The history of African Americans in Arkansas is a long and complex story. From Arkansas’s earliest territorial days through modern day statehood, Arkansas’s African American community has endured pain and difficulty, meeting challenges with strength and perseverance while contributing to the world a legacy of powerful role models. One of the most important factors for African Americans in Arkansas, though, is probably one of the least addressed: the sense of close-knit community. This collection highlights the everyday life of Arkansas’s African American community, including education, work, religion and leisure.
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Program, Mock Convention at Moses Chapel M.E. Church
Program for a mock convention held at the Moses Chapel M.E. Church in Lonoke.
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Members of the Lafferty Methodist Episcopal Church
This is a black and white photograph of the Lafferty Methodist Episcopal Church members in Batesville, Arkansas.
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Book, Ritual No. 1, Ladies' Chamber, Mosaic Templars of America
This is a small, hard-cover book containing the forms, ceremonies, and laws of elections for the Mosaic Templar's Ladies' Chamber in Little Rock, Arkansas. This was drafted and compiled on June 3, 1884 , by J.E. Bush.
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Girl's Department of the Colored Industrial Institute
This is a black and white photograph of the Girl's Department at the Colored Industrial Institute in Pine Bluff, Arkansas
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Sewing Class at the Colored Industrial Institute
This is a black and white photograph of a girl's sewing class at the Colored Industrial Institute in Pine Bluff, Arkansas.
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Woodworking Department of the Colored Industrial Institute
This is a black and white photograph of the woodworking department at the Colored Industrial Institute in Pine Bluff, circa 1893.
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Letter, Ernestine Copeland to Annie Rector Copeland
Letter from Ernestine Copeland to her mother, Annie Rector Copeland.
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Letter, John Rector to Annie Rector Copeland
Letter from John Rector to his sister, Annie Rector Copeland.
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Letter, William and Louis Rector to Annie Rector Copeland
Letter from William Rector and Louis Rector to Annie Rector Copeland. The first part of the letter is written by Annie's father, William, and the second part is written by her brother, Louis.
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Letter, Johnie and Louis Rector to Annie Rector Copeland
Letter from Johnie and Louis Rector to their sister, Annie Rector Copeland. The letter talks about the wedding of Charlotte Stephens, whom they call Lottie. Charlotte Stephens was the first African American teacher in Little Rock.
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Letter, Louis Rector to Annie Rector Copeland
Letter from Louis Rector in Little Rock to his sister, Annie Rector Copeland.
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Letter, William Copeland to Annie Copeland
This is a handwritten love letter from William Copeland to his wife, Annie Copeland.
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Letter, Lewis Rector to Annie Rector Copeland
Letter from Lewis Rector in Little Rock to his sister, Annie Rector Copeland in Marion, Arkansas.
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Color Guard of the United States Army, African American Regiment
This is a black and white photograph of the Color Guard of the United States Army, African American Regiment, stationed in Des Arc, Arkansas during the Civil War.
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The State of Arkansas v Dave Dan, a Free Negro
This is a court case called by the State of Arkansas against David (Dave) Dan, a free man of color, for not entering into a bond at the time of his freedom and continuing to reside in the state of Arkansas.
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Document, George Washington Free Black bond
A $600 bond posted for George Washington, a free black living in Lawrence County.
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Document, Polly Ann Free Black bond
A $600 bond posted for Polly Ann, a free black living in Lawrence County.
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Wade v Elijah Bettis (Jr.): Petition of Wade - Exhibit A
This is a court case in which the man named Wade is suing for his freedom from Elijah Bettis, who assaulted and re-enslaved him despite the will of his deceased father, Dr. Elijah Bettis, senior. According to the will written in 1835, Wade, a mulatto boy who was about 9 years old at the time, was to be freed upon his reaching the age of 20.