History

The Council was established in 1961 by community leaders as a non-profit, educational organization. It is an umbrella organization for 58 constituent groups with an aim of coordinating and promoting arts and culture throughout Tulsa. The Council continues to provide incubation services for emerging arts and culture-based groups and has a proud reputation of nurturing programs that become successful independent entities.

Our history as one of Oklahoma’s largest providers of arts education services is reflected in our achievements. Since 1963, the Council has successfully intergrated the Artists-in-the-Schools Program throughout the Tulsa community. The Council’s Harwelden Institute, established in 1984, continues to engage over 20,000 school children and 350 classroom teachers each year. Oklahoma Chautauqua, first established in 1989, has the distinction of being the longest-running and largest living history series in Oklahoma. Each year, more than 4,500 individuals enjoy scholars’ re-enactments of famous individuals from the past. The Council’s history is rich with experience and success.

History of Harwelden

"Harwelden" is Welsh for "place from which the Harwell's came. This name, given to the house in 1967 by the Arts & Humanities Council of Tulsa, is very appropriate since Mr. Harwell's family came to the United States from Wales.
The home was completed in 1926 and has 30 rooms, four levels, and seven fireplaces. The main floor rooms and stairway are decorated with hand carved wood designs, all a part of a motif which comes from a coat of arms. The coat of arms consists of two shields, a lion and a flower. The outside of Harwelden boasts carved Indiana limestone, a slate roof and limestone gargoyles, a gold fish pond and carriage house.
Mary and Earl Harwell lived quietly but generously. They were very supportive of the University of Tulsa and Mr. Harwell was key in the founding of the Tulsa Boys Home. Mrs. Harwell continued the family's charitable contributions and, upon her death in 1967, bequeathed Harwelden to the Arts & Humanities Council to provide a base for Tulsa's arts organizations.
In 1978 Harwelden was one of five Tulsa landmarks to be placed on the National Register of Historic Places. In 1983 Harwelden again made history by being part of a neighborhood placed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Mapleridge District.