This day in Oklahoma history: May 1

Caroline Sellers/KFOR
·2 min read

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) – “Mr. Oklahoma History” was born on May 1, 1913.

George Shirk, 1966.
George Shirk, 1966.

According to the Oklahoma Historical Society, George Shirk, also known as “Mr. Oklahoma History”, was born in Oklahoma City on May 1, 1913, to John Henry and Carrie Hinderer Shirk.

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As Shirk got older, he followed in his father’s footsteps and became an attorney after earning an LL.B. degree from the University of Oklahoma Law School. He passed the Oklahoma bar exam in 1936 and worked at his father’s OKC law firm, Shirk and Danner.

While studying at OU, Shirk joined Reserves Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) and later saw active duty in Europe during World War II. In 1945, he gained the rank of colonel in the U.S. Army.

OHS says Shirk devoted much of his life to historical pursuits. In 1949, he worked on the committee that chose which sites were to be historical markers. He also wrote the text for many of the markers.

Shirk served on the board of directors of the Oklahoma Historical Society and as its president from 1958 to 1975. He was also a trustee of the National Trust for Historic Preservation and served as state historic preservation officer under governors Dewey Bartlett, David Hall and David Boren.

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  • George Shirk, 1967.
    George Shirk, 1967. Image courtesy Oklahoma Historical Society.
  • George Shirk, 1967.
    George Shirk, 1967. Image courtesy Oklahoma Historical Society.
  • George Shirk, 1973.
    George Shirk, 1973. Image courtesy Oklahoma Historical Society.
  • George Shirk, 1964.
    George Shirk, 1964. Image courtesy Oklahoma Historical Society.

Officials say he has written and co-written multiple books and several articles for The Chronicles of Oklahoma and The American Philatelist. The OU Press printed his book Oklahoma Place Names in 1965. Shirk was also a collector and kept classic cars and building artifacts.

On November 14, 1976, Oklahoma City University dedicated the George H. Shirk Oklahoma History Center. The center holds his collection of rare books, stamps and maps. Shirk was later inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame in 1969.

Shirk passed away from cancer on March 23, 1977, in his Oklahoma City home.

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