The Arkansas State Archives houses approximately 13,000 cubic feet of state records and manuscript collections pertaining to the history of Arkansas and its people. These materials have been described and inventoried for ease of access. These inventories, called finding aids, are keyword searchable. Click the collection's title to view the finding aid's information page. Click on the pdf icon to go straight to the finding aid.
Separated Materials: Some archival collections contain materials that have been stored separately from the bulk of the collection due to those items' preservation needs. Generally, this affects collections that include artifacts that have been moved to the archives' museum collection, and the existence of artifacts in a collection has been noted in that collection's finding aid. Due to the nature of artifact and other separated materials, we require researchers to fill out an Artifact Access Form and send it in to state.archives@arkansas.gov, to schedule an appointment to view artifacts from the museum collection.
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Joseph H. Jones Civil War papers [photostat], 1916
This collection contains photostats of Joseph H. Jones's reminiscences of the Civil War and correspondence concerning his military records.
Joseph Janes estate papers, 1833
This collection consists of a receipt from Joseph Janes Estate to Smith Walker for the use of Benjamin P. Jett.
Joseph Lawrence Dickson land patent, 1857-1920
This collection contains a land patent for Joseph Lawrence Dickson, filed in the Fayetteville, Arkansas, Land Office on April 4, 1857. It also contains a letter stating that the annexed copy of the patent is true and literal exemplification from the record held in the Department of Interior, General Land Office.
This deed records the sale of sixteenth section land in Saline County, Arkansas, to Joseph Lindsey. The deed was signed by David Dodd, Commissioner.
Joseph P. Runyan collection, 1901-1978
This collection contains records and pamphlets pertaining to Dr. Runyan's medical practice.
Joseph S. Standridge deeds, 1869-1890
This collection contains a warranty deed.
Joseph S. Standridge land purchase receipt, 1877
This collection contains a land purchase receipt.
Joseph T. Haralson papers, 1869
The two documents in this collection are dated June 10, 1869.
Joseph Thurston Runyan collection (Digital), circa 2015
This collection contains digital files of photographs and letters of Lieutenant Joseph Thurston Runyan during his service in World War I in 1918, as well as scrapbook materials and papers written by the donor, Runyan's grandson, Edgar K. Riddick III, that describe Runyan's war service.
Joseph T. Robinson letters, 1911
This collection contains letters exchanged between Robinson, John H. Wright an attorney from Oklahoma City, and Wright’s client, Lee Wilson. These individuals were settling a debt between Robinson and Wilson.
Joseph T. Robinson papers, 1913-1937
This collection contains a few letters and speeches from Robinson's career.
Joseph T. Robinson papers, 1920-1937
The Scott-England Collection contains the personal and Military correspondence of Lloyd England and Homer Scott. It also contains correspondence and papers dealing with other members of the Scott- England Family.
Joseph W. Phillips campaign statement, 1900 March 16
This collection contains one broadside, a brief biographical sketch and statement of political views by Joseph W. Phillips of Newport, in his campaign for the office of Railroad Commissioner, First and Sixth Congressional Districts.
Joseph W. Wilder land grant, 1826 February 1
The land grant in this collection is dated February 1, 1826.
This collection contains one letter of appointment for J.H. Haney as Engineer on construction of the Little Rock and Fort Smith Railroad by Josiah Caldwell.
Josiah H. Demby papers [photocopies], 1865-1967
This collection contains copies of historical accounts written by Josiah H. Demby about the Catterson Militia, with signed affidavits of witnesses and a letter to Powell Clayton. Also included is Demby's Civil War discharge.
Josie Frazee Cappleman poems, 1932
This collection contains a postcard with a typed poem, "If all were like you," and a handwritten poem "This Day of Thanks I'm thanking you..." written by poet Josie Frazee Cappleman dated November 24, 1932.
