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This Day in Arkansas History

November 11, 1920

Charles M. Norwood, the 1888 Union Labor Party gubernatorial candidate, died at the age of eighty. Moving to Arkansas around 1847, Norwood attended private schools in Columbia County before enlisting in the Confederate army as a private in 1861. After the war, he enrolled in a medical college in New Orleans, Louisiana, before returning to Arkansas to practice medicine. Norwood held positions as a county assessor and state legislator before accepting the gubernatorial nomination for the Union Labor Party in 1888. Though he lost the election, likely due to extensive fraud on the part of the Democratic Party, Norwood came closer to victory than any other challenger to the gubernatorial candidate of the Democratic Party from 1874 to 1964.

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Frank Coffin

Pharmacist Frank Coffin operated one of the first Black-owned drugstores in Little Rock (Pulaski County), Children’s Drug Store, which he purchased in 1898. A native of Mississippi, Coffin held a Ph.G. degree from Fisk University and a pharmaceutical degree from Meherry Medical College, both in Nashville, Tennessee. He was also a published poet and at one time served as the secretary for Philander Smith College.

 

Pharmacist Frank Coffin operated one of the first Black-owned drugstores in Little Rock (Pulaski County), Children’s Drug Store, which he purchased in 1898. A native of Mississippi, Coffin held a Ph.G. degree from Fisk University and a pharmaceutical degree from Meherry Medical College, both in Nashville, Tennessee. He was also a published poet and at one time served as the secretary for Philander Smith College.

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About the Encyclopedia

The CALS Encyclopedia of Arkansas is a free, authoritative source of information about the rich history, geography, and culture of Arkansas. It is updated regularly to ensure the people of Arkansas have an accurate and accessible resource to explore our heritage. We invite you to browse our text entries and media galleries to learn more about the people, places, events, legends, and lore of the 25th state. We are continually adding new entries, photographs, maps, videos, quizzes, lesson plans, and more, so check back frequently to see what’s new.

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