Arkansas women have held important social and political roles throughout the state's history. In addition to domestic, educational, and civic roles, Arkansas women became active suffragettes and held early roles in government. In the 1920s the town of Winslow elected the first all-female city government; in 1932 the nation's first female senator was a representative of Arkansas. This online exhibit explores some of the roles of women in the state, particularly in regard to education and political pursuits.
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Charlotte Stephens
Black and white print photograph of Charlotte Stephens, the first African American teacher in Little Rock, Arkansas.
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Convent of Mercy, Little Rock
This is a pencil sketch of the Convent of Mercy at 7th and Louisiana Street in Little Rock, unknown date.
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Geraldine Jones Jefferson
Black and white photograph of Mrs. Geraldine Jones Jefferson posed sitting in a chair wearing a dress, coat, and hat and holding a purse.
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Medora Hampton Kitchens making rugs with friends
Black and white photographic negative of Medora Hampton Kitchens and her friends showing rugs they are making. Medora is standing with a rug labeled, "Daisy Scroll." The seated women are unnamed but the titles of their rugs are listed left to right: "Gift of Love," Bow, Knot and Roses," "Paradise Garden," "Hearth Rug," and "Arcadia."
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Prescott cheerleaders
Black and white photograph of three unnamed African American cheerleaders from Prescott in their cheerleading uniforms.
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Women's City Club in Little Rock
Color postcard of the Women's City Club at 4th and Scott Streets in Little Rock, Arkansas.
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Narrative, Origins of Arkansas's State Flag
Willie K. Hocker
This is Willie K. Hocker's narrative about the origin of Arkansas's state flag. The first four pages are handwritten on Pine Bluff letterhead by Hocker, designer of the flag, but the last page is typed.
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Women's residence hall, Arkansas State College
Yee Tin-Boo
Color postcard of the Women's Residence Hall at Arkansas State College in Jonesboro.
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Arkansas Lassies basketball team
This is a black and white photograph of the 1960 Arkansas Lassies basketball team. Linda Yearby is the second person to the far right. The photograph is signed by Marii Witt.
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Ila Upchurch
Black and white photograph of Jeanes Teacher's supervisor, Ila Upchurch. Upchurch worked as a Jeanes Teacher's supervisor in Prescott, Arkansas, for over 25 years and was the only Jeanes teacher in the area during her tenure.
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Letter, Women's Emergency Committee to Gov. Orval Faubus
Two-page typed letter to Governor Orval Faubus refuting his assertion that the desegregation of Washington D.C. schools was a good representation for why integration is bad. The committee included a page of statistics about Washington D.C. schools as well as a quote from a Washington D.C. school superintendent stating that his schools have not declined as a result of desegregation.
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Patricia Peacock, world champion duck caller
Black and white photograph of Patricia Peacock, world champion duck caller, at the age of 17.
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Former first ladies of Arkansas
Johnny Jenkins
This is a black and white photograph of eight former First Ladies of Arkansas. The photograph does not have a list of names attached.
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Bernie Babcock and Pauline Hoeltzel
This is a black and white photograph of Bernie Babcock receiving her honorary degree in Literature from the University of Arkansas in the spring of 1951. Seated next to her is Pauline Hoeltzel, who was a member of the University of Arkansas's Board of Trustees.
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Program, National Hospital Day - Lena Lowe Jordan
Program from the 1950 National Hospital Day honoring Nurse Lena Lowe Jordan. Jordan had worked as a nurse for 40 years and on her 66th birthday, the Lena Jordan Hospital honored her as part of National Hospital Day. The program is missing pages.
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Letter to Pauline Hoeltzel from Marion Brown
Marion Brown
Letter written to Pauline Hoeltzel from Marion Brown congratulating Pauline on her appointment to the University of Arkansas Board of Trustees. Pauline was the first woman appointed on the U of A Board of Trustees, serving from 1950-1960. This letter is one of an extensive series of congratulatory correspondence on her appointment.
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Ila Upchurch, home economics teacher
This is a black and white photograph of Ila Upchurch in her Home Economics classroom at McRae School in Nevada County.
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Ila Upchurch, McRae School home economics
This is a black and white photograph of Ila Upchurch with canning jars prepared at McRae School Home Economics canning class at McRae School in Nevada County.
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Three unidentified African American women
This is a black and white photograph of three unidentified African American women standing outside a school.
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Female workers at the bomb detonation plant, Jacksonville, AR
Black and white photograph of female workers at the Bomb Detonation Plant in Jacksonville. Written on the back of the photograph: "third from left - Nonnie (3rd from left), Laura (Herring) Kennedy Jigouleff, Prob. between 1942-1945, 3rd from right: Ruby Hooks Stuckey, Worked in Bomb Detonation Plant (just outside of Little Rock, Ark.) - during WWII, Jacksonville."
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Letter, Hattie Caraway to John Park Cravens
Hattie Caraway
This is a typed letter from Senator Hattie Caraway to John Park Cravens in Magazine, Arkansas. In the last paragraph, Caraway talks a little about being a female legislator
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Letter, Mrs. F.J. Jackson to Lessie Stringfellow Read
Mrs. F.J. Jackson
This is a typed letter from Mrs. F.J. Jackson with the Women's Campaign Committee to Lessie Stringfellow Read discussing Ben Laney's gubernatorial campaign.
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Program, Arkansas Democratic Women's Club convention
This is a program from the 12th Annual Arkansas Democratic Women's Club Convention at the Marion Hotel in Little Rock.
