November 16, 1857

The True Democrat reported: “On last Thursday (November 5) the corner-stone of St. Johns’ College was laid by the Masonic fraternity, the Grand Lodge of the state being in session.” Its main building being complete, St. Johns’ College in Little Rock (Pulaski County)—the first college in Arkansas to receive a charter—began its classes with about fifty students on October 10, 1859. By this time, two other colleges in Arkansas were holding classes: Arkansas College of Fayetteville and Cane Hill College, both in Washington County.