March 13, 2007

Author, farmer, teacher, philanthropist, and patron of the arts Lily Peter was born in 1891 near the Phillips County town of Marvell. A self-made millionaire, Peter personally paid for a Little Rock (Pulaski County) performance of the Philadelphia Philharmonic Orchestra. She published several books of poetry, and in 1971, she was appointed the state poet laureate. She is shown in this photo at Governor David Pryor’s 1975 inauguration ceremony.