Oklahoma Historical Society to Induct Former Northwestern History Professor into the Oklahoma Historians Hall of Fame

February 10, 2026

Professional headshot photograph of Dr. Timothy Zwink wearing a dark suit jacket, white dress shirt, and patterned tie, standing in front of a bookshelf filled with books. The person wears glasses and has light-colored hair.
Former Northwestern Oklahoma State University administrator and professor of history, Dr. Timothy Zwink

OKLAHOMA CITY — A former Northwestern Oklahoma State University administrator and professor of history will be inducted into the Oklahoma Historians Hall of Fame during the Oklahoma Historical Society Awards Banquet on Thursday, March 19, at 6 p.m. at the Oklahoma History Center in Oklahoma City.

Dr. Timothy Zwink earned a Ph.D. in history from Oklahoma State University in 1980. He would spend much of his professional career as an Oklahoma historian and administrator in higher education and for the Oklahoma Historical Society (OHS).

Black and white archival photograph showing a person in a light-colored blazer and dark pants writing
Archival photo of Dr. Timothy Zwink teaching a class at Northwestern Oklahoma State University in Alva, Oklahoma.

Zwink joined the faculty at Northwestern in Alva after completing graduate work, where he taught courses in U.S. history and American Indian history. During this time, he conducted research and developed public programs about Camp Alva, a German prisoner-of-war camp during World War II. He joined the OHS in 2002 after serving over a decade as Vice President for Academic Affairs at Northwestern.

As Associate Director of Development at OHS, his skills as a grant writer directly contributed to securing the final funding necessary to complete construction of the Oklahoma History Center. He retired in 2016 as the agency’s Deputy Executive Director and continues to work as an editorial consultant for books about Oklahoma history.

Black and white archival photograph showing two people at an outdoor event with a lattice fence backdrop. One person wearing glasses and a t-shirt with a graphic design stands on the left near a table with a price list sign. Another person wearing a white cowboy hat and striped polo shirt stands on the right, appearing to interact at the table. A festive scalloped awning is visible above.
Archival photo of Dr. Timothy Zwink interacting with students of Northwestern Oklahoma State University during a fundraiser in Alva, Oklahoma.

Instituted in 1993, the Oklahoma Historians Hall of Fame is the highest honor awarded by the OHS. This honor recognizes distinguished and long-term contributions to Oklahoma history through demonstrated excellence in the preservation, collection, interpretation and dissemination of Oklahoma history.

Donald L. Fixico, David W. Levy (posthumous), and Linda D. Wilson will also be honored. Each inductee receives the Oklahoma Historians Hall of Fame medal, and their biography is published in “The Chronicles of Oklahoma.”

The mission of the OHS 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.

Tickets to the Oklahoma Historical Society Awards Banquet can be purchased online. Guests are asked to RSVP by Monday, March 9. There will be a cocktail reception at 6 p.m., followed by the dinner and program at 6:30 p.m. Cocktail attire is requested.

Black and white photograph of a person wearing a dark suit jacket, white dress shirt, and diagonal striped tie, standing in an office with bookshelves. The person wears large-framed glasses and stands in front of floor-to-ceiling bookshelves filled with books. A framed picture is visible on the upper shelf, and a potted plant appears on the right side of the frame.

For more information or to inquire about sponsorship opportunities, please contact Development Officer Brittney Berling at brittney.berling@history.ok.gov or State Historian Matthew Pearce at matthew.pearce@history.ok.gov.

For more information about the OHS and the other inductees, please visit their webpage.

-NW-

Media Contact:
Sean J. Doherty, University Relations Specialist
Email: sjdoherty@nwosu.edu
Phone: (580) 327-8480