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This Day in Arkansas History

October 5, 1963

Secretary of State Kelly Bryant hosted a reception for Eva Ware Barnett, the composer of Arkansas’s first official state song, at the capitol. The songwriter autographed copies of the sheet music to “Arkansas” to be distributed free to the public upon request. Governor Orval Faubus had signed the resolution on March 4, 1963, restoring “Arkansas” to its former status as official state song. More than two decades earlier, Barnett had brought a copyright lawsuit against the state after Secretary of State C. G. “Crip” Hall had distributed a free pamphlet containing the song during the election year of 1940. Barnett maintained that this was done for political purposes and injured sales of her sheet music, for which she collected about six cents per copy.

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Merci Train Boxcar

After World War II, the United States organized a relief operation for Europeans; Arkansas provided five boxcars of food. In 1948, France, in gratitude, organized a program known as the Merci Train. The next year, forty-nine boxcars, each holding 500 to 600 gifts, were delivered to the forty-eight states; the District of Columbia and the territory of Hawaii shared the last. After Arkansas’s boxcar was empty, it was donated to the Forty & Eight Society, a veterans’ organization, and put on display at the American Legion post in Helena (Phillips County).

 

After World War II, the United States organized a relief operation for Europeans; Arkansas provided five boxcars of food. In 1948, France, in gratitude, organized a program known as the Merci Train. The next year, forty-nine boxcars, each holding 500 to 600 gifts, were delivered to the forty-eight states; the District of Columbia and the territory of Hawaii shared the last. After Arkansas’s boxcar was empty, it was donated to the Forty & Eight Society, a veterans’ organization, and put on display at the American Legion post in Helena (Phillips County).

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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.

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