Journals of the Annual Council of the Church in the Diocese of Arkansas. 1919-1920
This collection contains journals of the Annual Council of the Church in the Diocese of Arkansas. It includes two copies from the 1919 meeting and one copy from the 1920 meeting.
Joycelene Duncan World War II scrapbook, 1940s
This collection is comprised of a scrapbook containing photographs of the Duncan and Bowman families during the 1940s. Many of the images are of the Duncan and Bowman men in their military uniforms as well as images of the women in Little Rock, Arkansas.
J. Phillips and Company invoice and statement, 1865
This collection contains one invoice and statement for J. Phillips and Company in Little Rock, Arkansas, from Henry Bell and Son, Saint Louis, Missouri.
J.R.A. Hendry proof of loss of deed form, 1888
This collection contains one proof of loss of deed form for J.R.A. Hendry, dated March 14, 1888.
This collection contains a letter written by James R. McCulloch, Dorsey County, Arkansas to Dr. John Davis of Blooming Grove, Texas in 1874.
J.R. Titsworth commission, 1861
This commission for J.R. Titsworth was signed by Governor Henry M. Rector.
J.S. Cross Civil War letter, 1863 October 29
This collection contains typescripts of two letters from J.S. Cross to an unknown individual.
This collection contains two letters.
J.S. Kirkpatrick proof of loss of deed form, 1906
This collection contains one proof of loss of deed form for J.S. Kirkpatrick, dated July 19, 1906.
This collection contains a letter from J.S. Piney to W.W. Floyd reporting the 1860 election results for State Treasurer.
J.T. Carpenter school report, 1866
This collection contains a school report of J.T. Carpenter signed by Robert E. Lee, President of Washington College, Virginia.
J.T. Ederington clerk's tax deed, 1888
The tax deed in this collection is dated March 7, 1888.
J.T. Ederington redemption certificate, 1888
The redemption certificate in this collection is dated February 6, 1888.
J.T. Greer and Son Funeral Home records, 1933-1981
This collection contains 16 volumes of records from the J.T. Greer and Son Funeral Home.
Judge Joe Asher letter [photocopy], 1913 November 15
This collection contains a letter written by the county judge, Joe Asher, to a member of the school board in Argenta.
Judge Robert James Lea family and legal papers, 1878-1965
This collection contains correspondence, land records, tax receipts, and other documents concerning land owned by Robert J. and Georgie Passmore Lea.
Judie Fite King collection, circa 1920s-1930s
This collection contains material collected by Judie Fite King and her family, mostly from the 1920s, including a photograph and report card from Wabbaseka School, a photograph from Altheimer School, a postcard from Rector High School, two photographs from the Cut Price Store in Wabbaseka, Arkansas, and five railway and steamship traveling cards.
Judson Baptist University catalogs, 1875-1890
This collection consists of school catalogs and announcements, including student, faculty, and alumni lists, as well as historical information.
Julia Chester McRae diary, 1865-1869
This diary contains entries from 1866-1867, other information from 1865 to 1869, and poems composed by Julia Chester McRae.
Julia McMillin Beebe Fraser family Bible, 1847
Roswell Beebe gave this Bible to Julia McMillin in 1848. It contains five pages of information pertaining to the McMillin, Beebe, and Fraser families.
Julian Imbeau papers, 1838-1842
This collection contains Imbeau's financial records, including promissory notes and account statements.
Julius Alcele Byrd World War II military papers, 1940-1944
This collection contains documents related to Julian Alcele Byrd's military service during WWII. It includes registration documents and a letter to his wife written during his service time in the United States Army.
This collection contains bulletins from the Junior Agricultural College of Central Arkansas, now known as Arkansas State University-Beebe, from 1947 to 1949.
Junius Marion Futrell papers, 1932-1939
This collection contains the papers of Governor Julius Marion Futrell. The papers include reports and correspondence from various departments of Arkansas State government, as well as federal and national agencies. The Arkansas Governor's Office papers included in this collection consist of correspondence, appointments and requests for civilian and political jobs, miscellaneous materials and papers involving state and highway bonds.
