Revealing The Contents Of A 100-Year-Old Time Capsule

In 1913, in an effort to help the Oklahoma City’s First Lutheran Church buy a new pipe organ, a group of people organized a fundraiser called the “Century Chest” - a time capsule that will only be opened after a century. To raise money, space in the chest were auctioned off to people, whoever wants their memorabilia included in the chest will have to pay for the space.

On April 22, 2013, exactly 100 years after, the chest was finally opened. It contained a variety of items honoring Oklahoma's heritage including historical photographs, paintings, various newspaper clippings and pieces of technology that were popular at the time.

We posted some of the artifacts below. For the complete list of items inside the time capsule, head over here.

1. The Daily Oklahoman, April 22, 1913

2. Oklahoma State Flag

3. Desk telephone, Pioneer Telephone and Telegraph Co.

4. Edison Graphophone

5. Pen used by President McKinley to sign the Free Homes 

Bill

6. Quilt adorned with signatures of 720 City Builders

7. To the descendants of Nathan Samuel Sherman

8. A Tin of Quality Coffee

9. Dress, Brock Dry Goods Co.

10. Recorded Message entitled, “Bedouin Love Song” by Mr. Merle Bennett, baritone

11. Constitution, Treaties and Laws of the Chickasaw Nation

12. Oklahoma State Fair Expo plate and a Marble

13. Photo of the pastor of the First Lutheran Church, 1913

14. Shoes, Mellon Dry Goods Co.

15. Native American translation Bible (Choctaw)

16. Unopened packages and letters

17. “View from the Dam at the Water Works” by Nellie Shepherd

18. “…to our friends of 2013…”

19. Boys suit, Chas. A. Finnegar

20. Costume Royal Magazine

21. Message to the Oklahoma City Museum of Art

22. Oklahoma City High School – Course of Study, 1913

23. Evans Hall, University of Oklahoma

24. Newspaper in Cherokee

25. Hat, Kerr Dry Goods Co.

26. More unopened messages

27. “Orchard Scene” by Miss Martha Avey

28. Wax Sealed Letter

29. Messages from the blind of 1913 to the blind of 2013

30. Newspaper – April 22, 2013