History Commons^™

Playing At The Crossroads Of Religion And Law: Historical Milieu, Context And Curriculum Hooks In Lost & Found, Owen Gottlieb

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This chapter presents the use of Lost & Found – a purpose-built tabletop to mobile game series – to teach medieval religious legal systems. The series aims to broaden the discourse around religious legal systems and to counter popular depiction of these systems which often promote prejudice and misnomers. A central element is the importance of contextualizing religion in period and locale. The Lost & Found series uses period accurate depictions of material culture to set the stage for play around relevant topics – specifically how the law promoted collaboration and sustainable governance practices in Fustat (Old Cairo) in twelfth-century …

Life In The Time Of Covid-19, Joe Jeffers

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This narrative is a personal account of the COVID-19 pandemic and its effect on my life in 2020. Three factors come to bear on my reactions. First, I am 75 years old. Second, I have a minor heart condition. Third, I am a scientist. The first two put me in a higher risk category, and my behavior changed accordingly. The third is the window through which I view the world. It affects my reaction to data as the nature of SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 are revealed. I follow numerous information sources about the pandemic and share those articles on Facebook. Retirement …

Henry Ivens Stone, Local Inventor, Lisa K. Speer

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Henry Ivens Stone was born October 30, 1866, in Clark County, Arkansas to William Clark "W.C." and Mary Ann (Smith) Stone. Stone's mother, Mary Ann, was the daughter of Dr. Willis and Margaret Janes Smith. Stone married Sara L. "Sallie" Turbeville on May 14, 1887, in Nevada County. Henry and Sallie lived in Whelen Springs, and were the parents of three children--Willie Mae, Warner "Cap," and Henry Jr., who died before his first birthday. Henry Ivens Stone died from pneumonia on November 20, 1900. Frederick Vallowe, the great grandson of Stone, donated the original patent, transcribed below, to the Archives …

Another Man Done Gone, Lisa K. Speer

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Author’s note: I grew up hearing stories about a maternal great uncle who died young following an arrest for some minor offense. As an adult, I hadn’t thought much about his story until earlier this year. While hunkered down in quarantine during the COVID-19 outbreak, a cousin texted a photograph and a newspaper clipping to me and asked if I knew who the man was, or anything about what had happened to him. The photograph was of our great uncle, Richard Audell Clift, and the clipping was about his death. Reading about his death made me realize that there was …

The Bullet In The Brick: The Materiality Of Conflict In Museum Objects, Siobhan Doyle

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Tangible traces of conflict in visual artefacts can take viewers uncomfortably close to the realities of war—violence, destruction and fatalities. This article questions the evidential force of objects associated with conflict and their eventual display in exhibitions. Through a study of the display of a brick in which is embedded a bullet that is said to have passed through the body of Francis Sheehy Skeffington when he was executed by firing squad during the Easter Rising in Dublin in 1916, this article explores the historical configuration of the brick and analyses its public display in the National Museum of Ireland …

The Wiley Funeral Home Records At Ouachita Baptist University, Lisa K. Speer

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In 2009, Ouachita Baptist University's Special Collections and Archives received a set of records from the Wiley Funeral Home (now Mitchell Funeral Home) of Arkadelphia, containing death certificates, burial transit permits, and funeral insurance records kept between 1941-1968. The records document the lives of several thousand African Americans who were either residents of Clark County or whose funerals were handled by Wiley Funeral Home.

Clark County, Arkansas: The Garden Spot Of The Sunny South, Lisa K. Speer

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Presented here is a typescript of a pamphlet produced and distributed circa 1877 by the St. Louis, Iron Mountain, and Southern Railway to promote settlement in Clark County. The original pamphlet is housed in the collections of the Arkansas State Archives.

100 Years Ago: Front-Page Stories From Arkadelphia's Southern Standard, Lisa K. Speer

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The following news items were extracted from the front pages of Arkadelphia's Southern Standard weekly newspaper of 1919. The articles illustrate the variety of news published by the paper and offer glimpses into life in early 20th-century Clark County. The return to normalcy following the end of a world war; agricultural and economic development of the county; and moonshining were just a few of the themes that ran through the news that made the front pages of 1919.

