Tulsa Historical Society Looking To Showcase History Of Tulsa Club Hotel

Employees at a downtown Tulsa hotel are looking for help preserving the building's history. Marianne McCann has spent months pouring through 70 years of Tulsa Club history

"We had somebody who had their wedding here in the '50s come over and just you know break down crying here and send us photos," said McCann. She said the more she digs into the decades of history the more she's surprised about what she learns.

"Saks Fifth Avenue had a fashion show here. Dillard's had a fashion here. JC Penny was even in Vogue back then here at the hotel. So there were a lot of women who came in and started to have events," said McCann.

Tulsa Club and Tulsa Chamber of Commerce originally called the building home in 1927. Generations of Tulsa families spent holidays at Tulsa Club and helped build the economy.

"This is where the deals happened that grew Tulsa in general. So we're wanting to bring that back and bring back some of the histories. We've already restored the building so what you see now, but we really want to dive back into the past," said Paul Van Raamsdonk.

Van Raamsdonk is the general manager of Tulsa Club Hotel and found a letter from 1944 announcing food rationing at the club because of World War II. He hopes people will come forward with unique pieces of the club's history to put on display. "There were New Year's Eve balls here. There were fashion shows here with Ginger Rogers. There were all sorts of life-changing events and we want to bring that out," said Van Raamsdonk.

If you have any pictures or memorabilia you can drop it off directly at the hotel or call (918) 582-5722 ext. 7102.