Welcome to the Encyclopedia of Arkansas

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This Day in Arkansas History

April 11, 1878

James Newton (J. N.) Smithee, competing with the Daily Arkansas Gazette, purchased the printing presses belonging to the defunct Evening Star newspaper; he published the first Arkansas Democrat. Over the next few days, the Gazette started criticizing the Democrat. The continued criticism eventually led to a duel between Gazette owner John D. Adams and Democrat owner Smithee. The Smithee-Adams Duel has been described as “the last duel fought in Arkansas.”

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Camp Pike

The Citizens Military Training Camps, a month-long program created by the National Defense Act of 1910, were held each summer between 1921 and 1940. The voluntary camps conducted at approximately fifty military camps throughout the nation provided basic military training for men for no future military obligation. Approximately 400,000 men, such as these seen training at the state’s former World War I facility, Camp Pike, completed at least one summer session.

 

The Citizens Military Training Camps, a month-long program created by the National Defense Act of 1910, were held each summer between 1921 and 1940. The voluntary camps conducted at approximately fifty military camps throughout the nation provided basic military training for men for no future military obligation. Approximately 400,000 men, such as these seen training at the state’s former World War I facility, Camp Pike, completed at least one summer session.

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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 dressed as cowboy blowing into long, tubular musical instrument Bazooka [Musical Instrument] white man in black embroidered alongside white woman in dark suit and hat carrying roses amid a crowd of people Johnny Cash Country, Rock Single story stone building with chimney and twelve windows across side surrounded by trees and grassy field Ink Polk "Kickapoo Indian Worm Killer" flyer showing a drawing of a man in a headdress holding a child Worms [Medical Condition], Traditional Remedies Pathology 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 Portrait white man in suit military medal long wavy hair thick beard smoking large pipe Albert Pike Individuals, Lawyers, Poetry, State Figures "Negroes leave town of Bonanza" newspaper clipping Sundown Towns Multistory red brick church building with steeple Seventh-Day Adventists Faiths and Denominations Tall obelisk with statue of soldier and plaque with trees in the background World War I Post Civil War Faces of three white men superimposed upon forest with red and white text on book cover West Memphis Three Criminal Activities White man in shirt and tie smoking a cigarette with white woman in dress and hat Helen Spence Criminal Activities Group of African-American men standing and sitting before brick wall Elaine Massacre of 1919 Early Twentieth Century Exploded underground missile silo and debris as seen from above Titan II Missile Explosion Post Civil War Front page of Arkansas Times with various images, the largest of which is a white man with glasses and text "Whitewater" Whitewater Scandal

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Arkansas Psychiatric Society Psychology five people with instruments and two without standing and sitting in studio Bob Palmer Nonfiction, Rock Single story stone building with chimney and twelve windows across side surrounded by trees and grassy field Ink Polk Book cover "The Road to Wildcat" Eleanor de la Vergne Doss Risley Fiction Clay Fulks Nonfiction Communist Party Parties and Interest Groups White woman and wooden bell tower Commonwealth College Defunct: Colleges and Universities Brick train station and tracks on gravel Mena Polk Brick building with illuminated sign at night Siloam Springs Museum Museums and Historic Sites Two-story wooden building with brick chimney Confederate State Capitol Building Buildings Allie Carl Kolb Practitioners Multistory buildings on parking lot with trees and parked cars Mental Health Multistory building with arched windows and tower with tree in the foreground Historic Washington State Park Museums and Historic Sites, State Parks "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 White man in suit speaking at a lectern with mixed group of men and women behind him LGBTQ+ Movement Political Movements, Sexual Orientation Young white protesters with signs being interviewed by local news Abortion Women

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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