Arcadia Publishing

Pawnee County is unique among Oklahoma's counties. It represents a microcosm of the state's culture and heritage. Like Oklahoma, Pawnee County is divided in half by the cross timbers: to the east are woodlands and lakes, and to the west are the short grass country and the Great Plains. The eastern half of the county was a part of old Oklahoma Territory and is filled with lake homes that serve as a bedroom community for Tulsa, while the legacy of the Wild West lives in western Pawnee County, home of the Pawnee Bill Memorial Rodeo. A vibrant agriculture and cattle economy made the county an economic center of the Oklahoma Territory. Then came oil and a rush of fortune seekers. Thousands of wells produced millions of dollars in black gold, as tens of thousands of oilmen rushed to the region, along with gamblers, con men, prostitutes, bootleggers, and other ne'er-do-wells. From this colorful legacy, modern Pawnee County emerged.

American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) was formed in Kansas City, Missouri, on February 24, 1959, by 35 choral directors from around the United States. They aimed to create an organization that would meet the professional needs of all choir directors. To achieve this goal, they made the promotion of excellence in choral music through performance, composition, publication, research, and teaching their central purpose. In addition, ACDA strives through arts advocacy to elevate choral music's position in American society. From the original steering committee to today's leaders, this central purpose continues to drive ACDA's development. Among the ways that ACDA has promoted excellence in choral music are national and division conventions featuring the best choirs in the world, awards given to individuals who have in some way contributed to the art of choral music, state workshops and clinics, and honor choirs and commissioned works. Each generation that has passed through ACDA has left its indelible mark. The first generation built the foundation and gave ACDA its purpose. The second generation gave ACDA its independence and voice. The third generation leads the organization into a new and more globally connected world. And through it all, ACDA remains true to promoting choral music excellence.

The architecture of Kay County reflects the rich history of the communities of the county, from the early sustenance days of the land run to the mid1950s era of stability. The architecture of each era displays the economic climate of the times as well as showing how residents viewed themselves. The buildings included in this volume, beginning with a sampling of those at Chilocco Indian School and ending with those of the mid1950s, are tangible reminders of the lives of the people who built them, used them, and lived in them. The images were carefully selected from museums and personal collections across the county as well as from Bret A. Carter's extensive personal collection.