Welcome to the Encyclopedia of Arkansas

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This Day in Arkansas History

January 11, 1863

Colonel William Phillips established his unit’s headquarters at Camp Walker in Maysville (Benton County). Phillips’s brigade consisted of the First, Second, and Third Indian Home Guard, a battalion of the Sixth Kansas Cavalry, and a four-gun battery. The unit was tasked with providing protection to nearby loyalists in both Arkansas and Indian Territory (present-day Oklahoma).

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Soul on Ice by Eldridge Cleaver

Jefferson County native Leroy Eldridge Cleaver became world famous in the 1960s as a member of the militant activist group, the Black Panthers. Cleaver became the spokesperson for the Panthers in 1967 when he was chosen as the organization’s minister of information. While serving a stint in prison, he wrote a series of autobiographical essays that were published in 1968 as Soul on Ice. That same year, he ran for president of the United States as the candidate of the Peace and Freedom Party. In the early 1980s, he joined the Republican Party, supporting Ronald Reagan for president in 1984.

 

Jefferson County native Leroy Eldridge Cleaver became world famous in the 1960s as a member of the militant activist group, the Black Panthers. Cleaver became the spokesperson for the Panthers in 1967 when he was chosen as the organization’s minister of information. While serving a stint in prison, he wrote a series of autobiographical essays that were published in 1968 as Soul on Ice. That same year, he ran for president of the United States as the candidate of the Peace and Freedom Party. In the early 1980s, he joined the Republican Party, supporting Ronald Reagan for president in 1984.

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"Welcome to Gillett" sign with lake and ducks painted on it Gillett Coon Supper Arkansas Leaders, Festivals and Events Portrait white man in suit military medal long wavy hair thick beard smoking large pipe Albert Pike Individuals, Lawyers, Poetry, State Figures white man in embroidered black shirt and white woman in turtleneck and white jacket smiling in front of trees "Tony and Susan Alamo Tony Alamo sings Mister DJ" Tony Alamo Criminal Activities, Religious Figures busy city intersection with cars and people, view of state capitol in background Little Rock Pulaski Exploded underground missile silo and debris as seen from above Titan II Missile Explosion Post Civil War Tall obelisk with statue of soldier and plaque with trees in the background World War I Post Civil War White man with stubbled beard sitting in backwards cap and jacket with his hands clasped under his chin Billy Bob Thornton Actors and Filmmakers Faces of three white men superimposed upon forest with red and white text on book cover West Memphis Three Criminal Activities White man in military garb with tall grass in background Paul Irving "Pappy" Gunn Individuals Portrait Italian American man in stylish suit tie wavy hair intimidating glare droopy right eyelid Charles "Lucky" Luciano Criminal Activities Multistory red brick church building with steeple Seventh-Day Adventists Faiths and Denominations white man in black embroidered alongside white woman in dark suit and hat carrying roses amid a crowd of people Johnny Cash Country, Rock White man in shirt and tie smoking a cigarette with white woman in dress and hat Helen Spence Criminal Activities Angry white crowd surrounding young African-American girl sitting on bench with white woman talking to her Grace Lonegran Lorch Labor, School Desegregation "In memory of those killed December 1987 Pope County Arkansas" flat engraved marker on grass Ronald Gene Simmons Criminal Activities "Kickapoo Indian Worm Killer" flyer showing a drawing of a man in a headdress holding a child Worms [Medical Condition], Traditional Remedies Pathology
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bald eagle perched on bare branch Birds Zoology Catalog with flowers on cover Vestal Nursery Businesses Cars parked in front of "Squirrel Trading Post" St. Joe Searcy White man in kayak holding paddle across chest with river rapids, mountain ridge Buffalo National River Physical Geography, Protected Areas Tall rectangular sign attached to single story brick and vinyl building letters inside squares lined vertically spelling out text "Heights" surrounding trees street sign next to pedestrian crossing sign Pulaski Heights Pulaski busy city intersection with cars and people, view of state capitol in background Little Rock Pulaski Stone signpost text "Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses Salon del Reino de los Testigos de Jehova" surrounded by bushes in front of concrete parking lot leading up to single story building with three stone pillars holding covered entrance Jehovah’s Witnesses Faiths and Denominations Multistory building with four columns on street corner North Little Rock Pulaski two white men in hats, one standing and another sitting along the edge of a river with large hill in background Big Rock Political Geography Steel arch foot bridge over river with elevator and stairs and small walking bridge leading up to it Junction Bridge Engineering, Water Photo of 1960s Hot Springs cityscape cars parked along storefronts neon sign in front reads "Southern Club Grill" Snake Eyes: Murder in a Southern Town Fiction War Eagle, Arkansas [Movie] Films Raymond Collins Kilgore Jr. Judges Three Caddo women in dresses and hair ornamentation photographed from behind Native Americans Ethnic Groups, Topical Aerial view of river and fields in the background, white man and woman perched on rock outcropping in foreground Arkansas Valley Six Natural Divisions Printed United States map showing states and territories with "Explanation" caption in corner Louisiana Purchase through Early Statehood, 1803 through 1860 Time Period

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, and audio files, so check back frequently to see what’s new.

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