Western District of Oklahoma Historical Society


The Rule of Law Keeps Us Free

Welcome to the Western District of Oklahoma Historical Society. We are a nonprofit organization dedicated to the discovery, preservation, and public presentation of the District Court’s remarkable history and culture. The Historical Society manages the Federal Judicial Learning Center and Museum, a free museum open to the public, engaging in educational programming, events, and exhibits about the judiciary as well as significant cases. For more information about the museum, visit the FJLCM page


CURRENT EXHIBITIONS

Historical photo of James A Stout, William K Hale, John Ramsey, and J.A. Clouse 1926

“The Osage Reign of Terror: The Untold Legal History”

The notorious 1926 trial of William K. Hale and John Ramsey is one of the Western District's most notable cases. This new exhibit highlights the role of the judicial system in the Osage Reign of Terror and uncovers the tangled legal history that has been newly revealed.


1935 photo of Machine Gun Kelly in handcuffs after being arrested in Memphis

Machine Gun Kelly