Welcome to the Encyclopedia of Arkansas

Everything from White man in bow tie standing amid displays of books August House to Black woman with long curly hair back turned holding guitar behind her with text "August Lane a novel Regina Black author of The Art of Scandal" August Lane

This Day in Arkansas History

August 14, 1925

Jerome Kalman Sherman, the scientist who revolutionized cryobiology and artificial insemination, known as the “Father of Sperm Banking,” was born in Brooklyn, New York. Sherman’s interest in science expanded after his service in the military, where he rose to the rank of lieutenant commander in the U.S. Navy before retiring to pursue degrees in biology and zoology. While in graduate school at the University of Iowa, Sherman earned international recognition for his work with human-semen preservation. He joined the Department of Anatomy at what is now the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, where he taught microscopic anatomy to medical students and published prolifically on cryopreservation for the next four decades. He died on December 1, 2023.

Browse the Encyclopedia

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.

New to Arkansas?
New to Arkansas?

Our overview page covers everything you would want to know about our beautiful state, including state symbols, demographics, and more!

See Overview