Welcome to the Encyclopedia of Arkansas

This Day in Arkansas History

June 23, 1956

Adrian Brewer, an acclaimed artist who made Arkansas his adopted home, died of lung cancer. Brewer, the son of widely recognized portrait artist Nicholas Richard Brewer, was a native of Minnesota. He and his wife, Edwina Cook of Hot Springs (Garland County), had twin sons. He established the Adrian Brewer School of Art in Little Rock (Pulaski County). He was known for his works supporting patriotism and war efforts during World Wars I and II, as well as for his paintings of the Southwest and Arkansas landscapes. He also painted more than 300 portraits of prominent Arkansans.

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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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