Welcome to the Encyclopedia of Arkansas

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This Day in Arkansas History

March 9, 1868

Benjamin Bogard, founder and head of the American Baptist Association, was born in Hardin County, Kentucky. Bogard was Arkansas’s leading fundamentalist Christian in the 1920s. In 1928, his efforts resulted in a law banning the teaching of evolution in Arkansas public schools; it remained in place until 1968, when the U.S. Supreme Court overturned it. A prolific author and a pioneer of radio evangelism, he was honored by Ripley’s Believe it or Not for preaching “every Sunday for 61 years without missing a single Sunday.”

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Osage Indians

President Calvin Coolidge stands with Osage Indians; the White House is in the background. The Osage, who speak a Sioux language dialect, formerly inhabited what is now Missouri and hunted in what is now northern Arkansas. On June 2, 1924, President Coolidge signed a bill granting Native Americans full citizenship.

 

President Calvin Coolidge stands with Osage Indians; the White House is in the background. The Osage, who speak a Sioux language dialect, formerly inhabited what is now Missouri and hunted in what is now northern Arkansas. On June 2, 1924, President Coolidge signed a bill granting Native Americans full citizenship.

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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 Book cover "My Life Bill Clinton" with portrait white man with graying hair smiling wool jacket collar upturned Bill Clinton Executive Branch, Governors Group of African-American men standing and sitting before brick wall Elaine Massacre of 1919 Early Twentieth Century Tall obelisk with statue of soldier and plaque with trees in the background World War I Post Civil War Large rock with memorial plaque on it listing victims names and hometowns for each Negro Boys Industrial School Fire of 1959 School Desegregation Front page of Arkansas Times with various images, the largest of which is a white man with glasses and text "Whitewater" Whitewater Scandal "Negroes leave town of Bonanza" newspaper clipping Sundown Towns Faces of three white men superimposed upon forest with red and white text on book cover West Memphis Three Criminal Activities white man in black embroidered alongside white woman in dark suit and hat carrying roses amid a crowd of people Johnny Cash Country, Rock Older African-American man smiling in suit and bow tie Joseph Walter Jackson Business Leaders Multistory red brick church building with steeple Seventh-Day Adventists Faiths and Denominations Exploded underground missile silo and debris as seen from above Titan II Missile Explosion 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 "Great seal of the state of Arkansas" with eagle holding shield and "Regnat Popluas" ribbon in beak with angel mercy on one side and sword of justice on other Arkansas Overview
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Magazine cover featuring a city scene and a fisherman Batesville Daily Guard Businesses, Newspapers and Magazines Multitiered castle like monument with engraved top and base panels Batesville Confederate Monument Cemeteries and Memorials Expedition from Batesville after Freeman's Command Civil War Multistory brick buildings on street with parked cars lined up in front of them and people on street corner Batesville Independence Older African-American man in suit and tie speaking before two microphones with assorted people behind him Lucious Christopher Bates Editors and Publishers, World War II to Faubus Era Joseph Bates Practitioners White man in suit with long hair and sideburns James Woodson Bates Lawyers, Legislative Branch -- Representatives African-American woman wearing dark colored dress with double strain shell necklace Daisy Lee Gatson Bates School Segregation and Desegregation, World War II to Faubus Era Side view of two-story brick school building with propane tank next to it and cupola on the roof Bates School House Defunct: Schools and Academies, Museums and Historic Sites Single-story building with siding and covered porch on gravel parking lot Bates Scott "Mississippi County" map with borders roads cities waterways Bassett Mississippi Young white man in military uniform Raymond Henry Bass Individuals, Track and Field Text "Merited Punishment. Whig has been informed by a gentleman recently from Arkansas John Bass Law Enforcement Older white man wearing glasses in suit and tie signing a piece of paper with a pencil Thomas Harry Barton Business Leaders, Philanthropy White man in suit and tie holding a transistor set Loy Barton Young white girl smiling in dress with pearl necklace Dorothy Yarnell Barton Educators and Administrators, Journalists

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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