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This Day in Arkansas History

October 10, 1859

With its main building complete, St. Johns’ College in Little Rock (Pulaski County), the first college in Arkansas to receive a charter, began its classes with about fifty students. By this time, two other chartered colleges in Arkansas were holding classes: Arkansas College in Fayetteville (Washington County) and Cane Hill College at Cane Hill (Washington County). The Civil War halted the college’s success. The three professors enlisted in the Confederate army, and many of the students followed. The Grand Lodge gave permission to the Confederate forces in Little Rock to use the college as a hospital, and they erected eleven buildings. When Union general Frederick Steele took Little Rock on September 10, 1863, the Union army also used the college and its campus as a hospital.

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Little Rock NOW

In 1974, the Little Rock (Pulaski County) chapter of the National Organization for Women (NOW) was organized as an advocacy group for women’s rights. Additional chapters were soon formed throughout the state. Under the organization’s leadership in the 1970s, Little Rock’s first Rape Crisis, Incorporated, was founded. In the 1980s, the group worked diligently for the passage of the doomed Equal Rights Amendment (ERA). NOW continues to promote equal rights, reproductive freedom, and economic security for women.

 

In 1974, the Little Rock (Pulaski County) chapter of the National Organization for Women (NOW) was organized as an advocacy group for women’s rights. Additional chapters were soon formed throughout the state. Under the organization’s leadership in the 1970s, Little Rock’s first Rape Crisis, Incorporated, was founded. In the 1980s, the group worked diligently for the passage of the doomed Equal Rights Amendment (ERA). NOW continues to promote equal rights, reproductive freedom, and economic security for women.

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John Lawrence Markle Business Leaders, Criminal Activities busy city intersection with cars and people, view of state capitol in background Little Rock Pulaski Ralphie May Television and Streaming Portrait white man in suit military medal long wavy hair thick beard smoking large pipe Albert Pike Individuals, Lawyers, Poetry, State Figures White men in suits one woman pose in horse drawn carriages by arched brick building Post-Reconstruction through the Gilded Age, 1875 through 1900 Time Period "In memory of those killed December 1987 Pope County Arkansas" flat engraved marker on grass Ronald Gene Simmons Criminal Activities Group of African-American men standing and sitting before brick wall Elaine Massacre of 1919 Early Twentieth Century Arched stone block sign frame with fences and trees in the background Civilian Conservation Corps Projects Fur covered creature standing in river with trees and sunset in the background Fouke Monster Folktales and Songs Barbed wire fence post with "Choc." written on it Arkansas State Boundaries Political Geography "Negroes leave town of Bonanza" newspaper clipping Sundown Towns 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 Soldiers posing in line wearing hats with buildings cabins tents on hillside in background Civil War through Reconstruction, 1861 through 1874 Time Period white man in black embroidered alongside white woman in dark suit and hat carrying roses amid a crowd of people Johnny Cash Country, Rock Canopy in park with benches under it and paved walking paths Westside School Shooting Criminal Activities Exploded underground missile silo and debris as seen from above Titan II Missile Explosion Post Civil War
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Book cover featuring a blue-toned illustration of African Americans in front of log cabins Negro Slavery in Arkansas Nonfiction Bald white man in blue suit and red tie with trees in the background Griffin Jasper Stockley Fiction, Nonfiction Hezekiah D. Stewart Poverty, Religious Figures Woodruff County Historical Society Historians and Historic Organizations African-American soldiers being greeted by a crowd of African-American women and children Black Union Troops Civil War to Gilded Age, Units and Organizations Smiling white man posing in suit and tie with flag and bookshelf in background Young Timothy Hutchinson Legislative Branch -- Representatives Fur covered creature standing in river with trees and sunset in the background Fouke Monster Folktales and Songs White man with mustache smiling in suit and tie with flag behind him Victor F. Snyder Legislative Branch -- Representatives White man smiling in suit and tie Frederick Hampton Roy Sr. Nonfiction, Practitioners White man smiling in suit and tie with flag behind him Tommy Franklin Robinson Legislative Branch -- Representatives Steam locomotive parked at "Reader" train station Reader Railroad Businesses Round polygonal stone building with wooden shingles and steps leading up to it. Ozark Folk Center State Park Folklife Projects and Folklorists, State Parks Old white man in hat and glasses with acoustic guitar performing for white patrons Jimmy Driftwood Folk Old white man playing a fiddle on stage with old white woman and white guitarists Arkansas Folk Festival Festivals and Events, Folklife Projects and Folklorists Multistory art deco brick building with carved stone bordered entrance steps landscaping and light pole Old Hempstead County Courthouse Buildings, Museums and Historic Sites Horses on track running by crowded stands and main buildings Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort Attractions (Historic and Current), Horseracing

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.

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