jones director of the Memorial noted that the Memorial had previously been targeted by political budget cutters for several years and a bill had been introduced during the previous year to eliminate state contributions to the museum He expressed a belief that the merger would reduce pressure to cut the museum s funding 7 The merger was enthusiastically approved by Rogers descendants according to Jennifer Rogers Etcheverry a member of the Will Rogers Memorial Commission and great granddaughter of Will Rogers She said that she saw no disadvantages to the merger The Act also requires that the governor appoint a direct descendant of Rogers to the OHS board of directors 7 Gallery edit nbsp Sculpture in front of the memorial nbsp Front side of the museum nbsp View of Claremore from near Roger s tomb nbsp Will Rogers tomb below statue nbsp Plaque near the tomb nbsp Sculpture of Will Rogers by Electra Waggoner Biggs nbsp View from tomb nbsp View overlooking tombSee also editDog Iron Ranch Will Rogers Birthplace Notes edit The other child William Vann Rogers better known as Will Rogers Jr 1911 1993 died of suicide in Tubac Arizona and was buried there 5 References edit Will Rogers Memorial Museum Will Rogers Memorial Retrieved June 24 2008 Will Rogers Memorial Commission PDF State of Oklahoma Retrieved June 24 2008 a b c d e Will Rogers Memorial Museum in Claremore Oklahoma Archived April 5 2016 at the Wayback Machine Accessed April 6 2016 Shepard Ginger December 19 2006 New executive director named for Will Rogers Museums in OK Journal Record Retrieved June 24 2008 Nazario Sonia Ailing Will Rogers Jr 81 Commits Suicide Los Angeles Times July 11 1993 Accessed April 11 2016 Will Rogers Memorial Commission Transferred To Oklahoma Historical Society News on 6 March 7 2016 Accessed April 9 2016 a b Sturgill Kristy Legislation proposes merging Will Rogers Memorial with Oklahoma Historical Society Claremore Progress February 24 2016 Accessed April 13 2016 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Will Rogers Memorial Museum Will Rogers Memorial Museum in Claremore Oklahoma Will Rogers Memorial Museum website Will Rogers Memorial Museum information photos and video on TravelOK com Official travel and tourism website for the State of Oklahoma Writings of Will Rogers broadcast from the Will Rogers Memorial from C SPAN s American Writers Oklahoma SB 1570 Undated draft SUBJECT Will Rogers Memorial Accessed April 11 2016 Voices of Oklahoma interview with Doris Coke Meyer grand niece to Will Rogers First person interview conducted with Doris Coke Meyer Will Rogers grand niece on May 17 2009 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Will Rogers Memorial amp oldid 1076443956, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
