August 22, 1886

Joseph Booker, who became a prominent leader in Arkansas race relations, was ordained as a Baptist minister by the “No. 2” Baptist Church at Portland (Ashley County). Booker was chosen as the first president of the newly established Arkansas Baptist College in Little Rock (Pulaski County), a position he held until his death. At the same time, he began a long tenure as editor of the state’s black Baptist newspaper, the Baptist Vanguard.