Education in Arkansas has long been fraught with sudden changes, controversy, and complicated legal affairs. Over the course of two centuries, the state has migrated from an array of individual one-room school houses teaching multiple grade levels at a time and private subscription courses, to a standardized and wide-spread network of school districts spanning the state. In an effort to provide their children with an education, communities and government bodies created standards and laws to protect the physical, mental, and moral safety of the schoolchildren in their charge. These laws and standards have, of course, evolved and grown as times, priorities, and expectations changed. The ASA and its branch archives hold a vast array of historical materials related to educational curriculum, attendance and enumeration, teacher licensing and qualifications, legal matters, school administration and funding. This digital collection does not embody the entirety of the archives' holdings on education-related materials, but offers a small representation of such historical materials within the archives.
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Third District Agricultural School
Photograph of four buildings on the campus of the Third District Agricultural School in Magnolia, Arkansas, including the dining hall, boys' and girls' dormitories, and Old Main.
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Graded course of study for rural schools
This is a guidebook designed for use by teachers in rural, one-room schools where they would be teaching first through seventh grade. The book offers guidance for how to schedule all of the lessons for the seven groups of students each day, how to successfully conduct classes, and what skills and knowledge to expect of each grade. The back of the book has space for recording the progress of each student over time. This guidebook in particular was utilized between 1909 and 1911, in central Arkansas County, Arkansas.
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First graduating class from Rugg Street school, Hot Springs, Arkansas, 1910
Photograph of the first graduating class from Rugg Street School, which later became Langston High School, in Hot Springs, Arkansas, 1910. Graduates include Madge Mulholland, Myrtle Sweat, Henrietta Jenkins, Griffin Glover, and Sonny Glover, Rosebud Powell, Blanche Johnson, Ida Johnson, Earnest English, and Warren Shelton.
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Girls winding maypole at Nashville School
Girls at Nashville School participate in a Maypole dance while accompanied by two ladies on the guitar and violin.
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Petition, not providing an education for black students
These are court documents filed in a case regarding the education of African American children. Jim Nations, Monroe Binkley, and Mr. Russell, fathers of 10 African American children within School District No. 2, filed a petition against the district for not providing an education for their children. L.H. Walker, Tom Bottoms, and F.M. Graves, directors for school district number 2 provided a response denying the claims against the district.
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Students at Center Point School
Photographic negative of students at Center Point School, Howard County.
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Enumeration, Black Rock school
This is a school enumeration for district number 40, Black Rock school in Lawrence County, prepared by the school board director and secretary. It details the number of students attending school in that district for the year of 1909.
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First grade class at Sulphur springs school, 1903
This is a photograph of a group of boys from the Sulphur Springs School's first grade glass, standing at the blackboard. Lem Loftus was the teacher.
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Indictment, disturbing a public school
1901 State of Arkansas vs Indictment Pearl Pifer The Grand Jury of Lawrence County for the Western District thereof in the name and by the authority of the State of Arkansas accuse Pearl Pifer of the Crime of disturbing a public school commited as following viz; the said Pear Pifer on the 1st day of February
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Fourth grade class of Morrilton public school, 1900
This is a black and white photograph of the fourth grade class of Morrilton Public School in Conway County, taken in 1900, in front of the school building.
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Girls' school class, 1890s
A photograph of an all-girl school class, probably all teenagers, standing in front of the school doors. The teacher is standing off to the right. Identified people in this photograph include: Mildred Biggers Leftwich (1st row, 3rd from left), Novela Wingfield (1st row, 4th from left), and Fawn Leftwich (2nd row, 3rd from left).
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Students of Piney School in Carroll County, 1899
This is a photograph of the 24 students of Ethel Doxey Hill, teacher at Piney School in Piney, Carroll County, Arkansas.
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Director's oath, S.M. Prince
This is S.M. Prince's school director's oath of office for school district number 23 in Lynn, Arkansas.
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Portrait of Lonoke High School 1896 graduating class
This is a large, cabinet card photograph depicting the Lonoke High School graduating class of 1896. The only name noted on the back of the photograph is that of Kate Correthers, but she is not identified on the front of the photograph.
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Class portrait of 8th and 9th grades, Lonoke school, 1893
This is a large, sepia-toned cabinet card photograph depicting the Lonoke School's 8th and 9th grade classes and their teacher, taken on December 6th, 1893.
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Court case, school district number 5 v H.B. Morris and B.N. Dawson
This is a court case between school district number five and the school district directors, H.B. Morris and B.N. Dawson, for hiring a teacher who was allegedly not licensed to teach in that area.
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Commencement program, Washington High School 1889
Commencement program of Washington High School, Washington, Arkansas, June 14, 1889
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Court Case, William M. Ponder v James P. Coffin, commissioner
These are county court documents for a case alleging the misuse of tax funds intended for educational purposes.
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Land deed, school district number 26
This is a land deed for a tract of land sold by Jane Williams to the Board of Directors of School District number 26 in Morgan Township of Lawrence County for three dollars.
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Petition, prohibiting liquor near a school house
This is a copy order of a petition and court answer to prohibit the sale of liquor within 3 miles of the school in Black Rock, Arkansas.
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Arkansas Female College catalog, 1887
This is a catalog of the various curricula offered by the Arkansas Female College that was located in Little Rock. It includes the various courses of study, the subjects covered, pricing information, and expectations for its students.
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Petition to transfer children, Thompson F. Smith
This is a petition by Thompson F. Smith to transfer his children from district 24 to district 25.
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Contract, cedar creek subscription school
This is a contract for Green Woods, a teacher, to run a subscription school out of the Cedar Creek School House in Lawrence County and includes a list of the subscribers.