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This Day in Arkansas History

October 29, 1957

Orean Lencola Sullivan was born in Morrilton (Conway County). Sullivan broke many color barriers in Arkansas, including being the first African American to win the Miss Arkansas Pageant (1980). In September 1980, Sullivan competed in the Miss America Pageant and was the fourth runner-up in the national pageant, the highest placement achieved by a Black contestant up to that time. In 2006, Sullivan was inducted into the Arkansas Black Hall of Fame.

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City of Camden Steamboat

The location of Camden (Ouachita County) on the Ouachita River facilitated the town’s development as a trade center since its settlement in the early 1800s. By the 1850s, Camden was a major port for river traffic, with as many as 40,000 bales of cotton shipped by water every year. Such traffic continued until the early part of the twentieth century, when rail service began to reduce river trade. The steamboat City of Camden is shown here in 1894, docked at Camden and loaded with cotton.

 

The location of Camden (Ouachita County) on the Ouachita River facilitated the town’s development as a trade center since its settlement in the early 1800s. By the 1850s, Camden was a major port for river traffic, with as many as 40,000 bales of cotton shipped by water every year. Such traffic continued until the early part of the twentieth century, when rail service began to reduce river trade. The steamboat City of Camden is shown here in 1894, docked at Camden and loaded with cotton.

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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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