Documenting Southwest Oklahoma Since 1964
First published in July 1964, Prairie Lore is the historical journal of the Southwestern Oklahoma
Created to preserve the stories of pioneers, Indigenous nations, early settlers, and military communities, the journal has become one of the most important regional historical publications in Southwest Oklahoma.
From Comanche County to the Big Pasture and the Wichita Mountains, Prairie Lore documents the lived experience of the Southern Plains during the transition from Indian Territory to modern Oklahoma statehood.
For more than sixty years, it has served as a repository of primary sources, community memory, and scholarly regional research.
Purpose & Scope of the Journal
Geographic Focus
Prairie Lore focuses on Southwest Oklahoma, including:
• Comanche County
• Cotton County
• Greer County
• Harmon County
• Jackson County
• Jefferson County
• Kiowa County
• Stephens County
• Tillman County
• Portions of Caddo and Grady counties
Special attention is given to the original Kiowa–Comanche–Apache reservation lands, Fort Sill military history, prairie settlement, and rural community development.
Mission of the Publication
The journal exists to ensure that regional history is recorded by the communities who lived it. It preserves firsthand accounts, oral histories, pioneer diaries, military documentation, and local narratives that may not appear in larger academic publications.
Its mission is preservation, education, and accessibility.
What You’ll Find in Prairie Lore
Pioneer & Settlement Histories
In-depth articles on early settlers, homesteaders, land runs, rural schools, and ghost towns.
Indigenous History
Documentation of Kiowa, Comanche, Apache, and Wichita heritage, including cultural intersections and regional history.
Military History
Fort Sill and Southwest Oklahoma military accounts, including service records, frontier conflicts, and training histories.
Genealogy & Biographical Indexing
Family histories, cemetery records, land ownership documentation, and genealogical research resources.
Environmental & Prairie Studies
Articles exploring prairie ecology, agriculture, drought conditions, and the Dust Bowl era.
Archival Photography
Historic images of communities, railroads, homesteads, ranches, and civic life.
Publication History & Format
A Primary Source for Southwest Oklahoma Research
A Primary Source for Southwest Oklahoma Research
• First Issue: July 1964, Volume 1, Number 1
• Original Format: Quarterly publication
• Later Format: Biannual publication
• Current Status: Surpassed Volume 60
Over six decades, Prairie Lore has evolved while maintaining its core mission. Early issues featured firsthand pioneer accounts. Later editions incorporated expanded research, archival photography, and more structured indexing.
Volumes are often bound into hardcover compilations for library and archival use. A cumulative index assists researchers in locating names, towns, and historical references across decades of publication.
A Primary Source for Southwest Oklahoma Research
A Primary Source for Southwest Oklahoma Research
A Primary Source for Southwest Oklahoma Research
Prairie Lore functions as:
• A primary source repository
• A genealogical reference tool
• A community storytelling archive
• A regional historical database
Researchers frequently use Prairie Lore to trace:
• Pioneer families
• Land records
• Cattle brands
• Ghost towns
• Military service
• Rural school histories
Copies are available through member distribution, local libraries, and institutional archives.
Access & Continuing Legacy
A Primary Source for Southwest Oklahoma Research
Access & Continuing Legacy
Physical copies of Prairie Lore are maintained in regional collections, including local libraries and university archives. Selected volumes may be available in compiled or digital formats.
As a volunteer-driven publication, Prairie Lore represents the enduring commitment of Southwest Oklahoma citizens to preserve their own history.
In a rapidly changing world, this journal ensures that prairie voices, Indigenous heritage, military legacy, and pioneer resilience remain part of the documented historical record.
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