Welcome to the Encyclopedia of Arkansas

Everything from Painting American flag on pole sublime mountain landscape in background with sunlight through clouds Sentinel of Freedom to African-American man and white woman talking to white man in suit Freedom Rides
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This Day in Arkansas History

July 9, 1896

Cameron Townsend was born in a one-room farmhouse in Eastvale, California, the first son and fifth child in a tenant farm family. He had one younger brother. In June 1934, Townsend, along with Leonard Livingston Legters, founded a linguistic training program for the purpose of promoting Bible translation among minority language groups. Named Camp Wycliffe in honor of John Wycliffe—the first scholar to translate the entire Bible into English—the program was based in an old abandoned farmhouse near Sulphur Springs (Benton County). Camp Wycliffe would later become Wycliffe Bible Translators, the founding of which, as historian Mark Noll argued, “may stand symbolically for one of the great Christian events of the age.”

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Roy Buchanan

For more than thirty years, Ozark (Franklin County) native guitarist Roy Buchanan melded blues, country, jazz, and rock into a unique sound. During his career, he released eleven albums, of which his most successful was his 1985 release When a Guitar Plays the Blues. The album was on the Billboard charts for fifteen weeks and was nominated for a Grammy for Best Blues Album. He is credited with influencing guitarists such as Jeff Beck and Robbie Robertson.

 

For more than thirty years, Ozark (Franklin County) native guitarist Roy Buchanan melded blues, country, jazz, and rock into a unique sound. During his career, he released eleven albums, of which his most successful was his 1985 release When a Guitar Plays the Blues. The album was on the Billboard charts for fifteen weeks and was nominated for a Grammy for Best Blues Album. He is credited with influencing guitarists such as Jeff Beck and Robbie Robertson.

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Older African-American man smiling in suit and bow tie Joseph Walter Jackson Business Leaders Rippling water in large creek with sandbar in the background Fourche La Fave River Physical Geography Tall obelisk with statue of soldier and plaque with trees in the background World War I Post Civil War Concrete dam with lake and countryside in the distance Greers Ferry Dam and Lake Engineering, Water Portrait black man in suit and tie with glasses smiling in front of book case James Albert Banks Educators and Administrators Book cover with saturated colors showing bearded Blaze Foley Brick sign in flower bed icon of water drop over skyscrapers text "Little Rock Water Reclamation Authority One Water One Future Clearwater Complex Administration Building Maintenance Facility" in front of iron fence trees and single story brick building in background Little Rock Water Reclamation Authority People and Organizations White man at base of tree covered mound site in field Archaic Period Time Periods Exploded underground missile silo and debris as seen from above Titan II Missile Explosion Post Civil War Pink roses with green leaves in oval shaped frame Imogene McConnell Ragon Painting Man in St. Louis Cardinal uniform throwing a pitch in crowded stadium "Dizzy" Dean Baseball, Radio postcard of multistoried light building with gabled roofs and chimneys "The Baker Hospital Eureka Springs Arkansas" Norman Baker Criminal Activities, Malpractice Car parked in front of single-story building next to brick storefront with awning Dyess Mississippi, Projects "Arkansas County" map showing borders roads cities waterways wildlife areas Tichnor Arkansas Neighborhood of identical homes with dirt road, sidewalks parked car, and water tower in distance Warren Bradley Headline "Christmas comes a little early this year" above illustration of parents labeled "Arkansas Voters" handing large present with text "Better Educational Opportunities" to two children labeled "Arkansas School Kids" all four smiling School Consolidation

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Wooden walkway bridge with railings on trail through wooded area under autumn trees Crowley’s Ridge Six Natural Divisions Single-story building with trees and "Cross County Court House" sign Cross County "Arkansas County" map showing borders roads cities waterways wildlife areas Crockett’s Bluff Arkansas Three-story building with large round dome capped with a flagpole Crittenden County Two story brick building "Alma Drug Co." with onlookers, horse and carriage, faded "Ringling Bros" wall print Crawford County Wood frame building with metal roof boarded windows overgrown vines and water tanks by road Coy Lonoke David Adrian Cox Farmer and boy using a horse drawn plow in a field with hills in the background Cotton Industry Industries, Plant Culture Train billowing smoke on tracks in front of row of wooden buildings Corning Clay Aerial view of river and fields in the background, white man and woman perched on rock outcropping in foreground Conway County gray single story buildings Colt St. Francis Single-story brick building with three columned entrance Clay County Multiple-story building with "Chicot County Court House" above the entrance and cars in the parking lot Chicot County Small train station with wrap around awning pitched roof white people standing by locomotive Cherry Valley Cross Two African-American men in suits and woman in hat and dress Carpenter’s Produce Businesses Young women in dresses with sashes in line with text Miss Arkansas Pageant Festivals and Events

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

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