Welcome to the Encyclopedia of Arkansas

Everything from Book cover featuring falling person reaching for guitar Fall Through to Meteorite on display including didactic text in library with bookshelves in background. Meteorites

This Day in Arkansas History

October 8, 1894

The thirty-first governor of Arkansas, Carl Bailey, was born in Bernie, Missouri. Bailey served two terms as governor in the 1930s and struggled to modernize state government and to cope with the Great Depression. He led a political faction consisting of state employees, which clashed with a coalition of federal workers over control of patronage. This conflict split the state, as well as the Democratic Party, into opposing political blocs.

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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.

New to Arkansas?
New to Arkansas?

Our overview page covers everything you would want to know about our beautiful state, including state symbols, demographics, and more!

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