Remembering "A Bit Of History":
Our Library Founder, Virgil Talbot, worked steadily in politics designing leaflets, writing editorials, and taking stands on issues and candidates. He wrote a book called "A Bit Of History" (available in our online store and at Talbot Library and Museum) that chronicles some of his political efforts, acquaintances, and correspondence. (And many other of his stories and writings about history)
On page 131 of the book, Talbot chronicles the moment he shook the hand of President Lyndon Johnson around 1964:

"It was a presidential news conference, not the kind you see on television these days, but one for members of the International Labor Press Association (ILPA). We were all part of the working press, editors, writers and publishers of labor newspapers. Security was tight in those days and I assume we had been checked out before being allowed into one of the rooms at the White House. I don't remember which one.

President Johnson came in, along with House Speaker Carl Albert and Senate Majority Leader Russell Long. I was struck by the difference in size between Albert and Long - - one small, the other huge, or at least he looked that way beside Albert. The president was even bigger.

The three men discussed the issues of the day - poverty, civil rights, etc. - and answered questions. Then we filed past the president for a handshake and picture taking. I remember telling him my name and that I was from Arkansas (We lived in Fayetteville, AR at that time.) And he made some remark and I passed on into history.
(Note, written in 1986: I weigh about 100 pounds lighter today than I did 22 years ago. One hundred pounds! No wonder my feet are flat.)"

You can shop for this book here.

In our multi-structure museum in Colcord, Oklahoma, we have dedicated one building to our antique post office.

We are always so thankful for donations to our museum and it is no different with our post office.  Our post office includes post office boxes; a mail window; and old Row, OK mail desk; and a mail bag, among many other interesting postal items.

Below is information on some of the items featured in our museum Post Office.   Information on visiting our museum to view these and other items is found here.   

The 1920’s Postal  Desk (left) is from the Row Post Office.  It was determined where this desk came from by the Fishing License that was tucked to the back of it!  The license expired in 1928 and has printed on it: “Row, Oklahoma, Delaware County”.   It was signed by Charles Burbage, who was evidently acting on behalf of the Fish & Game Commission.  The writing on it is faint, but readable, in sunlight.
The Postal Desk was donated by Joan McBride of Colcord, Oklahoma.



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​The Post Office boxes and the Postal window (below) were purchased with a donation from Mr. and Mrs. Robert Patterson of Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Charlie Burbage used to hang this mail pouch (left) on his saddle and deliver the U. S. Mail out of Row, Oklahoma, the first town in this area, in the early 1900s.  Burbage later bought one of the first automobiles in the area and delivered mail for Row and later Colcord.  His first route was 18 miles long and had 85 families.  He was a mail carrier for 41 years and during that time he wore out tow buggies and thirty automobiles.
When the Post Office was moved to Colcord in 1930, this mail pouch came with the move.
 
The mail pouch was donated by William Holcombe of Colcord, Oklahoma.

The area known as Indian Territory was among the last frontiers in America.  Promised to the Indians for as long as the grass "growed" and the water flowed, the areas was inhabited by Indians, their adopted whites and those working in the areas on permits.  A lawless element also attempted to use the Territory as a haven from the law.
In the Cherokee Nation, an area located in the northeastern part of the present-day Oklahoma, the people were torn apart by a bitter factional dispute that had raged for over a half century.  Into this land came George William Talbot and his bride, the little Cherokee lady, Annie Caroline Smith Talbot.  When George and Annie set up housekeeping in the Nation in the late Summer of 1876, he was no stranger to the country. 
By the time he was married, George was well acquainted with Aaron "Head" Beck, operator of the Hildebrand Mill on Flint Creek.  George acquired the skill of dressing stone mill buhrs, a skill few men knew, even among the milling profession.
With few trading posts in the Cherokee Nation, Arkansas border towns were quite popular.  Evansville, Cincinnati, Hico, Cherokee City, Maysville and Bloomfield were busy places.  
Life in the Cherokee Nation was simple and sometimes harsh.  In fact, electric and telephone service did not come to some areas of the Nation until 75 years later.  Horse or oxen were used to plow, pull wagons and other chores requiring "horsepower".
A milk cow was a necessity.  If you were well-to-do, you made butter in a churn. If not, you made it by shaking the cream in a jar until the gobbets of butter formed.  The annual calf was a treasured possession, either for replacement or addition to the herd, or to sell for cash to buy staple goods. 
Hogs were another money crop.  Allowed to run on the free range, they grazed on weeds and grass during the summer and fattened on acorns in the fall. Some were butchered for the winter supply of salt-cured pork.  The rest were sold.   Every spring an old hen or two were set with eggs.  The hatching of eggs and baby chicks were watched carefully, for a varmint or black snake could wipe out a whole season of chicken dinners in a matter of minutes. 
Farming was the principal occupation.  Corn was the main crop with perhaps some wheat or oats and sometimes a patch of tobacco, for home use and for a cash crop. 
Corn was gathered by hand, shelled and taken to the mill in a flour sack thrown across the back of a horse.
Wild game meant meat on the table and money in the pocket.  Citizens of the Cherokee Nation killed pigeons, squirrels, rabbit, duck, quail, turkey and deer, and dressed them and sold them to buyers for the Eastern markets. Timber was a cash crop.
Coal oil was a necessity for the home.  "Running water" was a stream that flowed nearby.  Hot water was heated in a black iron teakettle. The bathtub was the galvanized wash tub. The bathroom was the little building  that stood a respectable distance from the house. 
School was a one room building, erected by the community. The Cherokees were interested in education for their children, and had been since before the 19th century.  The local school board was run by a board of directors.
Death could come swiftly and with little warning...or could linger with growing pain.  In any case, it was a time when neighbors gathered at the home, to sit up through the night and to dig the grave and build the coffin. 
The Good Old Days! There was much good about them. And a lot of bad.  Sometimes they could be downright cruel. 

--Excerpts from "Life in the Cherokee Nation" which appears in the book The Talbots: Centuries of Service and in the book A Bit of History.  Both books are by Virgil Talbot.  Both books are available at the Talbot Library and Museum in Colcord, Oklahoma or you may order them at our online bookstore by clicking the link for each book.