Welcome to the Encyclopedia of Arkansas

This Day in Arkansas History

June 5, 1919

Camark Pottery founder Jack Carnes was commissioned in the United States Naval Reserve (USNR) as a naval aviator. He was commissioned shortly after World War I, but he did not serve overseas. After the war, he moved to Houston, Texas, for several years to pursue a career in the oil business and real estate; when oil was discovered in Smackover (Union County), he moved to Camden (Ouachita County). He founded his pottery business after recognizing that the clay deposits near Camden were good for making pottery. Camark pottery from the company Carnes founded has become highly valuable to collectors and is featured in museums such as the Old Statehouse Museum and the Historic Arkansas Museum in Little Rock (Pulaski 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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Our overview page covers everything you would want to know about our beautiful state, including state symbols, demographics, and more!

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