Welcome to the Encyclopedia of Arkansas

Everything from Crowd of white men and women on the Capitol steps with "Votes to Women" pennant flags Voting and Voting Rights to Map of Arkansas with colored sections showing Arkansas Congressional Districts Congressional Districts
or Surprise Me

This Day in Arkansas History

November 7, 1877

The future Philander Smith College began as Walden Seminary in Little Rock (Pulaski County). Named for Freedmen’s Bureau activist John Walden and located in the Wesley Chapel Methodist Church at 8th Street and Broadway, it was designed to educate black ministers. The Reverend Thomas Mason, its first president (serving from November 1881 to May 1897), moved the school in 1882 to a new campus at 10th and Center streets. This move was made possible by a public plea for gifts to the school. Responding to an article published in the Christian Advocate in 1882, Adeline Smith of Oak Park, Illinois—the widow of Philander Smith, “a liberal giver to Asiatic Missions”—donated $10,500 to Walden Seminary, which was promptly renamed Philander Smith College.

Learn more about Philander Smith University Explore full history calendar

Browse the Encyclopedia

Entries

By Category A – Z

Media

By Category A – Z

Photo of the Day

Big Doc's Girl by Mary Medearis

When North Little Rock (Pulaski County) native Mary Medearis attempted to enroll in a speech class at Columbia University, she discovered that the class was full and was forced to take a creative writing class. A class writing assignment later developed into her award-winning book Big Doc’s Girl. Making the New York Times bestseller list and picked as one of the top ten best books of 1942, it remained in continuous print until 1981. It has gone in and out of print in the years since then but is in print as of 2024.

 

When North Little Rock (Pulaski County) native Mary Medearis attempted to enroll in a speech class at Columbia University, she discovered that the class was full and was forced to take a creative writing class. A class writing assignment later developed into her award-winning book Big Doc’s Girl. Making the New York Times bestseller list and picked as one of the top ten best books of 1942, it remained in continuous print until 1981. It has gone in and out of print in the years since then but is in print as of 2024.

Learn More

Trending Entries
Promotional photograph of white man woman and 19 young and teen children standing together with white text Duggar Family Religious Figures, Television and Streaming White man wearing a hat and women in dresses picking cotton with long cotton sack stretching out behind her Great Depression White man with long beard in military uniform with horse and dog Prairie Grove Campaign Timeline Civil War A single bison standing at bottom of hill in grassy field trees and stump in background Bison Zoology Icon of cannon next to text "The Camden Expedition Route" above old photo group of men with rifles on horseback next to large map marking various events along trail during military conflict Camden Expedition Timeline Civil War Wooden sign held up by posts near road text "The Village @ Pickles Gap Shop Eat Relax" above smaller sign illustration of shaggy dog text "Doc's Coffee and Creamery" Pickles Gap Faulkner Exploded underground missile silo and debris as seen from above Titan II Missile Explosion Post Civil War Portrait African-American male boxer with gloves raised, shorts, boots, in corner of ring Sonny Liston Boxing "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 Group of African-American men standing and sitting before brick wall Elaine Massacre of 1919 Early Twentieth Century white man in black embroidered alongside white woman in dark suit and hat carrying roses amid a crowd of people Johnny Cash Country, Rock busy city intersection with cars and people, view of state capitol in background Little Rock Pulaski Narrow stone building with water wheel and foot bridges with wooden railings and waterfall in the foreground Old Mill Attractions (Historic and Current), Sculpture "Negroes leave town of Bonanza" newspaper clipping Sundown Towns Barbed wire fence post with "Choc." written on it Arkansas State Boundaries Political Geography White woman in green dress with arms crossed Sarah Huckabee Sanders Executive Branch

New & Updated
Black female nurse holding black infant on bed examined with stethoscope by black male doctor Health and Medicine Topical Map showing routes in red Indian Removal European Exploration to Early Statehood "Governor Hamby" newspaper clipping Cholera Pathology Multistory brick building with cupola on its roof and covered entrance with twin staircases leading to it Arkansas Baptist College Four-Year: Colleges and Universities, Institutions and Buildings Winter scene with tall trees and building elevated tours on either end University of Arkansas System White man in suit and tie in front of American flag French Hill Business Leaders, Legislative Branch -- Representatives Lake lined by trees Lake Conway Physical Geography White woman in green dress with arms crossed Sarah Huckabee Sanders Executive Branch Lewis Ernest Sawyer Legislative Branch -- Representatives Map of Arkansas large cities and highways with instructions on how to access area from neighboring states Hot Springs Village Garland, Saline Multistory buildings with four smokestacks and train tracks in the foreground Dierks Forests, Inc. Businesses Wooden electric chair with leather straps on display Capital Punishment Law Enforcement Illustration of stars stripes and donkey inside outline of Arkansas state text "I am a Democrat" Democratic Party Parties and Interest Groups Group of white men in suits posing in front of building with "Republican State Headquarters" written on it Republican Party Parties and Interest Groups White man smiling in suit and tie signed "Tim Griffin 2015" John Timothy Griffin Legislative Branch -- Representatives, Lt. Governors White man smiling in shirt and tie with American flag behind him Thomas Bryant Cotton Legislative Branch -- Representatives, Legislative Branch -- Senators

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.

New to Arkansas?
New to Arkansas?

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

See Overview