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This Day in Arkansas History

June 5, 1971

President Richard M. Nixon was the keynote speaker for the dedication at the Tulsa Port of Catoosa in Oklahoma of the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System. Senator John L. McClellan, Congressman Wilbur D. Mills, and Speaker of the House Carl Albert of Oklahoma were in attendance. The system, comprising seventeen locks and dams over a 443-mile span of the Arkansas River from Catoosa, Oklahoma, through Arkansas to the Mississippi River, was designed as an aid to flood control, navigation, and recreation. It also benefits Arkansas with hydropower potential, wildlife conservation, and water supply, as well as by adding billions of dollars annually in trade transportation in Arkansas and Oklahoma.

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William Baxter

Pastor Robert Graham of the Disciples of Christ founded Arkansas College in Fayetteville (Washington County) in the 1850s. It was the first degree-conferring institution chartered by the state to open. The college awarded its first bachelor’s degrees in 1854 and, at its height, enrolled about 200 students. In 1859, when Graham accepted a position at Newton College in Mississippi, William Baxter was hired as his replacement. In March 1862, the school buildings were burned by Confederate forces, closing the school’s doors forever.

 

Pastor Robert Graham of the Disciples of Christ founded Arkansas College in Fayetteville (Washington County) in the 1850s. It was the first degree-conferring institution chartered by the state to open. The college awarded its first bachelor’s degrees in 1854 and, at its height, enrolled about 200 students. In 1859, when Graham accepted a position at Newton College in Mississippi, William Baxter was hired as his replacement. In March 1862, the school buildings were burned by Confederate forces, closing the school’s doors forever.

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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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