Shirley O. Bellmon Papers, 1965-1991
Bulk 1987-1991

Biography Collection Information Inventory

Biography

Correspondence, public relations material and financial records relating to Shirley Bellmon's role as First Lady of Oklahoma during Henry Bellmon's second gubernatorial term (1987-1991). Four areas of interest are represented in the collection: arts and crafts, state beautification, anti-drug campaigns, and the Main Street project. Correspondence is arranged chronologically with related correspondence and documents clipped together.

Shirley Osborn was born and raised in Billings, Oklahoma, six miles from her future husband, Henry Bellmon. She graduated from Billings High School in 1945 and attended Oklahoma A & M for one year. Shirley attended the Billings Methodist Church where she met Henry in 1946. They married on January 24, 1947. As the wife of a new legislator, Shirley Bellmon quickly became active in politics.

Shirley Bellmon's interest in sewing and crafts led her own business designing clothing under the "Shir-Lee" label. This interest is also evident in her advocacy for home businesses during her husband's second gubernatorial term (1987-1991).

During the second gubernatorial term of her husband, Mrs. Bellmon selected four key projects as her focus: state beautification, arts and crafts, or "Made in Oklahoma", the Main Street Project, and an anti-drug campaign. Her interest in state beautification involved both the Project 89er campaign and the "Don't Lay that Trash on Oklahoma" campaign. She actively promoted and participated in clean up campaigns throughout the state. "Made in Oklahoma" developed from her personal interests in arts and crafts. Mrs. Bellmon promoted state businesses, particularly those that involved arts and crafts. The other two areas where she focused her attention, The Main Street Project and the anti-drug campaign, also coincided with her concern for bettering the state Oklahoma.

References:
Bellmon, Henry. The Life and Times of Henry Bellmon. Tulsa: Council Oak Books, [1992].
Mathews, Louise. The First Ladies of Oklahoma 1907-1995 Dress Collection. Norman: University of Oklahoma, 1989.
Wise, Lu Celia. Oklahoma's First Ladies. Perkins, Ok.: Evans Publications, 1983.

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Collection Information

Collection No. : 1996-064

Arrangement : Arranged topically

Access : Unrestricted

Collection Size : 1.25 linear feet (1 record storage box)

Source : Gift of Henry Bellmon, 1995

Related Collections :

• Henry L. Bellmon Papers (Collection No. 1995-003)

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Inventory

Anti-Drug Campaign Arts and Crafts Beautification Main Street General Files

Anti-Drug Campaign

Box	Folder	Description
1	1	General information

 

Arts and Crafts

Box	Folder	Description
1	2	General Information
1	3	Correspondence

Anti-Drug Campaign Arts and Crafts Beautification Main Street General Files Top of Page

Beautification

Box	Folder	Description
1	4	Correspondence, 1986, Jan. 1987 - Aug. 1987
1	5	Correspondence, Sept. 1987
1	6	Correspondence, Oct. 1987 - Dec. 1987
1	7	Correspondence, Jan. 1988 - June 1988
1	8	Correspondence, July 1988 - Dec. 1988
1	9	Correspondence, 1989 - 1990
1	10	Flyers
1	11	Keep Oklahoma Beautiful
1	12	Memos
1	13	Press releases

Anti-Drug Campaign Arts and Crafts Beautification Main Street General Files Top of Page

Main Street

Box	Folder	Description
1	14	Correspondence
1	15	Publicity
1	16	Schedules

 

General Files

Box	Folder	Description
1	17	Council of Chief State School Officers - (CCSSO) 1989 Annual Meeting
1	18	Friends of the Library of the Marine Military Academy
1	19	General Correspondence
1	20	Governor's Mansion Expense Account
1	21	Invitations -- Acceptances
1	22	Invitations -- Regrets
1	23	National Governor's Association - Convention 1990
1	24	News Articles

Anti-Drug Campaign Arts and Crafts Beautification Main Street General Files

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