Museum of the Western Prairie

06/08/2026

Today is National Best Friends Day!
Grab your best friend and enjoy your day while browsing these photographs of early Southwest Oklahomans and their friends!
The first photograph, circa 1900, is of two of George Burkett’s daughters and one of their friends, standing next to the bus George operated from his livery stable. He picked up passengers at the Hotel and delivered them to the train station.
The second photograph, circa 19010, shows Bill Penden with a group of friends from Mangum, on top of large boulders on Granite Mountain.
The third photograph, circa 1911, is of a group of friends greeting Elmer Garnett and his new bride, Lela Barnard Garnett, at the train station.
The fourth photograph, circa 1914, shows Omega Rawls and nine of her friends packed into and on a Buick car, hunting rabbits.
The fifth photograph, circa 1919, is of Marvin Peterson and his friend, Evert, patching a tire on the side of the road.
The sixth photograph, circa 1920, shows Cass Walker and a friend standing on Santa Fe water tanks in Altus, Oklahoma.
The seventh photograph, circa 1920, is of Mr. and Mrs. Dave McElroy and friends riding in a buggy pulled by two horses.
The eighth photograph, circa 1931, shows three friends from Martha Highschool, Sibyl Chappell, Lorene Foster, and Eula Fowler.
The ninth photograph, circa 1948, is of three friends enjoying a day on the lake. Ann Thagard is seen waving at friends on the shore, Frances McMahon is operating the oars the oars, and May Ann Humphreys is at the stern.
The last photograph, circa 1986, shows a get together of long-time friends. Leona Walker, Mattie Lee Russell, Jaunita Jennings, Olga Walker, Ruby Pepper, and Jean Walker.

06/04/2026

It has been 135 years since the Frazer Flood!
On June 4, 1891, there was a flash flood from Bitter Creek, that almost entirely destroyed the town of Frazer, which was located in Greer County, Texas. Amazingly, the flood resulted in zero casualties. The town residents decided to the townsite 3 ½ miles east to higher ground, to prevent anymore flooding disasters. Wiley Baucum suggested they rename the town Altus, a Latin word for “high.” In 1896, Greer County, Texas became known as Oklahoma Territory. After Statehood, the area was divided into the counties of Greer, Jackson, Harmon, and the southern part of Beckham.
Please enjoy these photographs that show some of the history of Frazer and Altus.
The first photograph, circa 1889, is of the W. H. Williams Blacksmithing and C. D. Williams General Repairing shops that were once located in Frazer, Texas
The second photograph, circa 1890, shows the homestead of Mr. and Mrs. Peter Holt at Frazer, Texas.
The third photograph, circa 1890, is of the Strickland family from the Old Frazer community. Those identified in the photograph are Tommie Strickland, 2nd on the back row, and Ella B. Strickland Malloy, 3rd on the back row.
The fourth photograph, circa 1910, shows Clara Malloy, daughter of Ella B. Strickland Malloy, who lived in the Frazer Community.
The fifth photograph, circa 1911, is of 54 students and 1 teacher beside the Frazer School. W. A. Covington was the teacher in April of 1911.
The sixth photograph, circa 1918, shows Susan Pollard McClearen, wife of John McClearen, who homesteaded in Frazer, Texas. There homestead was known as Buttermilk Station, where cowboys passing by could stop for a glass of buttermilk.
The seventh photograph, circa 1996, is of the Frazer Cemetery that was established in 1885.
The eighth and ninth photographs show a quitclaim deed that states the Altus Townsite Co. paid Grady Robertson $125 for the lots that would become a part of Altus, Oklahoma. It lists the location as Greer County, Texas and is signed by C. C. Hightower, V.P. of Altus Townsite Co., and J. Martin, Notary Public for Greer County, Texas. It was signed on February 6, 1892.
The tenth photograph, circa 1893, is of the first known photograph of Altus. Signs in the photograph read, “Altus Drug Store,” “Feed-Yard,” and “Hotel.”
The last photograph, circa 1930, shows an adult Bruce Braddock, who was the first child born in Altus.
More Altus history can be found at, https://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry?entry=AL013

06/03/2026

Mr. and Mrs. Carter, with their matching glasses 👓, ca. 1940.

Do you recognize this Carter couple? Let us know in the comments below or send us a message! And please like and share so we're more likely to get them identified!

📸🌟You can see more of the Conwell Studio Collection at The Gateway to Oklahoma: https://tinyurl.com/Conwell-Studio 🌟📸

~Museum of the Western Prairie

06/02/2026

05/28/2026

05/27/2026

In 1988, the Museum of the Western Prairie identified ninety-one Living Legends residing in our community and presented their stories on KWHW radio. We believe that these are people we should still be celebrating and think you will agree with us. Watch for Living Legend posts and join the celebration by adding to the stories of the legendary individuals in the Comments section of our posts. Today’s post about Ruth Ferris was written in 1988 by Loweta Chesser, the first curator of the Museum of the Western Prairie.
Our community really reaped the benefits from the talents of Ruth Ferris – Altus educator and public relations person who retired from the Altus Schools in 1984.
Mrs. Ferris, a native of Eldorado, received her B. A. and M. A. Degrees from O.U. During the 1930s, she was a reporter for the Daily Oklahoman and what is now KWTV where she was the first woman newscaster in the world. Later she served as public relations director for President George Cross at O.U.
Mrs. Ferris returned to Altus when her husband, Welson, became judge of the district for 39 years.
She always took a very active part in cultural and community affairs of our county. She began, in 1955, her service as public relations director, journalism, and yearbook teacher, as well as, instructional TV sponsor with Altus Schools. Neither illness nor snowstorms forced her to miss a deadline or a day out of school. She worked far into the night daily preparing scripts and class assignments for her school.
Ruth received many honors through the years, including Oklahoma Press Women’s Club as “Woman of the Year.” She served on the Governor’s Advisory Committee on the Status of Women in 1984.
Ruth Ferris was loved, respected, and appreciated in Oklahoma.
The first photograph, circa 1965, shows Mrs. Ferris standing on the far left of a group of students from one of her journalism/yearbook classes.
The second photograph, circa 1966, is of Ruth Ferris inserting a flash bulb into a large camera.
The last photograph, circa 1986, shows Phil Carson, Ruth Ferris, Ruth Blevins, John McLeod Jr., and Dr. Alva Hill at the Kiwanis Club presentation of the “Mother of the Year” awards.