Date Original
1931-1988
Description
The collection contains yearbooks of Scipio A. Jones and other schools, church programs, and journals of the Arkansas Teachers Association.
Biographical/Historical Note
Curtis H. Sykes was born December 21, 1930, in the Dark Hollow community of North Little Rock, Arkansas. He graduated from Scipio A. Jones High School in 1947, and later served as a sergeant in the United States Army during the Korean War. On November 27, 1955, he married Delois Mitchell of Camden, Arkansas, and the couple had three daughters, Adrienne, Belinda, and Curlethia Sykes. He earned a B.S. from Arkansas Baptist College, a M.A. in Education from Texas College, Tyler, Texas, and a M.S. in Education from Harding University, Searcy, Arkansas, where he was the first African American student to graduate. Sykes was a school principal and educator for over thirty-four years. Sykes was instrumental in the establishment of the Black History Advisory Committee (now the Black History Commission of Arkansas) of the Arkansas History Commission, created by Act 1233 of 1991, and served as chairman from 1993 until 2007. He pushed for legislation to have African American history taught in Arkansas schools, kindergarten through twelfth grades, under Act 326 of 1997. Sykes also encouraged the creation of the African American History Coordinator position at the Arkansas History Commission. He was a charter member of the North Little Rock History Commission; a frequent contributor of black history articles in “The Times” newspaper, North Little Rock; and a tireless historian and community activist. Sykes was also a life member of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated, Phi Lambda Chapter; Most Worshipful Prince Hall Mason; Scipio A. Jones High School Alumni, North Little Rock; The Dark Hollow Community Development Corporation, North Little Rock; and numerous other memberships. In February 2008, a part of 15th Street in North Little Rock was renamed Curtis Sykes Drive, and the 15th Street Interstate exit was also later renamed. In March 2008, he received the “Lifetime Achievement Award,” from the Arkansas Historical Association (posthumous). The Black History Commission's grant program was renamed the Curtis H. Sykes Memorial Grant Program with Act 660 of 2009. He died on September 9, 2007
Physical Description
Document, 8.5" x 11"
Geographical Area
Arkansas
Language
English
Identifier
MG.00146
Resource Type
Text
Collection
Curtis H. Sykes collection, MG.00146
Publisher
Arkansas State Archives
Contributing Entity
Arkansas State Archives
Recommended Citation
Curtis H. Sykes collection, Arkansas State Archives, Little Rock, Arkansas.
Rights
Use and reproduction of images held by the Arkansas State Archives without prior written permission is prohibited. For information on reproducing images held by the Arkansas State Archives, please call 501-682-6900 or email at state.archives@arkansas.gov.
Disciplines
United States History
