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Historical Society asks for $3.5M to replace aging climate controls; OK Pop fundraising continues
Summary
Director Trey Thompson asked the appropriations subcommittee for $3.5 million in one‑time funds to replace climate‑control systems at the Oklahoma History Center and a $233,869 supplemental to cover increased insurance and IT costs.
Oklahoma Historical Society Director Trey Thompson told the Appropriations and Budget subcommittee the aging climate-control system at the History Center needs replacement and requested $3.5 million in one-time funds to install new chillers, boilers and cooling towers to meet archival temperature and humidity standards.
Thompson said the History Center holds roughly 150,000 physical artifacts and millions of photographs and documents that require strict temperature and humidity ranges: for example, paper artifacts are generally kept below 65°F and around 50% relative humidity. Staff said the current system is beyond its useful life, repairs are becoming more frequent and replacement parts are hard to source. "For the past couple of years, we've struggled to maintain the temperature and humidity levels as equipment has failed," Thompson said.
The society also asked for a supplemental recurring amount ($233,869) to cover higher property insurance and IT costs that the agency says were not covered in base appropriations. Thompson explained the agency used prior appropriations and philanthropic pledges to underwrite several facility and collection projects but needs state help to secure long-term preservation infrastructure.
Thompson updated the committee on the Oklahoma Museum of Popular Culture (OK Pop), a Tulsa project previously authorized for an $18 million matching appropriation; he said the society has collected roughly $9 million in pledges and requests that the matching language allow pledges (rather than cash-on-hand) to satisfy the match condition so state funds can be accessed and the facility completed. The director described active fundraising and local partner support but noted that philanthropic giving is often pledged over multiple years.
Thompson thanked the Legislature for a $1 million salary adjustment last year, which he said raised many site staff salaries and improved recruitment and morale. The society is not requesting a base budget increase but said deferred maintenance and IT costs remain a challenge.
No formal votes were taken at the hearing; the subcommittee will consider the requests in the budget process.
