Welcome to the Encyclopedia of Arkansas

Everything from Model of convent with steeple and cross and pyramid shaped center building surrounded by trees Holy Angels Convent to Gigantic boxy white Jesus statue with outstretched arms atop a hill Christ of the Ozarks
or Surprise Me

This Day in Arkansas History

April 3, 1998

After completing the maximum sentence for contempt, Susan McDougal again refused to testify before Kenneth Starr’s grand jury, but, in 1999, she was found not guilty of obstruction of justice and ordered to be released. McDougal became famous in the 1990s for refusing to testify before Starr and the Office of Independent Counsel (OIC) grand jury held in Little Rock (Pulaski County) during the Whitewater scandal investigation. She spent approximately twenty-two months in seven jails, including maximum-security prisons with violent offenders. She was also held for seven weeks in a Plexiglas-enclosed soundproof cell, an experience she described as “hellish.”

Learn more about Susan Carol Henley McDougal Explore full history calendar

Browse the Encyclopedia

Entries

By Category A – Z

Media

By Category A – Z

Photo of the Day

James McDonnell

James Smith McDonnell Jr. was one of the most significant aerospace industrialists of the twentieth century, building McDonnell-Douglas into the second-largest military and commercial aviation corporation in the United States. McDonnell was raised in central Arkansas, graduating from Little Rock High School (later named Central High School). He spent his childhood in Altheimer (Jefferson County). After guiding his company to become one of the world’s largest aerospace corporations, McDonnell stepped down as CEO in 1972, but he remained chairman of the board until his death in 1980.

 

James Smith McDonnell Jr. was one of the most significant aerospace industrialists of the twentieth century, building McDonnell-Douglas into the second-largest military and commercial aviation corporation in the United States. McDonnell was raised in central Arkansas, graduating from Little Rock High School (later named Central High School). He spent his childhood in Altheimer (Jefferson County). After guiding his company to become one of the world’s largest aerospace corporations, McDonnell stepped down as CEO in 1972, but he remained chairman of the board until his death in 1980.

Learn More
Trending Entries
Promotional photograph of white man woman and 19 young and teen children standing together with white text Duggar Family Religious Figures, Television and Streaming busy city intersection with cars and people, view of state capitol in background Little Rock Pulaski Multistory red brick church building with steeple Seventh-Day Adventists Faiths and Denominations Faces of three white men superimposed upon forest with red and white text on book cover West Memphis Three Criminal Activities Portrait white man in suit military medal long wavy hair thick beard smoking large pipe Albert Pike Individuals, Lawyers, Poetry, State Figures Text "This isn't revenge. It's a reckoning" above vertical list of actor names and larger text "Violent Ends a Film by John-Michael Powell" above bearded white man in casual clothing with blood splattered on long sleeve t shirt holding rifle walking forward away from sport utility vehicle sparks flying to left Violent Ends Films white man dressed as cowboy blowing into long, tubular musical instrument Bazooka [Musical Instrument] Group of African-American men standing and sitting before brick wall Elaine Massacre of 1919 Early Twentieth Century Tall obelisk with statue of soldier and plaque with trees in the background World War I Post Civil War 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 "In memory of those killed December 1987 Pope County Arkansas" flat engraved marker on grass Ronald Gene Simmons Criminal Activities shirtless white man with long hair and tight pants holding washboard and singing into a microphone on stage Jim Dandy Mangrum Rock white man in black embroidered alongside white woman in dark suit and hat carrying roses amid a crowd of people Johnny Cash Country, Rock Exploded underground missile silo and debris as seen from above Titan II Missile Explosion Post Civil War "Kickapoo Indian Worm Killer" flyer showing a drawing of a man in a headdress holding a child Worms [Medical Condition], Traditional Remedies Pathology Uniformed white boys and men some with instruments and flags parading down street lined with multistory storefront buildings Official Days Official State Symbols
New & Updated
busy city intersection with cars and people, view of state capitol in background Little Rock Pulaski Mixed group of people reflected as their younger selves in pool with multistory building behind them with text above that Little Rock Nine School Desegregation, School Segregation and Desegregation Multistory brick building with classical columns and war monument statue with figure of man on top Lonoke County Two teachers walking down an empty school hallway with lockers and a water fountain Lost Year School Desegregation, School Segregation and Desegregation Types of bat with corresponding letters Bats Zoology Aerial view of building campus and various sized ponds Aquaculture Aquaculture, Industries Wooden electric chair with leather straps on display Penal Systems Law Enforcement Two African-American men in Olympic track uniforms with one of the men wearing sunglasses Jim Hines Track and Field Sixty-third and Sixty-fourth United States Colored Troops Units and Organizations Submarine being constructed in a dry dock USS Arkansas Ships and Vessels Michael Tinsley Track and Field Mouth praying hands and leaf on blue background with white text on book cover Boy Erased Films, Nonfiction Text "This isn't revenge. It's a reckoning" above vertical list of actor names and larger text "Violent Ends a Film by John-Michael Powell" above bearded white man in casual clothing with blood splattered on long sleeve t shirt holding rifle walking forward away from sport utility vehicle sparks flying to left Violent Ends Films White man and white woman examining baby in incubator Maternal and Infant Mortality Woven cloth art four white men dressed in armor on horseback holding spears up chasing three frogs Bayou Tapestry ...and April Fools' Day View of two large planes in air with deployed parachutes from inside third airplane Little Rock Air Force Base Air, Locations

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.

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!

See Overview