Revealing The Contents Of A 100-Year-Old Time Capsule

By | June 7, 2016

In 1913, in an effort to help the Oklahoma City’s First Lutheran Church buy a new pipe organ, a group of people organized a fundraiser called the “Century Chest” - a time capsule that will only be opened after a century. To raise money, space in the chest were auctioned off to people, whoever wants their memorabilia included in the chest will have to pay for the space.

On April 22, 2013, exactly 100 years after, the chest was finally opened. It contained a variety of items honoring Oklahoma's heritage including historical photographs, paintings, various newspaper clippings and pieces of technology that were popular at the time.

We posted some of the artifacts below. For the complete list of items inside the time capsule, head over here.

 
1. The Daily Oklahoman, April 22, 1913

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2. Oklahoma State Flag

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3. Desk telephone, Pioneer Telephone and Telegraph Co.

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4. Edison Graphophone

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5. Pen used by President McKinley to sign the Free Homes Bill

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6. Quilt adorned with signatures of 720 City Builders

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7. To the descendants of Nathan Samuel Sherman

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8. A Tin of Quality Coffee

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9. Dress, Brock Dry Goods Co.

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10. Recorded Message entitled, “Bedouin Love Song” by Mr. Merle Bennett, baritone

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11. Constitution, Treaties and Laws of the Chickasaw Nation

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12. Oklahoma State Fair Expo plate and a Marble

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13. Photo of the pastor of the First Lutheran Church, 1913

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14. Shoes, Mellon Dry Goods Co.

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15. Native American translation Bible (Choctaw)

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16. Unopened packages and letters

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17. “View from the Dam at the Water Works” by Nellie Shepherd

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18. “…to our friends of 2013…”

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19. Boys suit, Chas. A. Finnegar

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20. Costume Royal Magazine

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21. Message to the Oklahoma City Museum of Art

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22. Oklahoma City High School – Course of Study, 1913

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23. Evans Hall, University of Oklahoma

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24. Newspaper in Cherokee

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25. Hat, Kerr Dry Goods Co.

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26. More unopened messages

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27. “Orchard Scene” by Miss Martha Avey

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28. Wax Sealed Letter

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29. Messages from the blind of 1913 to the blind of 2013

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30. Newspaper – April 22, 2013

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H/T TwistedSifter