Some of the finest examples of North American Indian art and artifacts extant can be seen at the Museum of the Red River in Idabel, Oklahoma. The Museum opened its doors in 1975 to house objects dating from 10,000 years ago to historic times, that were being discovered locally. The Museum’s collections gradually expanded to include objects from southeastern Oklahoma, northeastern Texas, and southwestern Arkansas: the “Caddoan Archaeological Area”. The Caddo. had been active in this area from about 900 to 1700, and their artifacts were well represented. The early collections also included artifacts from the Choctaw, who had been forcibly transferred into Oklahoma from Mississippi in the 1830’s.

Today, the Museum of the Red River has much more to offer visitors. Among its present collections, comprising over 15,000 objects, there are important Precolumbian holdings, ethnographic works and contemporary native arts and crafts from throughout the Americas, as well as representative items from native cultures in Africa, East Asia, and the Pacific Islands. Visitors to the Museum can also study geological displays and see the forty-foot long cast skeleton of a large predatory dinosaur, Acrocanthosaurus atokensis, (dubbed “Acro”) discovered twelve miles east of the Museum.

The Museum of the Red River operates as part of the Herron Foundation, a non-profit Oklahoma corporation. The separately incorporated Idabel Museum Society serves as the Museum’s membership and support organization.

The Museum is located at 812 East Lincoln Road, on the South Highway 70 Bypass, in Idabel, McCurtain County, Oklahoma.

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Henry Moy, (BA, MAT) Director
Prior to taking up his post in 1997 as Director of the Museum of the Red River, Henry served as director of museums and chair of the Museum Studies program at Beloit College in Beloit, Wisconsin. His activities in professional organizations include having been a committee member, board member, and/or officer of the following: the Congress of Illinois Historical Societies and Museums, the Wisconsin Federation of Museums, the Midwest Museums Council, and the American Association of Museums. Henry has presented papers at conferences, organized professional symposia, reviewed grants for the Institute of Museum and Library Services and various state agencies. He has also been a consultant to several museums and arts organizations. Henry is currently a member of the Advisory Panel for Exhibits USA of the Mid-America Arts Alliance, and serves on the boards of the Oklahoma Museums Association, the E.T. Dunlap Higher Learning Center Foundation, the McCurtain Community Fund, the Idabel Rotary Club, and the Chinatown (Chicago) Museum Foundation.

Mary Herron, (BFA) Director Emerita and Senior Curator
Mary served as Director of the Museum of the Red River from 1985-1997. Under her leadership, the Museum gained national attention for its innovative programs and strong support of creative learning activities. During her tenure, Mary encouraged and oversaw the growth and development of the Museum as she marshaled the resources to support the tremendous expansion of facilities that have taken place in recent years. Mary has always been active in her field, presenting papers and serving as a mentor to many young museum professionals. Mary continues to contribute to the Museum in her capacity as Senior Curator. In recognition of her many years of service, in 1998 the Oklahoma Museums Association presented her with the Laura McDonagh Streich Award for Professional Service, the Association’s highest honor.

Daniel Vick, (BA, MA) Assistant Curator
Daniel began his career as a curator with the Museum in 2003. Prior to this he served as an intern at the Oklahoma City National Memorial Center Museum and at the Oklahoma Museum of Higher Education. Daniel serves on the Board of Directors for Hand-to-Hand, a local food pantry, is a member of the Oklahoma Museums Association, American Association of Museums, and Phi Alpha Theta.

G. Paulette LaGasse, (BS, MA) Program Curator
Paulette joined the Museum staff in 2001. As a retired educator, having served for over twenty years as a librarian and classroom teacher, she has an extensive background in childhood education. Paulette is a member of the Oklahoma Museums Association and the Oklahoma Museum Educators group. A McCurtain County native, she is active in the Broken Bow High School Alumni Association and the Broken Bow Education Foundation. Paulette is also on the board of the Broken Bow Public Library.

L. Sue Coffman, (BS) Office Manager
Sue is a McCurtain County native and has been a member of the Museum staff since 1993. In addition to her involvement in crafts and genealogical research, Sue is an active member of the McCurtain County Gem and Mineral Club and the Red Hat Society.

Sherron Mitchell, Receptionist and Museum Store Assistant
Before joining the Museum staff, she was a reporter-photographer for the Clarksville Times. She also served as a machine operator-trainer for Red Cap, a division of Vanity Fair Fashions, a position which included working in Central America.

Sallie Webb, (BA, MA) Volunteer Coordinator
Sallie has been at the Museum since 1990. Originally from Florida, Sallie is a retired educator with over 25 years of classroom teaching experience. She works with the program curator, giving tours to school groups and developing educational experiences for visitors of all ages. Sallie chairs the Visual Arts Committee of the Idabel Arts Council, and is active in both the McCurtain County Art Club and the Photography Club. She is an award-winning artist, as well as an active member of the Retired Educators Association and the Gem and Mineral Club.

Charles Matthews, Facilities Custodian
Charles served in the U.S. Army from 1965-1985. As a member of the 173rd and 101st Airborne, he served two tours during the Vietnam War. After retiring from the military, Charles worked in the construction industry in North Carolina. Charles has been with the Museum since 2002 and is a native of Foreman, Arkansas.

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