The American Oil & Gas Historical Society (AOGHS) preserves U.S. petroleum history, which provides an important context for understanding the modern energy business. This history helps the nation make informed decisions about meeting its energy future. AOGHS links to community oil and gas museums, county historical societies, libraries, and others dedicated to material preservation.
Energy Education Conferences and Petroleum History Field Trips
The historical society has hosted popular energy education conferences and field trips.
The American Oil & Gas Historical Society since 2003 has promoted community museums and other organizations that preserve a remarkable history. AOGHS, an unincorporated sole proprietorship business of Executive Director Bruce Wells, documents and preserves U.S. petroleum history. He is assisted by Volunteer Senior Contributing Editor Kristin L. Wells of Naples, Florida.
In June 2007, AOGHS founder Wells hosted an Energy Education Conference & Field Trip in Oklahoma City. The conference was made possible thanks to the assistance of brother Timothy G. Wells (1958-2022) of Madison, Alabama. A dedicated AOGHS supporter from the beginning, Tim volunteered his considerable skills as a former Boeing accounting executive and U.S. Army Captain (stationed in Berlin). He was instrumental in establishing the society’s public outreach and energy education mission.
AOGHS, in addition to responding to media inquiries and research requests, frequently updates weekly posts and adds new historical content to its website. To raise awareness of the industry history and increase energy education, AOGHS maintains a communication network of museums, historical societies and similar organizations.
An AOGHS Oklahoma City conference included a field trip to museums in Seminole and Tulsa – with a stop at the Golden Driller, built in 1953.
AOGHS documents petroleum history — including generations of oil patch families. Articles have featured East Texas, Ohio and West Virginia independent producers, profiling accomplishments of families, historic communities – and oil patch museums.
Two 2004 energy education publications, commissioned by the Department of Energy, resulted. AOGHS published two more than 20,000 American Oil & Gas Families – East Texas Independents, and American Oil & Gas Families – Appalachian Basin Independents. Each publication featured communities built on a legacy of petroleum, and the individuals and families who keep the industry productive, providing our nation with domestically produced energy.
Following this research – and recognizing that hundreds of petroleum-related museums and county historical societies lack a communication network, Wells founded the American Oil & Gas Historical Society in June 2003. AOGHS published a 16-page quarterly newsletter, the “Petroleum Age” until 2009. The society’s remaining resources have been directed to this website, which increasingly attracts many visitors every month.
The American Oil & Gas Historical Society preserves U.S. petroleum history. Support this AOGHS.org energy education website with a contribution today. For membership information, contact bawells@aoghs.org. © 2022 Bruce A. Wells.
