Oklahoma Books

The book outlines the processes of the history of Ancient Egypt from the Archaic period to the New Kingdom. It is a chronological study of the ínw (translated as 'official gift' by the author), in which he discusses the concept, the role, the uses and the administration of 'official gifts' in Ancient Egypt, as exemplified in his introduction. Is it the different economic system which leads modern translators & Egyptologists to translate 'ínw' into so many words ? The author analyses sources including jar seals, monumental inscriptions and literary texts in order to offer his thoughts on the matter. All in all, it is an interesting well-argued discussion which makes it a recommended source for the interested layperson and scholar.

Oil and gas conservation in its broadest sense is synonymous with production techniques, and means the use of the most efficient methods of discovery, development, and production to insure the greatest recovery of oil and gas for public use. The behavior of an oil or gas reservior as production takes place is as unpredictable as the reaction of a human being to changes in enviroment, unless the characteristics which govern that behavior are known.

It is the purpose of this volume to explain simply and clearly where oil and gas occur, the nature of the reservors in which they are found, and the technical science of utilizing and supplementing the natural forces available for their recovery. The practices described will make available the greatest possible amount of these nonreplaceable, vital natural resources.

The highly technical language of the industry, which heretofore has prevented many laymen from acquiring a satisfaoctory knowledge of the principles of oil and gas production, has been avoided in this volume. To further simplify and clarify the discussion, the Engineering Committee of the Interstate Oil Compact Commission, which has compiled the material, provides many illustrations, charts, graphs, and tables.

Oil and Gas Production is a book for oil producers, royalty owners, lawyers, government oficials, bankers, geologists, high school and college students - everyone who is interested in gas and oil production - whether as a producer of thousands of barrels of oil daily or as the wishful thinker buying one-tenth royalty in a few acres.
--- fdrom book's dustjacket

I really enjoyed this book. The author, born in 1916, relates the story of her growing up in various oil "tent towns" starting in 1921 when she was only five years old. My grandad was an oil field worker in Texas at about the same time, and I had always been curious as to what life was like back then. I'm indebted to the author for writing her story. Anyone interested in life in the early oil fields of Texas and Oklahoma (and boy, but that life was tough), or anyone interested in small town Texas life in the mid-1920's should enjoy this story. It may not sound like an exciting "page-turner", but I couldn't put it down, and finished it over a weekend. There is an abundance of old black and white photographs of the various individuals and places mentioned in the book. And the pages of the book itself are really nice, thick paper.

It's still there, Labor Omnia Vincit(Labor Conquers All), in Article 6, Section 35 of the Oklahoma Constitution. It's the official state motto and there was a time when working men and women in Oklahoma tried to convert the motto into reality. The Industrial Workers of the World(Wobblies) was formed on June 27, 1905, in Chicago. It was to be the working peoples answer to the ever-increasing tension arising out of the emerging urban industrial society in America at the turn of the century. The tension was perhaps best exemplified by the escalating confrontation between capital and labor. The Wobblies were born out of desperation, fear and self-preservation. They preached violence, revolution, sabotage and Socialism. They rejected politics as a racket and urged the organization of a new society by the oppressed. They were poor, radical, lacking in formal education working men and women who saw no commonalty of interest between employer and employee. They refused to sign labor contracts or affiliate with any political party. The movement was crushed in Oklahoma by means more violent than they had ever practiced. The perpetrators were, you guessed it, the business community, the judiciary, the police, religious groups, the news media, and a multitude of elected officials. Thanks to Sellars, an instructor of History at the University of Oklahoma, this little known history of Oklahoma is available in a well written, well researched, highly readable book. It's all here, the founding of the Wobblies and their efforts to organize migratory harvest workers and oil field hands and their relationship with the AFL and the Socialist Party, all placed in context with the political and social events of the time. The authorities efforts to suppress the Wobblies is described in a chilling scene from Tulsa which was repeated in varying degrees throughout Oklahoma. Just before midnight on November 9, 1917, a black-robed and hooded mob accosted 16 prisoners, almost all of whom were members of the Wobblies. They were being escorted by Tulsa police officers from City Hall to the county jail. The mob, called the Knights of Liberty and comprised of police officials, local businessmen, and oil company executives, took the prisioners at gunpoint to a secluded location on the outskirts of Tulsa. What followed was a vicious ritual in which the vigilantes beat, whipped, and tarred and feathered their captives. "It was a party, a real American party," one newspaper reported. The impact of World War One on the efforts of the Wobblies to organize and the reaction of the state and federal government is examined as is the decline of both the Wobblies and the labor movement after the war. This book is a must read for anyone interested in the social history of labor in Oklahoma, the Wobblies, or political events from the early 20th century. It is an important event in Oklahoma that has, until now, been neglected.

