Historical Society to close archives 2003-01-23 By The Associated Press The Oklahoma Historical Society will close its archives, research library and newspaper reading room next month to save money and consolidate its research facilities. A statewide budget shortfall has resulted in the loss of $1.7 million in revenue to the Historical Society over the past year, executive director Bob Blackburn said. Budget problems have forced a 20 percent reduction in staff positions plus eight furlough days for staff members. Blackburn said the society had planned to consolidate its research facilities at the new Oklahoma History Center, scheduled to open in 2004. "We have had to accelerate that plan to meet budget problems and therefore fewer staff positions," he said. The reading rooms will be closed on Feb. 1 and will reopen March 1. When the research facilities reopen, visitors will go to one reference desk to use all materials, Blackburn said. The society was founded in 1893 by the Oklahoma Press Association to collect newspapers printed in the state. The society now has more than 30 million individual pages of newspapers, representing more than 4,000 titles and 95 percent of all the newspapers ever printed in Oklahoma.