Established in 1987, the Talbot Library and Museum began as an effort to preserve regional history and has grown into a Cherokee genealogical and historical goldmine of information for researchers.

By Donna Clark A very interesting article about the History of the Goingsnake District Heritage Association at Westville, OK, appears in the Goingsnake Messenger Publication, Vol. XXXVI, # 1, 2019, written by Luke Williams. The group was formed in June 1979 in Westville, Oklahoma. Monthly meetings were usually held at the John Henderson Public Library, in Westville, except for occasional special meetings held elsewhere. Virgil Talbot, Colcord, Oklahoma, had joined the G.D.H.A. around 1980. He had started his own local history collection and had a museum at his home on Flint Creek. . In 1983, G.D.H.A. members had discussed the possibility of publishing a regular periodical. Member, Virgil Talbot, agreed to serve as Editor of the publication. He stated “I believe such a publication would encourage more people to join and create more interest in the organization, telling the public what we are doing and trying to do”. The first issue was published February 1984. He served as Editor until his death in June, 1998. Jack Baker stated at the time “It was Virgil’s idea to start a publication to preserve many of the stories and documents relating to the history of the area. He alone did almost all of the work in putting out the Goingsnake Messenger. His quarterly--and truly it was his quarterly--increased the Association’s membership to around 400. His contribution to the history of the Goingsnake District is immeasurable. Not only will his work be missed but he will be missed as a very dear friend.” Glenita Guthrie, Siloam Springs Printing Co., and Gerald Hurt, both Talbot Library & Museum Board members served as co-editors during Virgil’s final illness. Glenita became Editor in 1999, retiring in 2017. Luke Williams served as Editor 2017-2022. Jack Baker was Editor in 2023 and Michael Wren 2024. Harry Styron is current Editor. All past issues of the Goingsnake Messenger, from 1984 to 2026 are available for sale at the Talbot Library and Museum, Colcord OK. (Glenita moved Siloam Springs Printing to Westvillle Ok a few years ago and now is Guthrie Printing. They are still printing our publications.) Virgil Talbot’s dream was to move his private collection to a permanent location for public access. This became a reality when he opened the Talbot Library and Museum in Colcord OK in June 1990. This became possible with lots of help from the Colcord Chamber of Commerce, fundraisers, donations and many volunteers. Virgil belonged to many historical societies, including the Cherokee National Historical Society, serving on the Board. He wrote several books, “The Talbot’s, Centuries of Service, From Yadkin River to West Brand (West family History), “A Bit of History”, “Goingsnake Marriages”, “A 10 Year Index of Goingsnake Messenger” and “In the Shadow of the Hills” poetry. He started the publication “T. L & M. Genealogy Magazine” Summer of 1996. He served as Editor of both publications:” Goingsnake Messenger” and “T.L. & M. Genealogy” until his death. ”T. L & M. Genealogy Magazine” continues to be published twice yearly, all back issues are available for sale. Talbot Library & Museum has continued to carry on Virgil’s legacy, due to an active Board of Trustees, valued employees and volunteers. The facility offers the Walkingstick Research Library on site, containing research material covering the Cherokee Nation, N.E. Oklahoma and N.W. Arkansas, many items are not found elsewhere. It is the premier genealogy collection in N. E. Oklahoma. The onsite Bookstore contains new books on all of these subjects. Our website, talbotlibrary.org, contains announcements, Bookstore listings, and listing of publications for sale. The Museum area has recently been refurbished with many new displays. Several outbuildings were added to the two acre property in Colcord after Virgil’s death, including the Adair Building, Post Office building and the historic Springtown (AR.) Schoolhouse. Virgil and the Talbot Library Museum began hosting the July Goingsnake Meetings in late 1990’s, often including a potluck lunch. Many meetings also hosted guest speakers, book signings, the Cherokee Bike Riders, as well as in 2009 Becky Hobbs’s informal musical presentation of her play “Nanyehi-The Story of Nancy Ward”! (T.L. & M. Genealogy,Vol. XVII-#2, 2009).These meetings were held most years between 1998 and 2024. No Meeting was held at Talbot’s in 2025. We are looking forward to hosting the Goingsnake District Heritage Association membership meeting this year on Saturday, June 20, 2026, 10 a.m. Do come visit Talbot Library and Museum as well during our usual hours. We are open Tues. Weds, Thur. 8-4, Friday 8-2. And Like us on Facebook!

