The Museum Broken Arrow to Host Special Exhibit from the Smithsonian Institution
“The Way We Worked” Opens May 19
For Immediate Release: May 10, 2017
The Museum Broken Arrow will explore the history and significance of the American workforce in a local showcase of “The Way We Worked,” a traveling exhibition from the Smithsonian Institution’s Museum on Main Street program. The special exhibition is funded by the Oklahoma Humanities and will be available for viewing May 19 through July 7.
“The Way We Worked” utilizes videos, historical photos, engaging interactive materials and historical artifacts to tell the story of the American worker and highlight the impact on our society’s culture. The exhibit spans from the years 1857-1987, emphasizing four different themes of where American’s worked, how they worked, who worked and why they worked.
“‘The Way We Worked’ offers a special opportunity for Oklahomans to experience real pieces of the Smithsonian Institute and National Archives right here in our own community,” said Lori Lewis, executive director of The Museum Broken Arrow. “Broken Arrow has deep roots in the cotton, poultry and coal industries, all of which are highlighted in permanent exhibits at The Museum Broken Arrow. “The Way We Worked,” paired with the existing collection, encourages visitors to delve into a deeper, more personal story of the human experience through work and how it shaped our hometowns.”
The exhibition is designed to showcase the enormous transformations in American workplaces and culture by tracing the many changes that affected the workforce and work environments over the past 150 years. Photographs drawn from the National Archives collection illustrates a workforce whose distinctiveness was shaped by immigration and ethnicity, slavery and racial segregation, wage labor and technology, gender roles and class as well as by the American ideals of freedom and equality. Additionally, these images pay homage to the working men and women of America who built our country.
“The Way We Worked” is generously sponsored by the Broken Arrow Community Foundation, AVB Bank, Northeastern State University, TTCU The Credit Union, First National Bank and Trust Co. of Broken Arrow, Public Service Company of Oklahoma, Tulsa Tech, Rotary Club of Broken Arrow, LaDonna Ross and the Village Health Care Center, the Lewis Family, Larry and Linda Pennington and Sean and Stephanie McKee.
The Museum is open Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Museum admission is $5 per adult or $8 for two adults. Members and children under the age of 18 are admitted for free. To request a docent tour, please call the Museum three to five days in advance of your visit. For more information on The Museum Broken Arrow and “The Way We Worked,” visit BrokenArrowMuseum.org or call (918) 258-2616.
The Museum Broken Arrow is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization located in historic downtown Broken Arrow near the site of the original Katy Train Depot. The Museum’s mission is to preserve the local history of the city and its residents and to serve as an educational opportunity for future generations. In addition to showcasing local history, the Museum also offers events, educational opportunities and facility rental. The Museum is open Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information, call (918) 258-2616 or visit BrokenArrowMuseum.org.
“The Way We Worked” Opens May 19
For Immediate Release: May 10, 2017
The Museum Broken Arrow will explore the history and significance of the American workforce in a local showcase of “The Way We Worked,” a traveling exhibition from the Smithsonian Institution’s Museum on Main Street program. The special exhibition is funded by the Oklahoma Humanities and will be available for viewing May 19 through July 7.
“The Way We Worked” utilizes videos, historical photos, engaging interactive materials and historical artifacts to tell the story of the American worker and highlight the impact on our society’s culture. The exhibit spans from the years 1857-1987, emphasizing four different themes of where American’s worked, how they worked, who worked and why they worked.
“‘The Way We Worked’ offers a special opportunity for Oklahomans to experience real pieces of the Smithsonian Institute and National Archives right here in our own community,” said Lori Lewis, executive director of The Museum Broken Arrow. “Broken Arrow has deep roots in the cotton, poultry and coal industries, all of which are highlighted in permanent exhibits at The Museum Broken Arrow. “The Way We Worked,” paired with the existing collection, encourages visitors to delve into a deeper, more personal story of the human experience through work and how it shaped our hometowns.”
The exhibition is designed to showcase the enormous transformations in American workplaces and culture by tracing the many changes that affected the workforce and work environments over the past 150 years. Photographs drawn from the National Archives collection illustrates a workforce whose distinctiveness was shaped by immigration and ethnicity, slavery and racial segregation, wage labor and technology, gender roles and class as well as by the American ideals of freedom and equality. Additionally, these images pay homage to the working men and women of America who built our country.
“The Way We Worked” is generously sponsored by the Broken Arrow Community Foundation, AVB Bank, Northeastern State University, TTCU The Credit Union, First National Bank and Trust Co. of Broken Arrow, Public Service Company of Oklahoma, Tulsa Tech, Rotary Club of Broken Arrow, LaDonna Ross and the Village Health Care Center, the Lewis Family, Larry and Linda Pennington and Sean and Stephanie McKee.
The Museum is open Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Museum admission is $5 per adult or $8 for two adults. Members and children under the age of 18 are admitted for free. To request a docent tour, please call the Museum three to five days in advance of your visit. For more information on The Museum Broken Arrow and “The Way We Worked,” visit BrokenArrowMuseum.org or call (918) 258-2616.
The Museum Broken Arrow is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization located in historic downtown Broken Arrow near the site of the original Katy Train Depot. The Museum’s mission is to preserve the local history of the city and its residents and to serve as an educational opportunity for future generations. In addition to showcasing local history, the Museum also offers events, educational opportunities and facility rental. The Museum is open Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information, call (918) 258-2616 or visit BrokenArrowMuseum.org.
