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Welcome to the CALS Encyclopedia of Arkansas

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. It will also benefit people outside the state who are seeking information about Arkansas. 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. The CALS Encyclopedia of Arkansas is a work in progress. We are continually adding new entries, photographs, maps, videos, and audio files, so check back frequently to see what’s new. Search for key words or check out our Arkansas Overview to get started.

Photo Of The Day
Ernest Green Receives Diploma

On May 29, 1958, at the end of the historic school year, senior Ernest Green became the first African-American student to graduate from Central High School in Little Rock (Pulaski County). Green is shown in this photograph being presented his diploma by Principal Jess Mathews.

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This Day in Arkansas History
July 3, 1960

Artist Les Christensen, director of the Bradbury Gallery at Arkansas State University (ASU) in Jonesboro (Craighead County), was born in Omaha, Nebraska. Christensen is best known as a sculptor who works in mixed media using everyday objects to offer a vision of universal experience and common responsibility. For example, one particularly poignant work, The Happiest Day of My Life, is a sculpture of an exquisite wedding dress that appears to be made of glimmering lace; the entire dress, however, is intricately constructed from shards of broken china plates. Her artwork has been exhibited in solo and group shows throughout the United States and in Europe. She is married to fellow artist John Salvest.

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