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This Day in Arkansas History

March 18, 1999

Elizabeth Paisley Huckaby died. Huckaby served as an instructor of English for thirty-nine years and was vice principal for girls at Central High School in Little Rock (Pulaski County) during the desegregation of the school. Huckaby is also the author of Crisis at Central High: Little Rock, 1957–58. At the time of her retirement in 1969, the Arkansas Gazette said she was “probably as much as any member of the school staff…the object of vilification by the segregationist forces in the 1957 and later school desegregation crises, and conversely a champion of the forces of law and order.”

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Alphonso Trent Orchestra

Fort Smith (Sebastian County) native Alphonso Trent, a jazz pianist who studied music at Shorter College in Little Rock (Pulaski County), led a band in the 1920s that became one of the most respected of the pre-swing era. In 1923, during the days of segregation, his group became the first all-black band to play a prominent white hotel, the Adolphus in Dallas, Texas, and the first to be broadcast over regional radio. Shown here is an advertisement featuring the band.

 

Fort Smith (Sebastian County) native Alphonso Trent, a jazz pianist who studied music at Shorter College in Little Rock (Pulaski County), led a band in the 1920s that became one of the most respected of the pre-swing era. In 1923, during the days of segregation, his group became the first all-black band to play a prominent white hotel, the Adolphus in Dallas, Texas, and the first to be broadcast over regional radio. Shown here is an advertisement featuring the band.

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

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