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Welcome to the CALS Encyclopedia of Arkansas

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. It will also benefit people outside the state who are seeking information about Arkansas. 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. The CALS Encyclopedia of Arkansas is a work in progress. We are continually adding new entries, photographs, maps, videos, and audio files, so check back frequently to see what’s new. Search for key words or check out our Arkansas Overview to get started.

Photo Of The Day
Broncho Billy Anderson

This publicity photo shows “Broncho Billy” Anderson, the character developed and played by Gilbert Maxwell Aronson of Pine Bluff (Jefferson County), America’s first cowboy movie star. After reading a Saturday Evening Post story about a character named Broncho Billy, Aronson developed the character into a franchise of Broncho Billy films. From 1908 to 1915, he made 375 westerns.

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This Day in Arkansas History
July 1, 1907

Bishop John Baptist Morris purchased a 720-acre farm, which, at the time, was about four miles north of what is now North Little Rock (Pulaski County) to be the site of St. Joseph’s Home, built by the Catholic Diocese of Little Rock. St. Joseph’s Home sits on a summit overlooking North Little Rock and offers picturesque views of the Arkansas River and Pinnacle Mountain. Since 1910, the home has been a source of refuge for many Arkansans, children and elderly, as well as U.S. Army officers of World War I. It was placed the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.

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