Beginning in September of 1957, on a high ridge overlooking the beautiful Poteau River valley and the mountains of Eastern Oklahoma, Senator and Mrs. Robert S. Kerr started building their home; a house “that grew and grew and grew” in harmony with their growing family.
Completed in 1961, the home is an architectural masterpiece with much of the home’s construction performed by craftsmen from the area and materials indigenous to the region were used wherever possible – some of the building elements were harvested directly from the property! It was conceived as a gathering place for family and friends – a theme of community as viable today as it was more than six decades ago. The property has enjoyed a rich and distinguished heritage over the last half-century. The home’s historic legacy includes visits by several U.S. presidents and vice presidents, as well as hosting many civic, political, academic and business leaders that came to congregate and share in the allure of the surrounding environment – to relax as well as to discuss important matters concerning their respective spheres-of-influence.
After the deaths of Senator and Mrs. Kerr (1963 and 1965 respectively), their four children retained as well as maintained the property for many years and, while it was a wonderful place to visit, the realization that there could be a more appropriate use of the home and its grounds ultimately compelled them, through The Kerr Foundation, Inc., to gift the property to the State of Oklahoma on the 27th of February 1978 with the following provisions:
“It is the intent of the Foundation that said property will be used by the State of Oklahoma for educational purposes, conferences, symposiums, retreats, seminars, meetings, museums, and other educational and cultural activities.
The State of Oklahoma, by acceptance of this gift, agrees to maintain all buildings and other structures located upon the real property herein described in good and proper condition, and the State of Oklahoma further agree to maintain the grounds in a neat, clean and proper condition.”
Several of Senator and Mrs. Kerr’s grandchildren continued to visit the Robert S. Kerr Conference Center at different times over the ensuing decades and, over the last several years a few witnessed firsthand the continuing deterioration of the home and its grounds – the decline of which becoming much more acute in 2013-14 and progressed unabated. Because of their deep and abiding love for their grandparent’s and for the beautiful home that they had built, they determined to be proactive and founded the Dream No Little Dream Foundation, Inc. (hereinafter the “Foundation”) in November of 2016. Therefore, the Foundation will take ownership of the property and oversee the restoration of the home to its original form while elevating the overall operational character to function as a center of learning and service to the broader community.
The Foundation’s ongoing mission is “Supporting Initiatives to Unlock Human Potential” through organizations and individuals whose principles, values, work ethic and philosophies are concomitant with those of Senator and Mrs. Kerr. The translation of this vison for the property will be through the mutually beneficial efforts of the Foundation and…
…the Kerr Legacy & Historical Center, Inc. (hereinafter “KLHC”). KLHC was originally founded in 2014 as Friends of the Kerr Mansion, Inc., a 501(c)(3) entity under the IRS code with the sole purpose of saving Senator and Mrs. Kerr’s landmark property from further damage and deterioration. The change in the name reflects the ongoing dedication of KLHC’s board and the evolving theme for the home and its forty acres of land. The board is comprised of fellow Oklahomans and others seeking to preserve this historic home and its grounds in honor of the legacy of Senator and Mrs. Kerr. Therefore, KLHC will act in coordination with the Foundation to restore, preserve and efficiently operate the KLHC in a manner consistent with the original mandate when gifting the property to the State of Oklahoma in 1978. The Foundation and KLHC’s collective vision are to enhance the property’s undeniable beauty; build upon its enduring and formidable structural integrity; and begin effectuating plans to take full advantage of its underserved capabilities while being optimally utilized for the purposes as stated above.
The Foundation and KLHC will honor the former home of Senator and Mrs. Kerr as a venue that serves to bring people together in a way that affords the opportunity to share in the theme of their lives – faith, family, business and public service – to Dream No Little Dream in pursuit of individual aspirations. All activities and educational forums are focused on serving the people of Oklahoma, the region and the nation.
SUSTAINING COMMITMENT
Our abiding belief in the sanctity of the living earth which favors us all with...
“... ‘Land, wood and water’ – nature’s gifts for life and survival, man’s hope for future progress.”
“It is in our power, under the watchful eyes of God, to determine the physical form of the world in which we live. We can make it a paradise… or by neglect, permit it to become a desert. The choice is ours.”
“To use, to understand, to love the soil, is a civilizing process.” Senator Robert S. Kerr
Senator Kerr’s insightful words resonate as strongly today as they did in 1960 when his book, Land, Wood & Water was first published. The message conveys the fervent awareness that it is crucial to husband and nurture the wonders of our planet’s natural wealth; a wealth seemingly vast in proportion, yet so delicate and essentially finite. The Earth’s natural resources are the foundation of life and crucial to a better way of existence. That we leave a clean, healthy and productively stable environment with the advent of continued global development is the charge of a responsible society.
“We do not inherit the land from our forefathers; we borrow it from our children.” Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
Our sustaining commitment is founded upon the proposition that business, industry and government can effectively merge economic and environmental considerations that serve to promulgate sustained and constructive growth.
In the 1914 issue of The Psagi (East Central State University’s yearbook) there was a notation regarding a young Robert S. Kerr, it stated:
“Everybody knows Bob, but not everybody likes him. He knows this but is not worried about it in the least. ‘Fair-minded men will differ on important questions,’ he says.
It is our sincere belief that “We the People of the United States…” inherently strive to be “fair-minded.” And, while endeavoring to be fair-minded is fraught with subjective processes exacerbated by extraneous influences, many important questions do exist. Therefore, our objective is to be a center where constructive forums that encourage debate of important matters affecting our state; our country; and our world are promoted and held throughout the year.
“I do not agree with what you say, but I’ll defend to the death your right to say it.” Evelyn Beatrice Hall
To further our purpose, we will utilize this historically significant property to provide a setting conducive to stimulating awareness of how individuals can emerge from any walk of life; face any of life’s challenges; navigate the vagaries of the constantly shifting landscape of our country and the world; apply themselves in meaningful and contributive ways; and realize their dreams and ambitions – whatever they may be.
The Kerr Legacy & Historical Center is a wonderfully unique place with a collaborative environment fostering interaction among diverse individuals who seek to gain a better understanding of effective communication. Our goals are to translate the lessons learned from Senator and Mrs. Kerr’s lives with a shared vision to those who seek to enhance the quality of their lives; their communities; their country; and their world. We will promulgate the consensus belief in the right of all individuals to engage fully and to actively participate in the social, cultural, economic and political systems that impact their lives. Therefore, individuals, especially any who are committed to public service, should strive to understand, engage and transform the myriad of complex institutions to ensure equity, seek to eliminate injustice and effect positive change across the breadth and depth of our country. We believe that all individuals have the inalienable right to reach their full potential and we steadfastly hold to the importance of embodying the spirit of democracy.
We are proud to honor this historic property in a manner so befitting the legacy of Senator and Mrs. Kerr, as well as the many great men and women of this wonderful nation who came before and after.
