Welcome to the Encyclopedia of Arkansas

Everything from three white women on float decorated with flowers with "Pea Ridge Heart of the Ozarks" on the side Arkansas Apple Festival to "Arkansas State Fair" arch sign over double gate with fence with single-story building and enclosed stadium in the background Arkansas State Fair and Livestock Show
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This Day in Arkansas History

October 30, 1960

Otto Ernest Rayburn died in Fayetteville (Washington County). Rayburn was a writer, magazine publisher, and collector of Arkansas and Ozark lore. Noted folklorist Vance Randolph once wrote of Rayburn, “There is no denying that, in the period between 1925 and 1950, Rayburn did more to arouse popular interest in Ozark folklore than all of the professors put together.”

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Mary Lewis (right) and Friends

In 1926, opera star and Garland County native Mary Lewis made a triumphant return to her home state. Lewis, who had appeared in vaudeville and silent movies, was one of the most popular and respected opera singers of the 1920s. On March 26, she traveled from Hot Springs (Garland County) to Little Rock (Pulaski County) to attend one of the largest welcome home gatherings in the state’s history. She is shown here (far right) at that gathering with Governor Thomas Jefferson Terral, his wife, and Anna Fitch, the woman who cared for her since Lewis was eight years old.

 

In 1926, opera star and Garland County native Mary Lewis made a triumphant return to her home state. Lewis, who had appeared in vaudeville and silent movies, was one of the most popular and respected opera singers of the 1920s. On March 26, she traveled from Hot Springs (Garland County) to Little Rock (Pulaski County) to attend one of the largest welcome home gatherings in the state’s history. She is shown here (far right) at that gathering with Governor Thomas Jefferson Terral, his wife, and Anna Fitch, the woman who cared for her since Lewis was eight years old.

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Men women and children playing in field with cabin building and at base of tree covered mountain Pinnacle Mountain State Park State Parks Promotional photograph of white man woman and 19 young and teen children standing together with white text Duggar Family Religious Figures, Television and Streaming White man wearing a hat and women in dresses picking cotton with long cotton sack stretching out behind her Great Depression White man with long beard in military uniform with horse and dog Prairie Grove Campaign Timeline Civil War A single bison standing at bottom of hill in grassy field trees and stump in background Bison Zoology Wooden sign held up by posts near road text "The Village @ Pickles Gap Shop Eat Relax" above smaller sign illustration of shaggy dog text "Doc's Coffee and Creamery" Pickles Gap Faulkner Older white man with glasses and blue shirt Rick Dial Actors and Filmmakers white man in black embroidered alongside white woman in dark suit and hat carrying roses amid a crowd of people Johnny Cash Country, Rock busy city intersection with cars and people, view of state capitol in background Little Rock Pulaski Icon of cannon next to text "The Camden Expedition Route" above old photo group of men with rifles on horseback next to large map marking various events along trail during military conflict Camden Expedition Timeline Civil War Book cover "My Life Bill Clinton" with portrait white man with graying hair smiling wool jacket collar upturned Bill Clinton Executive Branch, Governors Group of African-American men standing and sitting before brick wall Elaine Massacre of 1919 Early Twentieth Century Exploded underground missile silo and debris as seen from above Titan II Missile Explosion Post Civil War White man with glasses in white football uniform with red number 77 focusing on game in progress Brandon Burlsworth Football Portrait white man in suit military medal long wavy hair thick beard smoking large pipe Albert Pike Individuals, Lawyers, Poetry, State Figures White man wearing a suit of armor with a sword European Exploration and Settlement, 1541 through 1802 Time Period

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Hand tinted photograph hillside town with large hotel on peak Eureka Springs Carroll Text "Fowler Center Grand Opening Fri Jan 26 Bradbury Art Museum Art Organizations, Museums and Historic Sites Older bearded white man wearing beret tee shirt open button up shirt and khaki vest with clamps on pocket sitting in front of riverbank in woodland area James Larry Yale Painting White man with glasses in suit and tie Pulaski County Historical Society Historians and Historic Organizations From torso up middle aged white woman shoulder length hair curled up on ends and bangs dressed in blouse with lace sleeves and collar smiling Sandra Taylor Smith Historians and Historic Organizations Perpetuities Laws and Court Cases Wooden electric chair with leather straps on display Capital Punishment Law Enforcement Headlines "Lewis Holder Hanged. He murdered his friend and companion Lewis Holder Law Enforcement Headlines "Strangled by the law Jack Spaniard and William Walker Fort Smith Double Execution of August 30, 1889 Law Enforcement Large freestanding sculpture resembling wings made of found women's shoe soles on white backdrop Les Christensen Sculpture airplane hangar labeled "Drake Field Fayetteville" with military airplane and helicopter Museums Educational Organizations and Programs, Museums and Historic Sites multi-story brick, steel, and glass building Arkansas State University Four-Year: Colleges and Universities Skeleton of prehistoric whale with long skull and sharp teeth Basilosaurus Paleontology Brick building with red roof and tower and parking lot with cars and a golf card National Park College Two-Year: Colleges and Universities Single story stone building sign text "Weiner City Hall" above horizontal metal awning held up by eight poles above single story glass entrance wooden benches on either side Weiner Poinsett Single story brick building pointed roof and single chipped wooden door entrance one bordered up window on either side with paintings in horizontal oval shape to left text "Arkansas Rice Festival" illustration of rice plant in middle to right cartoon cardinal wearing jersey number one in middle flying holding banner text "Weiner" above text "Est. 1883" Arkansas Rice Festival 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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