Welcome to the Encyclopedia of Arkansas

Everything from African-American woman in suit talking to white man in suit and white woman in yellow shirt Arkansas Martin Luther King Jr. Commission to profile view of black man speaking with short hair and mustache wearing a suit and tie Ozell Sutton
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This Day in Arkansas History

January 14, 1913

Joseph Taylor Robinson resigned his position in the U.S. Congress to be inaugurated the twenty-third governor of Arkansas two days later. On January 28, he was elected to the U.S. Senate by the state legislature (the last in the nation to be so elected), thus granting him the distinction of being a congressman, governor, and senator-elect, all within a two-week period. He became Senate majority leader during the Great Depression, after his nomination as the Democratic Party candidate for vice president—the first Southern officeholder on a major ticket after the Civil War.

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Benstonite

Benstonite is one of thirteen minerals first discovered in Arkansas. The mineral was named in honor of University of Illinois ore dressing metallurgist Orlando J. Benston. Shown here is a specimen from Chamberlain Creek Valley near Magnet Cove (Hot Spring County).

 

Benstonite is one of thirteen minerals first discovered in Arkansas. The mineral was named in honor of University of Illinois ore dressing metallurgist Orlando J. Benston. Shown here is a specimen from Chamberlain Creek Valley near Magnet Cove (Hot Spring County).

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postcard of multistoried light building with gabled roofs and chimneys "The Baker Hospital Eureka Springs Arkansas" Norman Baker Criminal Activities, Malpractice white stone monument with pointed top labeled "The Mountain Meadows Massacre" in front of multistory brick building Mountain Meadows Massacre Issues and Controversies Faces of three white men superimposed upon forest with red and white text on book cover West Memphis Three Criminal Activities Map of Arkansas and surrounding states divided into geological regions with scale below it Ozark Mountains Six Natural Divisions Older African American man and woman at dinner table with younger African American boys and girls Melba Pattillo Beals School Desegregation, School Segregation and Desegregation busy city intersection with cars and people, view of state capitol in background Little Rock Pulaski document "Arkansas Called The Wonder State Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 2 1923" Official State Nicknames Official State Symbols White woman with brooch and "Hattie W Caraway" text Hattie Caraway Legislative Branch -- Senators, Women Crowded city street with multistory buildings cars and trolley car Fort Smith Sebastian Mountain highway with two cars driving uphill past striped posts on gravel shoulder Ouachita Mountains Six Natural Divisions Mixed group of people reflected as their younger selves in pool with multistory building behind them with text above that Little Rock Nine School Desegregation, School Segregation and Desegregation African-American women in formal dresses with a child sitting in chairs while men in suits stand behind them African Americans Ethnic Groups, Topical Multistory hospital building on post card Missouri Pacific Hospital Hospitals and Research Facilities some men in working clothing outside wooden building "General Store" Zinc Boone Aerial view of river and fields in the background, white man and woman perched on rock outcropping in foreground Geography and Geology Topical Loblolly Pine tree with pines deciduous trees in background pine trunk foreground clear sky daytime West Gulf Coastal Plain Six Natural Divisions
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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.

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New to Arkansas?

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

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