J. William Fulbright letter, 1956
This collection contains one letter.
This collection contains papers concerning the Civil War service of J.W.J. Taylor from the 3rd Arkansas Infantry.
This collection contains one letter and one business card of J.W. McClendon.
J.W. Ridgell letter, 1844-1845
This collection contains one letter regarding delivery of plantation assets.
J.W. Stroud and Company ledger, 1867-1868
This ledger from J.W. Stroud and Company of Bentonville, Arkansas, covers 1867-1868.
J.W. Thompson campaign card, 1902
This collection contains the campaign card of J.W. Thompson for the March 29, 1902 primary election.
Kansas and Arkansas Valley Railway check request, 1891
This collection contains one check request.
Kansas City and Fort Smith Railroad Company records, 1888-1889
This collection contains one ledger of railroad company records.
Kate Morse Sonneman, "Roosevelt's Insignia," 1933
This collection contains one copy of "Roosevelt's Insignia," a genealogy of President Franklin Roosevelt's family, presented by Thomas Fox of Concord Chapter, Daughters of American Colonists, Washington County, Arkansas in 1933.
Katharine Anthony letter, 1949
This collection contains one letter.
Katherine E. Litzke Christmas postcard, 1923
This collection contains a Christmas post card written in Spanish to Katherine E. Litzke from Professor F. Beltz. The postcard is wishing Katherine and her family a merry Christmas and a good New Year.
Kay Waters Sakaris papers, 1840-2010
This collection contains genealogical information (photographs, correspondence, newspaper clippings, military information, audiocassettes, and financial materials) for the White, Waters, Mann, Nichols, and Johnson families, who lived in Prairie and Lonoke Counties in Arkansas. Most of this genealogical information was compiled by Kay Waters Sakaris.
Keep Arkansas Beautiful Commission records, 1970-2015
This collection contains three record groups. One was transferred from the Keep Arkansas Beautiful Commission to the Arkansas State Archives in 2005 and two others were transferred in 2020. These records consist of correspondence, minutes, and campaign and promotional material related to the Keep Arkansas Beautiful Commission. The material dates from 1970 to 2015.
This collection consists of various documents such as letters, biographical information, photographs, and excerpts relating to Keith Kahle.
Kelley family tax receipts, 1903-1951
This collection contains tax receipts belonging to the Kelley Family of Arkansas County, Arkansas.
Kelly Bryant papers, 1958-1976
This collection contains correspondence, office memos, press releases, election material, state printing contracts, speeches, news clippings, and publications and correspondence concerning the National Association of Secretaries of State.
Kennedy, Guidos, and Bednar families collection, 1920-1952
From description on inventory from donor Albert Kennedy: The collection is comprised of material related to three generations of the Kennedy, Guidos, and Bednar families, all of whom lived in Arkansas from the early 1900s. The photos, correspondence, and other materials document life in the Slovak settlement in Hazen, also called Slovaktown, Arkansas, and the German community in Subiaco, Arkansas. The records and photos then show the transition in the early 1940s from these rural areas to the city of Little Rock, Arkansas. In addition to rare family and community photos, the collection holds correspondence and photos from soldiers serving overseas during WWII, copies of correspondence from one of the Kennedy children serving in Vietnam, prayer books and prayer cards in Slovak, early 1900s heal and cookbooks, and materials and newsletters related to the early days of the Arkansas Foundry Company.
Kenneth L. Smith collection, 1900-1952
This collection contains manuscript and printed materials regarding the logging industry in Arkansas.
Kentucky tax records, 1787-1875
These tax records are organized by letter of surname and describe the amount of land and personal property owned.
Kill Kare Karnival ad, 1922 December 11
This collection contains one broadside, an advertisement for the "Kill Kare Karnival, on College Campus."
