More History on the Museum

This research on the Museum's history has really been interesting. According to "Our Historical Society Heritage or How We Started" by Arthur R. Lawrence, written for the Chronicles of Comanche County, the Museum can trace its beginnings back to the Comanche County Historical Society, which you could say traces its beginnings back to 1930 when the first efforts to establish such a society was made! These dates and activities were confirmed by articles printed in the Lawton Constitution. Such as one dated April 11, 1930 which reads, "first steps in the formation of a Comanche County Historical Society were made at 4 o'clock Thursday afternoon when a temporary organization was created at a meeting held in the Chamber of Commerce headquarters." The article goes on to list the temporary officers as John Shields, chairman and Harry Stroud, secretary. The article also notes that a committee comprised of John Hopps, Dan Becker and Harry Stroud was selected to draw up a constitution and by-laws; the membership committee included Arthur Lawrence, C. E. Price of Cache, and Fred Call. While off to a great start - fine banquets, outings to the Wichita Mountains, interviews of old prospectors and miners of the mountains-the society did not last much longer than a couple of years. Perhaps the depression years had something to do with it. More than twenty years would pass before "a foutunate occurance" led to the re-establishment of the Commanche County Historical Society.