James Connolly's Bloodstained Vest: Mediating Death And Violence In Commemorative Exhibitions, Siobhan Doyle

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The actions surrounding the display of images and artefacts in museums – collection, conservation, research and exhibition – are bound up with how the past is presented and remembered. These conditions and decisions relating to exhibitions are largely invisible to viewers who are confronted with the apparent completeness of an exhibition display. By conducting a historical and visual analysis of the bloodstained vest of political leader James Connolly, this article uncovers how this artefact has become a relic of historical violence due to the way in which particular aspects of its configuration, form and trajectory have been manipulated in order …

Habicht-Cohn-Crow House One Of The Oldest In Town, Wendy Bradley Richter

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One of Arkadelphia’s oldest homes sits at the corner of Eighth and Pine streets. Known as the Habicht-Cohn-Crow House, the building was constructed in 1870 for Captain Anthony E. Habicht, who came to the South during Reconstruction. Local legend says that Habicht patterned the house after one he had seen in Natchez, Mississippi, and its design was heavily influenced by the Greek Revival style.

History Of Library Cannon, Wendy Bradley Richter

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Today, relatively few Arkadelphians know the history behind the cannon that sits on the lawn of the Clark County Library on Caddo Street.

Manufactured by the Confederate Army at the foundry/arsenal here in Arkadelphia in the early 1860s, it never fired a shot at an opposing army. Interestingly, the weapon also served as a hitching post after the war, before being place on the library grounds.

Cates Remembered As Early Pioneer, Wendy Bradley Richter

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Few people were privileged to witness the spread of settlement into the virtually untouched wilderness of Arkansas following the arrival of European explorers. Even by the time of the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, only two places in what is now Arkansas could truly be called settlements, and both were near the Mississippi River.

1918: Bone-Chilling Temperatures Freeze River, Wendy Bradley Richter

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With recent frigid temperatures in the area, it is difficult to imagine that the harsh cold weather does not come close to that which visited Arkadelphia 100 years ago.

Flanagin Law Office Constructed Prior To Civil War, Wendy Bradley Richter

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Today, many visitors to the downtown Arkadelphia vicinity may not realize the historical significance of one of the buildings across the street from the Clark County Court House.

The structure known to some as the "Flanagin Law Office" was constructed prior to the Civil War and served as an office for a number of different attorneys, including Arkansas Governor Harris Flanagin of Arkadelphia. Flanagin became governor in 1862 and held the office during some of the most tumultuous year in American history.

Contributions Of Women To Clark County's History, Lisa K. Speer

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Excerpted from a lecture given for the Clark County bicentennial, this article focuses on the contributions of Clark County women to the community during the major movements and events of the late 19th and 20th centuries.

Arkadelphians Play Baseball In Montana, Lisa K. Speer

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Perhaps a little known facet of Clark County history is its connection to Negro League baseball in the early 20th century. Between 1917 and 1939, sixteen young men from Arkadelphia played baseball for the Butte Colored Giants in Montana.

The Early Arkadelphia Post Office, Wendy Bradley Richter

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At this time of year, many people begin to make preparations to send or receive packages by mail during the holiday season.

Today, practically all homes and businesses receive some sort of communication each day the United State Postal Service operates. But, many don't stop to think about the improvements that have take place in that service through the years.

Clark Remembered For Exploration Of Louisiana Purchase, Wendy Bradley Richter

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In the early days of Arkansas history, counties were physically much larger, although much more sparsely settled.

Clark County was one of five counties in existence when Arkansas Territory was established in 1819. In fact, the county celebrates its 199th anniversary later this week.

Crow Becomes First To Work In Arkadelphia Real Estate, Wendy Bradley Richter

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Through the years, many Clark Countians have enjoyed distinguished careers and have made significant contributions to the development of the area.

One such individual was businessman Austin M. Crow. While no one today has a living memory of Mr. Crow, his wide-ranging activities place him among the early leaders of the Arkadelphia community.

Wwi Impact Felt Locally, Wendy Bradley Richter

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During the next year or so, much attention will be given to the centennial of World War I, which officially ended November 11, 1918, with the date becoming known as Armistice Day.

The conflict had a great impact on our nation as the first modern, global war. Approximately 65 million were mobilized, including over 70,000 soldiers from Arkansas. Many Clark Countians participated. In November of 1918, just after the war was over, Arkadelphia's Southern Standard newspaper reported these numbers: "Clark County has furnished 1064 men, divided among the several departments as follows: National Guard 71; Regular Army, 22; Enlisted Reserve, …

Exhibit Still Open To The Public, Wendy Bradley Richter

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Time is running out for Clark County area citizens to enjoy a Smithsonian Museum exhibit here in Arkadelphia.

The Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service of the Museum on Main Street program and the Arkansas Humanities Council have partnered to bring "Hometown Teams: How Sports Shape America" to Ouachita Baptist University.

Time Travel, Labour History, And The Null Curriculum: New Design Knowledge For Mobile Augmented Reality History Games, Owen Gottlieb

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This paper presents a case study drawn from design-based research (DBR) on a mobile, place-based augmented reality history game. Using DBR methods, the game was developed by the author as a history learning intervention for fifth to seventh graders. The game is built upon historical narratives of disenfranchised populations that are seldom taught, those typically relegated to the 'null curriculum'. These narratives include the stories of women immigrant labour leaders in the early twentieth century, more than a decade before suffrage. The project understands the purpose of history education as the preparation of informed citizens. In paying particular attention to …

Marker Highlights Significance Of Military Road, Wendy Bradley Richter

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A historical marker standing near the Diamond Lakes Visitors Center in Caddo Valley highlights the significance of the Military Road as a major transportation artery during the Civil War and through Arkansas' early history. It also describes Arkadelphia's role as a Confederate manufacturing and supply center during the war: The "powder works" and "arsenal" were among this area's significant contributions to the Confederate war effort.

Flood Of 1927 Damages County, State, Wendy Bradley Richter

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Ninety years ago, what was arguably the nation's greatest natural disaster wreaked havoc on Arkansas and the entire Mississippi River Valley. The Flood of 1927 brought tremendous destruction to the region, taking hundreds of lives and inundating over sixteen million acres of land. Water covered more than 13 percent of the state of Arkansas, damaging approximately 162,000 homes. About 700,000 people were displaced as water inundated the land to depths of up to thirty feet.

1914 Fire Destroys College Building, Wendy Bradley Richter

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A little over 103 years ago, Arkadelphia's Southern Standard newspaper's front-page headlines screamed, "College Building Destroyed by Fire." Sadly, Henderson-Brown College's largest structure had burned. The February 5, 1914, issue of the newspaper observed that "One of the most destructive fires with which our city was ever visited occurred early Tuesday morning when Henderson-Brown College was almost entirely consumed by the angry flames."

Milling An Important Part Of County's Economy, Wendy Bradley Richter

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In the early twentieth century, the Arkadelphia Milling Company was an important part of Clark County's economy. The company produced flour, meal, feed, and other products, and also supplied much of Arkadelphia's electrical power for many years. Among the Milling Company's best-known product lines were Dolly Dimple and Robin Red Breast, which were shipped to all parts of the world. Advertisements read, "Arkadelphia Milling Company Feeds the World." Other slogans painted on the sides of buildings included "The Heart of the Grain Plus the Art of the Brain," and "We Never Sleep."

Ucv Established To Preserve History, Wendy Bradley Richter

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About 106 years ago, in April of 1911, a camp of the United Sons of Confederate Veterans was established in Arkadelphia. The group's founding came at a time of renewed interest in the Civil War---the fiftieth anniversary of the start of that conflict---as well as recognition of the fact that many veterans were passing away and living memory of that part of history would soon be lost.

History Of Okolona And Its Schools, Wendy Bradley Richter

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The town of Okolona in southwestern Clark County was first settled by Americans in the early 1830s when settlers began arriving by covered wagons from Okolona, Mississippi. These first residents built their homes on low ground northwest of where the railroad depot later stood. After a few years of mud there, however, the small settlement moved to the town's current location on higher ground where the town continued to grow.

Farming Popular Occupation In Clark County, Wendy Bradley Richter

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At this time of year, many people begin to plant vegetable gardens and hope for a successful growing season. In the first part of the twentieth century, when farming was the occupation of many in Clark County, a good bit of agriculture-related news appeared on the front-page of the local newspaper. Stories often pertained to first or early harvests, as well as large or unusual produce. Legends and lore, as well as factual information, were all included in the paper. From the articles, it is clear that a wide variety of items were raised in the Clark County area, and …

Bethlehem School Served Students East Of Arkadelphia, Wendy Bradley Richter

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In August of 1912, Arkadelphia's Southern Standard newspaper announced an upcoming event during which the cornerstone for the new Bethlehem School building would be laid. A program featuring speeches by B.F. Condray, Farrar Newberry, and R.W. Huie, Jr., would highlight the occasion. The school was located about six miles east of Arkadelphia on Highway 51 at the junction of Highway 128 and a county road--in the heart of the Joan community.