Welcome to the Encyclopedia of Arkansas

Everything from Multistory stone panel art deco building with monument in front and station wagon hanging stop lights and street signs Independence County to Painting American flag on pole sublime mountain landscape in background with sunlight through clouds Sentinel of Freedom
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This Day in Arkansas History

July 3, 1919

Samuel Massie was born to school teachers Samuel and Earlee Massie of North Little Rock (Pulaski County). He quickly advanced to high school and graduated second in his class from Dunbar High School in Little Rock (Pulaski County) by age thirteen. Massie overcame racial barriers to become one of America’s greatest chemists in research and teaching. As a doctoral candidate during World War II, he worked on the Manhattan Project with Henry Gilman at Iowa State University in the development of uranium isotopes for the atomic bomb. In 1966, the U.S. Naval Academy appointed him as its first black faculty member. Massie’s research over fifty years led to the development of drugs to treat mental illness, malaria, meningitis, gonorrhea, herpes, and cancer.

Learn more about Samuel Proctor Massie Jr. Explore full history calendar

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Photo of the Day

Ernest Green Receives Diploma

On May 29, 1958, at the end of the historic school year, senior Ernest Green became the first African-American student to graduate from Central High School in Little Rock (Pulaski County). Green is shown in this photograph being presented his diploma by Principal Jess Mathews.

 

On May 29, 1958, at the end of the historic school year, senior Ernest Green became the first African-American student to graduate from Central High School in Little Rock (Pulaski County). Green is shown in this photograph being presented his diploma by Principal Jess Mathews.

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Nathaniel “Sweetwater” Clifton Basketball Blue diamond with stars and crossed swords above blue and red text Skirmish at Gaines' Landing Civil War Gravestones in cemetery with trees in the background Emmet Hempstead, Nevada "In memory of those killed December 1987 Pope County Arkansas" flat engraved marker on grass Ronald Gene Simmons Criminal Activities Middle-aged white woman in fancy dress Octave Thanet Fiction Portrait white man in suit military medal long wavy hair thick beard smoking large pipe Albert Pike Individuals, Lawyers, Poetry, State Figures Romance and crime related book cover featuring attractive white man and woman in blazers walking on a dock Arkansas Special Agents Fiction busy city intersection with cars and people, view of state capitol in background Little Rock Pulaski Young African-American man kneeling in uniform with alligator in truck bed Bruce "Sunpie" Barnes 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 Large rock with memorial plaque on it listing victims names and hometowns for each Negro Boys Industrial School Fire of 1959 School Desegregation Faces of three white men superimposed upon forest with red and white text on book cover West Memphis Three Criminal Activities white man in black embroidered alongside white woman in dark suit and hat carrying roses amid a crowd of people Johnny Cash Country, Rock "Negroes leave town of Bonanza" newspaper clipping Sundown Towns Portrait Italian American man in stylish suit tie wavy hair intimidating glare droopy right eyelid Charles "Lucky" Luciano Criminal Activities Promotional photograph of white man woman and 19 young and teen children standing together with white text Duggar Family Religious Figures, Television and Streaming
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Two white men smiling with books on table in front of them Arkansas Cornbread Festival Festivals and Events, Foodways Two men in suits and woman in jacket with three men more casually dressed in front of banners Jim Keet Business Leaders, Pulaski Leaders White women in coats talking outside restaurant with "Ohio Club" sign and Al Capone statue on bench Ohio Club Attractions (Historic and Current), Foodways Single story gray and white concrete block building with red roof and parking lot K. Hall and Sons Businesses Panorama of kitchen, barracks, uniformed men, truck, and rock walls, hand-signed "C.C.C. Camp Nodak - Plainview, Ark. 11-8-33" New Deal Projects Multistory building with porches balconies and central clock tower between two smaller neighboring buildings with an iron fence Arkansas School for the Blind Disability, Schools and Academies Ved Mehta Nonfiction "Cleveland County" map with borders roads cities Draughon Cleveland White man with glasses wearing suit and tie Arkansas Scholarship Lottery Educational Organizations and Programs Single-story house with covered porch and walking path in front yard with trees Trapnall Hall Buildings, Museums and Historic Sites aerial view of downtown Hot Springs featuring the large somewhat triangular shaped Arlington hotel and various other tall buildings and boulevard with cars amid tree-covered hills Hot Springs Garland elevated view of river bend around fields Petit Jean State Park State Parks White man in suit and bow tie Robert Allen Leflar Educators and Administrators, Lawyers "The Italian as a cotton picker" newspaper clipping Sunnyside Plantation Agricultural Issues and Controversies, Businesses Two-story brick building with stone wall and parked cars in front Izard County Courthouse Buildings, Museums and Historic Sites White men in suits sitting at table together with microphone John Steven Clark State Figures

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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