Welcome to the Encyclopedia of Arkansas

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This Day in Arkansas History

November 11, 1876

John D. Adams became owner, with William D. Blocher, of the Daily Arkansas Gazette. Two years later, James Newton (J. N.) Smithee bought and started a competing newspaper, the Arkansas Democrat. Competition and public defamation led to a war between the newspapers’ owners that resulted in the Smithee-Adams Duel, often described as “the last duel fought in Arkansas.”

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Frank Coffin

Pharmacist Frank Coffin operated one of the first Black-owned drugstores in Little Rock (Pulaski County), Children’s Drug Store, which he purchased in 1898. A native of Mississippi, Coffin held a Ph.G. degree from Fisk University and a pharmaceutical degree from Meherry Medical College, both in Nashville, Tennessee. He was also a published poet and at one time served as the secretary for Philander Smith College.

 

Pharmacist Frank Coffin operated one of the first Black-owned drugstores in Little Rock (Pulaski County), Children’s Drug Store, which he purchased in 1898. A native of Mississippi, Coffin held a Ph.G. degree from Fisk University and a pharmaceutical degree from Meherry Medical College, both in Nashville, Tennessee. He was also a published poet and at one time served as the secretary for Philander Smith College.

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African-American man in basketball jersey uniform spinning a basketball on one finger "Geese" Ausbie Basketball Promotional photograph of white man woman and 19 young and teen children standing together with white text Duggar Family Religious Figures, Television and Streaming White man wearing a hat and women in dresses picking cotton with long cotton sack stretching out behind her Great Depression Wooden sign held up by posts near road text "The Village @ Pickles Gap Shop Eat Relax" above smaller sign illustration of shaggy dog text "Doc's Coffee and Creamery" Pickles Gap Faulkner Icon of cannon next to text "The Camden Expedition Route" above old photo group of men with rifles on horseback next to large map marking various events along trail during military conflict Camden Expedition Timeline Civil War White man with long beard in military uniform with horse and dog Prairie Grove Campaign Timeline Civil War A single bison standing at bottom of hill in grassy field trees and stump in background Bison Zoology busy city intersection with cars and people, view of state capitol in background Little Rock Pulaski Older white woman short wavy hair wearing headband suit jacket pencil skirt and floral pattern scarf around neck standing outside Ellen Wheeler Knight Educators and Administrators white man in black embroidered alongside white woman in dark suit and hat carrying roses amid a crowd of people Johnny Cash Country, Rock Portrait African-American male boxer with gloves raised, shorts, boots, in corner of ring Sonny Liston Boxing Group of African-American men standing and sitting before brick wall Elaine Massacre of 1919 Early Twentieth Century Exploded underground missile silo and debris as seen from above Titan II Missile Explosion Post Civil War "Great seal of the state of Arkansas" with eagle holding shield and "Regnat Popluas" ribbon in beak with angel mercy on one side and sword of justice on other Arkansas Overview White man wearing a suit of armor with a sword European Exploration and Settlement, 1541 through 1802 Time Period "Negroes leave town of Bonanza" newspaper clipping Sundown Towns

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Older white woman short wavy hair wearing headband suit jacket pencil skirt and floral pattern scarf around neck standing outside Ellen Wheeler Knight Educators and Administrators African-American man in basketball jersey uniform spinning a basketball on one finger "Geese" Ausbie Basketball Burning steamboat on river on "Sultana Disaster Museum" brochure with "The Forgotten Tragedy" section Sultana Disaster Museum Museums and Historic Sites Ashlie Atkinson Actors and Filmmakers, Television and Streaming African-American woman and white men in suits sitting at table signing documents while white men in suits stand behind them Arkansas State University Mid-South Two-Year: Colleges and Universities Soldiers posing in line wearing hats with buildings cabins tents on hillside in background Battle of Arkansas Post Civil War field with trees in front of mound Plum Bayou Mounds Archeological State Park Sites and Artifacts, State Parks B-26A Bomber Crash of 1942 Post Civil War Houses in flooded fields with trees and debris West Memphis Crittenden Multistory brick building with mansard roof and stairs Helena-West Helena Phillips Clergy Sexual Abuse Issues and Controversies Clay figurine of of person on knees in front of pot in display case above label text "Mississippian Mississippian Period Time Periods Brick church building with four columns and steeple with vehicle parked in front Ouachita Baptist University Four-Year: Colleges and Universities, Institutions and Buildings steam ship with canons at the ready on river Steamboats Ships and Vessels Black female nurse holding black infant on bed examined with stethoscope by black male doctor Health and Medicine Topical Map showing routes in red Indian Removal European Exploration to Early Statehood

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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