Welcome to the Encyclopedia of Arkansas

Everything from Book cover featuring cicadas and flowers Cicadas Sing of Summer Graves to White man and woman on book cover with train in the background and text "Summer of My German Soldier" Summer of My German Soldier
or Surprise Me

This Day in Arkansas History

June 28, 1875

Flavius Josephus (Flave) Carpenter, who was born in Georgia and arrived in Arkansas when his family moved to Clark County when he was six years old, married Jane Elizabeth Wallis of Arkadelphia (Clark County). The couple had ten children. Carpenter became a steamboat captain, U.S. marshal, and businessman. He is credited with selecting sites for two Arkansas Power and Light (AP&L, now Entergy) dams on the upper Ouachita River. Carpenter Dam, which created Lake Hamilton, is named for him.

Learn more about Flavius Josephus Carpenter Explore full history calendar

Browse the Encyclopedia

Entries

By Category A – Z

Media

By Category A – Z

Photo of the Day

Maud Crawford

The mysterious 1957 disappearance of attorney Maud Crawford, who was Senator John L. McClellan’s former associate, was believed by many to be linked to the senator’s investigation of organized crime. However, it is more likely that she met foul play due to her discovery of local fraudulent land deals. With little evidence, her case has never been solved, even though she was declared dead due to foul play in 1969.

 

The mysterious 1957 disappearance of attorney Maud Crawford, who was Senator John L. McClellan’s former associate, was believed by many to be linked to the senator’s investigation of organized crime. However, it is more likely that she met foul play due to her discovery of local fraudulent land deals. With little evidence, her case has never been solved, even though she was declared dead due to foul play in 1969.

Learn More

Trending Entries
Older African-American man smiling in suit and bow tie Joseph Walter Jackson Business Leaders Farmers drive mule team with plows in dirt field Farm Resettlement Projects Projects Multistory wooden building with bell tower and horse outside Sulphur Rock Independence Book cover with saturated colors showing bearded Blaze Foley Single-story house with white fence and trees Pine Bluff Commercial Historic District Museums and Historic Sites Lake with rocks in the foreground and trees on shore in the background Lake Norrell Physical Geography White man with curly hair and beard in suit and bow tie Friedrich Wilhelm Christian Gerstäcker Fiction, Nonfiction Rows of uncovered wooden vats with wooden walking path in between them Atkins Pickle Company Businesses, Foodways Three white men in cowboy hats pose with donkey and black woman judge at fair Marlin Conover Hawkins Conway Leaders, Law Enforcement Old white woman in dress holding a book Cane Hill Murders of 1839 Criminal Activities Multistory brick building on street corner with traffic passing by Arkansas Historic Preservation Program Historians and Historic Organizations Single-story cabin like building with decorative plants and row of flag poles Concatenated Order of Hoo-Hoo Business Organizations Street scene with cars Levy Pulaski "The Truth About the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan" newspaper clipping Ku Klux Klan Early Twentieth Century, Parties and Interest Groups Tornado Outbreak of 2024 Climatology, Natural Disasters Tall obelisk with statue of soldier and plaque with trees in the background World War I Post Civil War

New & Updated
White man with long beard standing with arms crossed in military uniform with sword on his belt Napoleon Bonaparte Buford Individuals Single-story building with stone walls and two doors under covered porch on gravel Buford School Building Defunct: Schools and Academies, Museums and Historic Sites Blue diamond with stars and crossed swords above blue and red text Buffalo River Expedition Civil War Steel bridge spanning river with sand bar trees in foreground and mountain ridge behind Buffalo River Bridge Land, Museums and Historic Sites White man in kayak holding paddle across chest with river rapids, mountain ridge Buffalo National River Physical Geography, Protected Areas Blue diamond with stars and crossed swords above blue and red text Skirmish at Buffalo Mountains Civil War Gravestones and tree in cemetery with tree-covered hills in the background Buffalo Scott Cemetery with graves behind fence with arched entrance saying "Buena Vista Cemetery" Buena Vista Ouachita Rows of grave markers in cemetery with lake in the background Buckville Cemetery Cemeteries and Memorials Rows of grave markers in cemetery with lake in the background Buckville Garland Blue diamond with stars and crossed swords above blue and red text Skirmishes at Buckskull Civil War Blue diamond with stars and crossed swords above blue and red text Skirmish at Buckskull Civil War Group of young white men in suits outside building with arched doorway and arched windows Buckner College Defunct: Colleges and Universities "Lafayette County" map with borders roads cities waterways Buckner Lafayette Blue diamond with stars and crossed swords above blue and red text Skirmish at Buck Horn Civil War White man with long hair and beard in a hat playing a Fender Telecaster style electric guitar on stage Roy Buchanan Blues, Rock

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