Despite the fact that Oklahoma has one of the richest aviation histories in the country little has been written about it. Aviators like Wiley Post, the Hazlips, astronaut Tom Stafford, Clyde Cessna, and many others came out of Oklahoma. Oklahoma's aviation heritage is as rich if not richer than many states who get far more credit for doing less. The book is an excellent look into that history. It was a finalist in the 2006 Oklahoma book awards by the Oklahoma Center for the Book; it is also a 2005 American Library Association Notable Document and received an Oklahoma Governor's Commendation. It covers the period from ballooning during the late 1800's to the space age and the many astronauts who have come from the state. It is highly recommended and a good read for the professional historian or just someone just interested in aviation.

Oklahoma Bird Life is a delightful reference. Whenever a pair of birds begins nesting in the yard, I head straight for this book. Oklahoma Bird Life provides info on the birds' range, migration, habitat, # of eggs in a brood, incubation periods, fledge times, and what the birds eat. The narrative stories make reading about the birds a pleasure. For example, the authors tell a wonderful story about Carolina Chickadees in their own yard. The color plates and numerous photos bring the book to life and help with identification. While I live in Georgia, Oklahoma Bird Life includes most species of birds, and I am never disappointed.

The information in Oklahoma Bird Life enabled us to postpone a roofing job for 2 weeks to allow robins to fledge. I highly recommend Oklahoma Bird Life to people who enjoy learning about birds. It is much better than a list of facts, as the stories make it so delightful.

I enjoy Terry Griffith books about Oklahoma City. His books are primarily photographs but sometimes a picture can tell a story more than words. I wish there were more books by him on the rest of Oklahoma.

Wonderful photo collage of Oklahoma City. This book is jam packed with great historical photos of Oklahoma City. As a lifelong resident of 54 years I was pleased to see pictures of many places I remember from my childhood. My parents are in their 80's now and they were so thrilled with this book they couldn't put it down. So many pictures of the places they knew and loved! Each photo is accompanied by an informative summary. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in knowing the history of Oklahoma City and to longtime residents like myself. Jill Winkler Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

After hundreds of calls, Arcadia Publishing has decided to re-print Oklahoma City:Statehood to 1930.

Everybody loves animals and stories and picture books, so what's not to like about Oklahoma City Zoo: 1902--1959? Zoo naturalist educator, Amy Dee Stephens, has put together a delightful collection of stories and pictures about some of the zoo's most colorful creatures. Her project began as an attempt to uncover information about the zoo's past for use in publicizing the zoo's centennial. Soon a dozen or more docents were involved in searching old newspapers, the archives of the Oklahoma Historical Society and antique stores.

The research began to reveal a quaint and colorful array of unlikely stories of animals gone AWOL, animals purchased with pennies, and animals given as gifts. Children and other animal lovers were an important part of the menagerie, participating in the rescue, selection, purchase, and naming of some of the zoo's most famous citizens.

Selected as an Oklahoma Centennial Project, Oklahoma City Zoo: 1902--1959, will take you back to those years when a trip to the zoo was considered wildly exciting entertainment.