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Welcome to the Encyclopedia of Arkansas


This Day in Arkansas History
October 21, 1916
Violet Brumley Hensley—who has been called the “Whittling Fiddler,” the “Stradavarius of the Ozarks,” and the “Fiddle Maker”—was born in Mount Ida (Montgomery County). Before she was sixteen, she made a fiddle for herself, patterning her work from her father’s fiddle-making and with his guidance. After marrying and raising nine children, she continued her work of making and playing fiddles. In 2000, she was designated an Arkansas Living Treasure by the Arkansas Arts Council. She has been featured in national magazines, has appeared on well-known television shows, and has had a weekly radio show. In the twenty-first century, she continued to teach fiddle-playing and fiddle-making at her home in Yellville (Marion County), while still assisting with the repair of instruments.
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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, and audio files, so check back frequently to see what’s new.


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