Recently, we had a need to get two of our large display cases moved into our main building. Our director, Leigh Brill, contacted Levi at Siloam Springs Moving and received a quote. The day that the movers arrived, they worked hard for two hours moving our cases plus some other cases we have in the museum. Much to our surprise, they informed us there would be no charge. They told us they were happy to do it and are doing in memory of Mr. Don Warden, who passed away on May 9. Mr. Warden was the Director of Collections and Research at the Siloam Springs Museum and was an avid historian. He had been with the Museum since 1991, and was a valuable resource and wealth of knowledge for the last 35 years. Levi and his team were truly a blessing to us and we are so grateful for them. We are thankful for their generosity to us and their kindness in remembering Don Warden. Our condolences go out to Mr. Warden's family and friends. (Special thanks to Glenita Guthrie, Donna Clark, and Leigh Brill for helping make this happen!) Link to Obituary and Service information for Mr. Don Warden

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< Back VOLUME XIII, ISSUE #4, 2005 Table of Contents Cover photo, Harrison Family Home, Siloam Springs Arkansas; Delaware County “Grannies”, 1989 photo; Rebuilding Our Delaware County Courthouse-Twice by Dale Denney; Obituaries, Audrey May Hurt Wooten, Ira Jay Thurman, Roy Lee Garrett, Lester Gilbreath, Golda Cripps; My Eventful First Year “in the West” by Phillip Cone Fletcher, contributed by Mike Rapp; All Day Singing and Dinner On the Grounds, by Jean Hurt; Siloam Springs Family Home, Enchanting History by Aileen Harrison Milsap; Old Mill Is Landmark-Old Beck Mill newspaper article; Publication Award to TLM Magazine by Oklahoma Museums Assn.; There and Back Again, cont’d, by David McKay Greer; Lively family genealogy by Glenita Guthrie; Westville Record newspaper July 14, 1939

Visit us for on-site genealogy and history research, purchasing historical and genealogical books, perusing museum artifacts, school and group trips, events, and much more! Visit Talbot Library & Museum Book Store Research/Genealogy Visit-Book Store Visit Museum Visit Research-Genealogy Talbot Library and Museum has a great bookstore located at 500 S. Colcord Ave. in Colcord, OK! Stop by during our business hours and shop in our store. (We also offer these books in our online bookstore !) We offer books detailing the history of the Arkansas/Oklahoma/Missouri region of the United States, the Civil War, gangsters and outlaws, local history, the Trail of Tears and much more! We also offer genealogical information and books including cemetery information, death records, census data and more. Museum Our main museum building includes artifacts and displays of local history, including kitchen antiques and Cherokee artifacts. We also have a group of saddles on display, including side saddles and a cavalry saddle. Our museum also includes other displays/buildings including the beautifully restored Springtown (Arkansas) Schoolhouse with old schoolhouse artifacts & an autographed quilt collection; the Adair Building, which serves as an antique farm machinery shed; and a Post Office building with Colcord’s original Post Office boxes and window. The two other buildings include a blacksmith shop and a grocery store. Visit us free of charge. Donations welcome! The Talbot Library and Museum specializes in historical and genealogical research material of Northeast Oklahoma, Northwest Arkansas and Cherokee Territory. Our Walkingstick Research Library is home to vast resources that can be utilized for genealogical and historical research. Some of our collection is unique to our library. We can help you find materials for your family history and genealogy right here in our library! Plan to visit or call us to make an appointment. Visit School Groups and Tours Visit Location Directions Visit-TLM Hours School Groups & Tours TLM Hours Location/Directions The Talbot Library and Museum welcomes school and group tours of our facilities and property. Read about our bookstore, library, museum and Walkingstick Research Library above. Lots to see and do! For school and group tours, Currently, there is no charge for these tours. Contact Us Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 8:00AM - 4:00PM Friday 8:00AM-2:00PM (or other days by appointment for research Contact Us The Talbot Library and Museum is located in Colcord, Oklahoma. The library is located about 80 miles east of Tulsa and 7 miles west of the Arkansas border. Physical Address: 500 South Colcord Avenue Colcord, Oklahoma 74338 Get Directions