Welcome to the Encyclopedia of Arkansas

Everything from Old white man with glasses in suit and tie Cyrus Adler to Older white woman with long hair in black dress with paintings on the walls behind her Bette Evensky Greene
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This Day in Arkansas History

May 15, 1907

Acting governor X. O. Pindall appointed the first board of trustees for the Arkansas State Normal School, now the University of Central Arkansas (UCA). Several cities submitted bids for the school, including Fort Smith (Sebastian County), Benton (Saline County), Quitman (Cleburne County), Russellville (Pope County), and Conway (Faulkner County). The City of Conway submitted the winning bid by offering the choice of three tracts of land and $51,753 in cash, along with other inducements. UCA has been one of Arkansas’s leading institutions of higher education for more than 100 years. Beginning as a normal school (teachers’ training institution) with approximately 100 students in 1908, UCA has become a comprehensive PhD-granting institution with more than 10,000 students.

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Gosnell Cotton Pickin' Contest

Since 1991, Gosnell, which incorporated in 1968 as the youngest city in Mississippi County, has hosted the Gosnell Cotton Pickin’ Contest. Contestants from near and far come to compete in the annual contest that celebrates the farming community’s staple crop. A young contestant is shown here filling his bag.

 

Since 1991, Gosnell, which incorporated in 1968 as the youngest city in Mississippi County, has hosted the Gosnell Cotton Pickin’ Contest. Contestants from near and far come to compete in the annual contest that celebrates the farming community’s staple crop. A young contestant is shown here filling his bag.

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African-American woman smiling in black top Sheryl Underwood Television and Streaming Older African-American man smiling in suit and bow tie Joseph Walter Jackson Business Leaders Tall obelisk with statue of soldier and plaque with trees in the background World War I Post Civil War Old white woman in hat and dress holding a revolver Belle Starr Criminal Activities busy city intersection with cars and people, view of state capitol in background Little Rock Pulaski white man in black embroidered alongside white woman in dark suit and hat carrying roses amid a crowd of people Johnny Cash Country, Rock white man in embroidered black shirt and white woman in turtleneck and white jacket smiling in front of trees "Tony and Susan Alamo Tony Alamo sings Mister DJ" Tony Alamo Criminal Activities, Religious Figures Promotional photograph of white man woman and 19 young and teen children standing together with white text Duggar Family Religious Figures, Television and Streaming Group of African-American men standing and sitting before brick wall Elaine Massacre of 1919 Early Twentieth Century Faces of three white men superimposed upon forest with red and white text on book cover West Memphis Three Criminal Activities Close up small blooming flower with four buds fuzzy leaves held by grubby fingers Official State Flower Official State Symbols White man with stubbled beard sitting in backwards cap and jacket with his hands clasped under his chin Billy Bob Thornton Actors and Filmmakers Front page of Arkansas Times with various images, the largest of which is a white man with glasses and text "Whitewater" Whitewater Scandal Older white woman smiling in green suit and glasses with earrings Alice Louise Walton Business Leaders, Philanthropy document "Arkansas Called The Wonder State Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 2 1923" Official State Nicknames Official State Symbols "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

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Insect on human skin and virus under magnification West Nile Virus Pathology Uniformed white boys and men some with instruments and flags parading down street lined with multistory storefront buildings Official Days Official State Symbols Obesity Public Health White woman short hair dressed in shirt and cardigan breastfeeding baby next to text "Learn. Start. Overcome. Thrive. Breastfeeding gets easier. WIC can help" above logo for WIC Breastfeeding support and Arkansas Department of Health next to text "Arkansas WIC Breastfeeding Helpline 1-800-445-6175" Breastfeeding Arkansas State Medical Board Multistory building with four columns on street corner North Little Rock Pulaski White woman talking to a group of Cuban men standing and sitting under a tree Cuban Refugee Crisis Modern Era aerial view of military base with many uniformly shaped white buildings in rows Indochinese Resettlement Program Post Civil War, Projects Exterior "Chua Pho Minh Vietnamese Buddhist Temple" with temple architecture with flower dragon roof ornaments Buddhists Faiths and Denominations Overhead view crowd in interior stadium seating and box seats Gambling Multistory limestone building dome on top in middle with steps leading up to four columns near three single door entrances and left wing addition Arkansas State Capitol Building Buildings, State Organizations and Structures Street lined with buildings and parked cars with power lines Stuttgart Arkansas George Basil “Scooter” Segraves III Radio and Podcasting Bobcat hiding in hollowed out log Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge Attractions (Historic and Current), Zoology Fog on river with green foliage along the shore Pangburn White Round polygonal stone building with wooden shingles and steps leading up to it. Ozark Folk Center State Park Folklife Projects and Folklorists, State Parks

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, and audio files, so check back frequently to see what’s new.

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