Welcome to the Encyclopedia of Arkansas

Everything from African-American man in green and yellow football uniform holding a ball in his right hand with logo Elijah Eugene Pitts to African-American man smiling in tuxedo William Delford Davis
or Surprise Me

This Day in Arkansas History

February 5, 1902

Three men (wearing blackface, according to one source) robbed the Bank of Clarksville and, in the process, killed Sheriff John Powers. Exactly one year later, Fred Derham and George Underwood were hanged in Clarksville (Johnson County) for the crimes. The third robber, John Dunn, got away and was never charged. The hanging brought out one of the largest crowds Johnson County had ever seen.

Learn more about Johnson County Explore full history calendar

Browse the Encyclopedia

Entries

By Category A – Z

Media

By Category A – Z

Photo of the Day

Envy

Critically acclaimed artist Les Christensen serves as the director of the Bradbury Gallery, located in the Fowler Center at Arkansas State University (ASU) in Jonesboro (Craighead County). Christensen uses everyday objects in the creation of her works of art, as shown here in a 2005 piece titled Envy. The work consists of copper tacks, patina, adhesive, and papier maché.

 

Critically acclaimed artist Les Christensen serves as the director of the Bradbury Gallery, located in the Fowler Center at Arkansas State University (ASU) in Jonesboro (Craighead County). Christensen uses everyday objects in the creation of her works of art, as shown here in a 2005 piece titled Envy. The work consists of copper tacks, patina, adhesive, and papier maché.

Learn More
Trending Entries
busy city intersection with cars and people, view of state capitol in background Little Rock Pulaski Group of African-American men standing and sitting before brick wall Elaine Massacre of 1919 Early Twentieth Century Faces of three white men superimposed upon forest with red and white text on book cover West Memphis Three Criminal Activities Book cover "My Life Bill Clinton" with portrait white man with graying hair smiling wool jacket collar upturned Bill Clinton Executive Branch, Governors Portrait white man in suit military medal long wavy hair thick beard smoking large pipe Albert Pike Individuals, Lawyers, Poetry, State Figures Portrait Italian American man in stylish suit tie wavy hair intimidating glare droopy right eyelid Charles "Lucky" Luciano Criminal Activities "Walton's" store with red and white awning and "Wal-Mart visitors center" on the windows Walmart Inc. Businesses white man in black embroidered alongside white woman in dark suit and hat carrying roses amid a crowd of people Johnny Cash Country, Rock African-American woman in turban and hoop earrings behind orchid Maya Angelou Poetry Front page of Arkansas Times with various images, the largest of which is a white man with glasses and text "Whitewater" Whitewater Scandal Group of men loading cotton onto horse-drawn carts Cotton Gins Plant Culture White man with stubbled beard sitting in backwards cap and jacket with his hands clasped under his chin Billy Bob Thornton Actors and Filmmakers Older African-American man smiling in suit and bow tie Joseph Walter Jackson Business Leaders White woman with long hair and earrings Hillary Clinton Executive Branch Promotional photograph of white man woman and 19 young and teen children standing together with white text Duggar Family Religious Figures, Television and Streaming Angry white crowd surrounding young African-American girl sitting on bench with white woman talking to her Elizabeth Ann Eckford School Desegregation, School Segregation and Desegregation
New & Updated
White man in suit holding his cowboy hat leaning against a rock with sky and valley behind him Winthrop Rockefeller Governors White man sitting in green-backed chair holding a piece of paper Joseph Taylor Robinson Governors, Legislative Branch -- Senators Eight rocks with various sized discolored dot impressions photographed on dark fabric Rocks and Minerals Geology busy city intersection with cars and people, view of state capitol in background Little Rock Pulaski White woman standing with three Japanese-American women and four Japanese-American men kneeling in front of them Rohwer Relocation Center Locations, Projects View looking over rippling river with multistory buildings in the distance and single-story house with boat in the foreground Arkansas River Physical Geography, Water White man and white woman examining baby in incubator Maternal and Infant Mortality Thin tree trunk bent from the bottom toward the left amongst other straight trees in woodland area Trail Trees Folktales and Songs Men women and children playing in field with cabin building and at base of tree covered mountain Pinnacle Mountain State Park State Parks First lines "An act to incorporate the Makemie College Makemie College Defunct: Colleges and Universities Older white man short hair and thin beard dressed in checkered button up and suit jacket grinning wearing name tag text "George Lankford Lifetime Achievement Award Little Rock George E. Lankford Educators and Administrators, Historians and Historic Organizations Several house bills listed number one hundred and thirty three text "a bill to be entitled to an act to amend section two of an act approved December thirty first eighteen sixty entitled an act to incorporate the Arkansas Synodical college of Arkadelphia" Arkansas Synodical College Defunct: Colleges and Universities Text "The Watermelon Kid a Novel by Bill Terry" over cartoon sketch man in dancing singing next to woman standing looking back as two men watch one smoking cigar and holding dollar in background behind singer one man playing harmonica another man with guitar and third man playing piano Bill Terry Jr. Fiction, Journalists Text "The Watermelon Kid a Novel by Bill Terry" over cartoon sketch man in dancing singing next to woman standing looking back as two men watch one smoking cigar and holding dollar in background behind singer one man playing harmonica another man with guitar and third man playing piano The Watermelon Kid Fiction Headline "Fighting Alley Aroused. A Row Over a Game of Cards One Man Draws a Double Barreled Shotgun" Battle Row and Fighting Alley Pulaski Clergy Sexual Abuse Issues and Controversies

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