Welcome to the Encyclopedia of Arkansas

This Day in Arkansas History

October 29, 1957

Orean Lencola Sullivan was born in Morrilton (Conway County). Sullivan broke many color barriers in Arkansas, including being the first African American to win the Miss Arkansas Pageant (1980). In September 1980, Sullivan competed in the Miss America Pageant and was the fourth runner-up in the national pageant, the highest placement achieved by a Black contestant up to that time. In 2006, Sullivan was inducted into the Arkansas Black Hall of Fame.

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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, 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!

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