King Farm blueprint map and papers, 1893 July 28
This collection consists of one blueprint map of King Farm, one receipt for surveying King Farm and one letter from W.H. Newsom, surveyor, Wynne, Arkansas, to Henry G. Chambers, Marion, Arkansas, dated July 28, 1893.
Kitty Nelson letters, 1901-1902
This collection contains two letters and a typed copy of one of the letters written to Kitty Nelson from the Arkansas State Penitentiary in 1901 and 1902.
Knights of Pythias letter, 1889
This collection contains a letter from John M. Taylor, the Grand Keeper and Recorder of Seal for the Knights of Pythias, of Pine Bluff, Arkansas to Arkansas Lodges notifying the lodges of resolutions dated May 1, 1889.
Knights Templar Grand Conclave program, 1919 May 20-21
This collection contains a program of the 47th Annual Grand Conclave of the Arkansas Knights Templar, held in Texarkana on May 20-21, 1919.
Knox-Faber family papers, 1828-1948
This collection contains correspondence, envelopes, deeds, business records, tax receipts, estate papers, plat maps, abstracts of property, legal documents, and genealogical data collected by several generations of the Knox–Faber family of Sebastian and Crawford counties, Arkansas. The collection also includes documents related to the estates and heirs of Hugh Knox and Horace B. Rose.
KTHS Radio Station records, 1941-1962
This collection contains folders including correspondence, forms, petitions and applications concerning legal and technical issues of the KTHS radio station from 1941 to 1962. The folders are arranged in chronological order.
Ku Klux Klan manuscript, undated
The manuscript in this collection is undated.
Ku Klux Klan membership card, 1925
This collection contains one Ku Klux Klan membership card.
This collection contains notes written by members of the Ku Klux Klan to or about two black men, Joshua Aynes and W.H. Johnson, from Scott County, Arkansas. Aynes and Johnson were threatened with violence or death if they did not leave the area.
Ku Klux Klan request for assistance, 1961
This collection contains one broadside, an appeal for financial assistance by the Ku Klux Klan (Texarkana) in response to a recently-published letter by CORE (Congress of Racial Equality).
K. W. Rector papers, 1853-1917
This collection contains journals and diaries kept by K.W. Rector and members of the Rector and Bigham families. It also contains deeds and United States land grants from members of the families and other residents in the Izard County area during the 1850s.
LaCotte Brothers account book, 1909
This LaCotte Brothers account book is from 1909.
Ladies Benevolent Association records, 1875-1894
This collection contains papers from the Ladies Benevolent Association from 1875-1894. It includes incorporation papers, letters, financial notes, and an account ledger with entries from 1880-1894.
Lafayette County (Ark.) census, 1829
This census for Lafayette County was recorded by the sheriff in 1829.
Lafayette County (Ark.) certification of redemption, 1878 May 1
This collection contains a certificate of redemption for G.G. Franklin in Lafayette County, Arkansas.
Lafayette County (Ark.) district assessors' reports, 1864-1865
This collection contains the Lafayette County District Assessors Reports for 1864 and 1865.
Lafayette County (Ark.) marriage records, 1866-1867
This collection contains marriage license for Lafayette County, Arkansas.
Lake City Ordnance Plant newspaper, "Lake City Tracer," 1942 May
This collection contains one copy of the “Lake City Tracer” Vol. 1 No.5 from Lake City Ammunition Plant in Jackson County, Missouri. This paper has one article on General Douglas MacArthur from Little Rock, Arkansas.
