Welcome to the Encyclopedia of Arkansas

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This Day in Arkansas History

August 17, 1786

The legendary frontiersman and congressman Davy Crockett was born in Greene County, Tennessee. He reportedly stated during a visit in Arkansas, “If I could rest anywhere it would be in Arkansas, where the men are of the real half-horse, half-alligator breed such as grow nowhere else on the face of the universal earth but just around the backbone of North America.”

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Willie Hocker

Willie K. Hocker became a notable Arkansas figure when, in 1912, she won a statewide contest conducted by the Secretary of State’s Office to design a state flag. Some suspicion arose due to the fact that she was a member of the Pine Bluff (Jefferson County) chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), the group that had proposed the designing of a flag. However, all entries were submitted with designer identification separate from the entry. Her design, with some modifications, is the flag the state flies today. In 2005, a marker was placed at her grave, honoring her accomplishments.

 

Willie K. Hocker became a notable Arkansas figure when, in 1912, she won a statewide contest conducted by the Secretary of State’s Office to design a state flag. Some suspicion arose due to the fact that she was a member of the Pine Bluff (Jefferson County) chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), the group that had proposed the designing of a flag. However, all entries were submitted with designer identification separate from the entry. Her design, with some modifications, is the flag the state flies today. In 2005, a marker was placed at her grave, honoring her accomplishments.

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Picture of a looped worm Nematodes Zoology Flooded area with trees and two pools as seen from above Climate Change Climatology, Environmental Issues and Controversies Group of cypress trees in wooded area Trees Botany Young white man wearing cowboy hat boots and western outfit holding sides of belt buckle with both hands smiling inscription "to Billy always Elton Britt Country George Napier Perkins Photo of a white male sheriff with bushy mustache Johnson County Executions of 1903 Law Enforcement White man and woman folk costumes on stage with barn backdrop presenting violin making parts Violet Brumley Hensley Folk, Woodwork Two-story house with tower behind a brick wall James Harris Draughon Miller Leaders Farmers drive mule team with plows in dirt field Farm Resettlement Projects Projects Old white woman in horned cat eye glasses and suit posing with arm on table Gressie Umsted Carnes State Figures Multistory concrete building and end of patched asphalt road lined with trees Arkansas Waterways Commission Water White woman smiling in pink suit and necklace Janice Riggle Huie Religious Figures "Knocked down and robbed" newspaper clipping James Arcene Criminal Activities African American man wearing suit Isaac Fisher Educators and Administrators Group of white men in suits with two white men in military uniform and white woman in dress Arkansas Council of Defense State Organizations and Structures White man wearing a suit of armor with a sword Spanish Explorers and Settlers Spanish

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.

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