OKLAHOMA CITY — In honor of Veterans Day, the Oklahoma Historical Society’s John and Eleanor Kirkpatrick Research Center will host a special presentation titled “The Shoemaker” on Wednesday, November 13, from 1-3 p.m. The event will take place in the Musser Learning Lab at the Oklahoma History Center in Oklahoma City.
Oklahoma Military Hall of Fame member and retired Army Maj. Joe Lee Todd will discuss his book “The Shoemaker,” which chronicles Louis Kerbel’s life based on hours of recorded interviews between Todd and Kerbel.
Kerbel was a Jewish man born in Ukraine in 1888 in the village of Roshen. He worked as a shoemaker in Russia. Kerbel lived through unimaginable violence before coming to the United States in 1911 with only 75 cents in his pocket. In 1914, he moved to Oklahoma, where he opened a shoe shop in downtown Tulsa. Because of the violence he endured in Russia, Kerbel said he felt compelled to assist many African Americans during the Tulsa Race Massacre in 1921 by concealing them in his shoe shop.
Todd’s presentation will showcase Kerbel’s remarkable strength and tell the story of an extraordinary patriot. After the program, Todd will sign copies of his book, “The Shoemaker. The books will also be available for purchase.
The program is free, but registration is required as seating is limited. Please register in advance by calling 405-522-5225 or emailing research@history.ok.gov.
The mission of the Oklahoma Historical Society is to collect, preserve and share the history and culture of the state of Oklahoma and its people. Founded in 1893 by members of the Territorial Press Association, the OHS maintains museums, historic sites and affiliates across the state. Through its research archives, exhibits, educational programs and publications the OHS chronicles the rich history of Oklahoma. For more information about the OHS, please visit www.okhistory.org.