Lake View "Heritage Space" final grant report, 1954-2019
This collection contains a final grant report for Lake View "Heritage Space" grant project. The project was funded through the Curtis H. Sykes Memorial Grant Program, administered by the Black History Commission of Arkansas. The Black History Commissioner of Arkansas (BHCA) was created by Act 1233 of 1991 and is composed of seven members appointed by the governor with approval of the Senate. The BHCA is charged with preserving the history of black Arkansans and black communities in Arkansas. This commission also encourages research of Arkansas’ black history and promotes teaching black history in Arkansas schools. Grants are awarded from the BHCA in a concerted effort to ensure Arkansas’ black Lake View "Heritage Space" final grant report BHC.006.004 - Page 5 - history is collected and preserved. The Curtis H. Sykes Memorial Grant Program was established in 2009 by Act 660 to honor the program’s namesake who served as chair of the commission from 1993-2007. The collection also contains four composite photographs for C.V. White High School classes of 1981, 1983, 1985, and 1986; and four composite photographs for Lake View High School classes of 1954, 1955, 1956, and 1960.
This collection holds one issue of the La Tribuna Illustrata [The Illustrated Tribune] written in Italian. The cover depicts Henry Lowery from Mississippi County, Arkansas, being tied to a wooden pole and burned alive in a lynching conducted by his fellow Arkansans.
Lamar (Ark.) city records, 1933-1964
This collection contains the records of the city of Lamar, Arkansas, on one microfilm reel.
Lamar Bathhouse stationary, Hot Springs National Park, 1940-1950
This collection contains four unused pieces of Lamar Bathhouse stationary, circa 1940s.
Lambert Reardon land grant, 1839
This collection contains one land grant from 1839, signed President Martin Van Buren.
This collection contains photocopies of correspondence, deeds, wills, certificates, receipts, licenses, steamboat bills of lading, bills of sale, notices, and tax records.
Land donation to Emily S. Key, 1848
This collection contains a donation of land receipt.
Land grant collection, 1820-1848
This collection contains documents transferring ownership of land in Arkansas from the federal government to private citizens.
Lara Virginia Gibbs letter on C.F.M. Noland, 1952 May 1
This collection contains a letter from Lara Virginia Gibbs to Arkansas History Commission Director Ted Worley, concerning C.F.M. Noland.
La Salle Tricentennial Commission records, 1981-1982
This collection contains the papers of the Arkansas La Salle Tricentennial Commission including memos, correspondence, and a final report between 1981 and 1982.
This copy of a manuscript by L.A. Smith contains information gathered by interviewing residents around Booneville, Arkansas.
Latourette Grain Company records, 1912
This collection contains one invoice and one bill of lading.
Laurence Watts Harvison papers, 1893-1949
This collection contains correspondence, both personal and professional, writings, photographs, and memorabilia of Laurence Harvison.
Lawrence County (Ark.) Administrators notice, 1822
This collection contains one administrators notice, requiring executors, administrators, guardians, and others to attend the next meeting of the circuit court in Davidsonville. It is dated May 27, 1822.
Lawrence County (Ark.) records, 1815-1816
This collection contains early records for Lawrence County, including a census conducted by the sheriff in 1829.
Lawrence County Fair Association report, 1894
This collection contains one report on the conditions of affairs of the Lawrence County Fair Association by S. Ruffner, president, dated August 15, 1894.
Lawrence Evans letter of recommendation, 1849
This collection contains a letter of recommendation for blacksmith Lawrence Evans by Ransom Tuggle and N.A. Nesbitt of Clark County, Arkansas dated January 23, 1849.
Lawrence Thompson letter, 1836
This collection contains a letter written by Lawrence Thompson clerk of Greene County, Arkansas to Elias N. Conway, State Auditor on October 28, 1836.
L.C. and Daisy Bates Museum Foundation grant report, 2016
This collection contains a final grant report, and a three-volume inventory of recording documents and artifacts contained in the Bates House Museum in Little Rock, Arkansas.
L.C. Gulley collection, 1819-1904
This collection contains early correspondence of Arkansas governors and other officials of the territory and state, official correspondence regarding Native Americans, and some French and Spanish papers. There are also messages from governors to the Arkansas Legislature, reports from various Civil War generals to Arkansas governors during the war, correspondence regarding Reconstruction, and letters concerning the purchase of land in Arkansas.
This collection contains correspondence, material pertaining to the Republican Party, and assorted legal documents.
