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This Day in Arkansas History

July 22, 1899

Women’s suffrage pioneer Clara McDiarmid died. McDiarmid, an officer in the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union (WCTU), had organized the Arkansas Equal Suffrage Association (AESA) in Little Rock (Pulaski County) in 1888. A native of Indiana and a lawyer in Kansas City, Missouri, McDiarmid was unable to practice law in Arkansas, so she used her law experience to counsel women on their legal rights. She had kept the AESA going by writing articles for the Little Rock women’s suffrage magazine Woman’s Chronicle and by attending National Woman Suffrage Association meetings.

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St. Scholastica Monastery

The St. Scholastica Monastery located in Fort Smith (Sebastian County) was founded by four Benedictine sisters in 1879 who were enticed to journey from Indiana by the local railroad line, which offered the sisters 100 acres of land and $2,500 cash payment to establish a church and a rural school. The railroad management hoped their presence would encourage settlement to the area. Growing from humble beginnings, the monastery moved to a new complex in 1925, which included the building shown here.

 

The St. Scholastica Monastery located in Fort Smith (Sebastian County) was founded by four Benedictine sisters in 1879 who were enticed to journey from Indiana by the local railroad line, which offered the sisters 100 acres of land and $2,500 cash payment to establish a church and a rural school. The railroad management hoped their presence would encourage settlement to the area. Growing from humble beginnings, the monastery moved to a new complex in 1925, which included the building shown here.

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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.

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