Loyd Ingham, JBC Class of 1971, recently received an award that recognizes his efforts to preserve history. The award is presented by the Oklahoma Heritage Association and is the Indian Territory Award for Excellence in Teaching Oklahoma History.
Ingham teaches ninth grade AP history at the Sand Springs Ninth Grade Center in Tulsa. He draws on his own family history to enhance his teaching: seven of his great-grandparents made at least one land run. Three of these lived into Ingham’s adulthood, and left him a treasure-trove of stories, photographs, and mementos that allow him to form a display in his classroom. “I teach history as a life skill,” Ingham says. “We try to wage war on ignorance in the hope that we won’t make the same stupid mistakes again.”
In addition to Oklahoma history, Ingham’s students are also doing their part to remember World War II veterans. “We think time is running out to get these stories, and we’re afraid that we can’t wait any longer,” he said. His students hope to interview and record to DVD the stories of at least 50 veterans as part of a class project. Working in teams of three, students will interview, film, and then produce the DVDs, adding music and graphics to the finished project.
“I want the students to understand how primary sources are collected. These are the things that make up the history books,” Ingham says. The DVDs will be donated to the Sand Springs Cultural and Historical Museum. Last year’s project was similar, but concentrated on stories from survivors of the Dust Bowl. These survivors are even older, and Ingham knew their stories had to be recorded first.
Ninth-grader Paige Quinn is quoted in Tulsa World (February 1, 2006,) as saying, “I’m hoping to find out more about the history of our country and the people that are a part of it. I think we’ll get more out of it this way because it will be a more personal experience.”
A former youth minister, Ingham has taught in the Tulsa, Jenks, and Sand Springs schools for the past 15 years. He also teaches at Tulsa Community College, and rides a bicycle about 30 miles a week.
