Thomas Gilcrease is known as having been a collector of Americana at a time when few others were interested in materials relating to the history of the Western Hemisphere. The archive and library collection — which contains manuscripts, books, photographs, maps, imprints, and broadsides — expanded to include nearly 100,000 items. Extensive travel to European museums and libraries during the 1920s and 1930s seems to have prompted Gilcrease’s aspiration to create his own collection. Pride in his Native American heritage and interest in the history of the American West provided a focus for collecting activities. But the items chosen for inclusion in the library also demonstrate Gilcrease’s belief that the history of America was not confined within the boundaries of the continental United States.
Gilcrease’s library collection grew rapidly. While building it, he was not assisted by full-time advisors but would seek out single works as well as purchasing large groups of books or documents from dealers and other collectors.
Gilcrease Museum is dedicated to digitizing all items in the archive and library collections, and the project is ongoing. If you have information about any collection items that may enrich our records, please contact us.
Archive Collections
Manuscripts
Manuscript Collections List
Guide to Native American Research at the Gilcrease
Guide to Spanish Colonial Manuscript Collections (Conway)
Finding Aids for digitized manuscripts
Benge, George W.
Brown, John Lowery
Cherokee Claims Record
Cherokee Papers
Cochran, Rufus
Declaration of Independence
Drew, John
Eastern Band Cherokee Papers
English, E. H.
Fields, George W.
Fox, Luke
Fyffe, William
Gardner, Edmond J.
Gold Rush Diary
Gordon, Patrick
Hall-Pennant Manuscript
Hammond, Marcus C.M.
Henry, Robert
Hitchcock, D. D.
Hoover, Herbert
Humphrey, P. W.
Indian Spies' Report
James, Marquis
Kiowa Papers
Ladner, Mildred
Latrobe, Charles Joseph
Leigh, William R.
Moran, Thomas
New Jersey Organization Manuscript
New Mexico Memorial Manuscript
Orr, James
Payne, John Howard
Penobscot Questionnaire
Powell, John Wesley
Quesenbury, William M.
Ross, John
Ross, Mary Jane
Saltonstal, Gurdon
Sargent, Winthrop
Sequoyah
Stone, Willard
Swain, John W.
Van Buren, Martin
Vanderbuilt, Cornelius
Washington, George
Watie, Stand
Wells, C. T.
Worcester, Samuel Austin
World War II Manuscript
Photographs
Finding Aids for individual collections
Oklahoma Native American Photographs
Special Collections
Charles Russell Research Collection (Britzman)
The Eddie Faye Gates Tulsa Race Massacre Collection
Historical Drawings
Description of the Fort Reno ledger drawings
Maps
Description of the Gilcrease Museum Map Collection
Portfolios- not yet digitized
Library Collection
Gilcrease Museum library catalogue at TU's McFarlin Library
Entire Gilcrease Museum library (Rare books included)
Restrictions:
Please, contact the Rights and Reproduction Department for information on publishing or reproducing materials included in these records. Permission will be granted by the Gilcrease Museum as the owner of the physical materials, and does not imply permission from the copyright holder. It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain all necessary permissions from the copyright holder. Reproduction Policy
Availability:
This collection is open for use by appointment only at the Helmerich Center for American Research (HCAR). Contact the Library at hcarlibrary@utulsa.edu in advance to inquire if materials exist pertaining to your research interests.
Article: The Archive/Library Collection
Browse: Illustrated Letters
