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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White River Journal masthead, 1950
This collection contains a letter written by "Charles" to a friend "Wilson, regarding a tornado in Hickory Plains, Arkansas in 1950. The letter includes a photocopy of the masthead of the White River Journal for March 30, 1950.
White River/Lonoke Western Railroad lease agreement,1898
This collection contains a lease agreement between the White River Lonoke Western Railroad and the McLeod Lumber Company for the lease of railroad equipment consisting of steel rails, straps, nuts, bolts, and spikes.
White River Methodist Conference presiding elder's minutes book, 1895-1896
This collection contains one minute book containing the years 1895-1896.
White River Railroad Company proposed station grounds diagram, 1903
This collection contains blueprints for a proposed station for the White River Railroad Company.
White River survey report [photostat], 1837
This document on the White River is a negative photostat of the hand written report by W.B. Guion.
White River Township (Washington County, Ark.) election materials, 1884
This collection contains election materials related to the 1884 election in Washington County, Arkansas.
White River Township (Washington County, Ark.) poll book, 1878
This collection contains one poll book for White River Township in Washington County, Arkansas used during the General Election held September 2, 1878.
White River Watershed papers, 1955
This collection contains six letters dated 1955.
White-Wilson-Miller family papers, 1841-1930
This collection contains correspondence, legal papers, photos, and Spanish-American War pension records. The material covers Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Indian Territory.
Whitson promissory notes, 1836
This collection contains two promissory notes.
"Who Killed McCulloch?," typescript by Dr. Paul P. Greusel, undated
This collection contains a typescript of "Who Killed McCulloch," by Paul P. Greusel.
W.H. Robertson warranty deed, 1910-1915
This collection contains two warranty deeds for land in Polk County, Arkansas.
W.H. Whittmore advertisement, 1915
This collection contains an advertisement for W.H. Whittmore, a clothing store, in Fayetteville, Arkansas that was in business around 1905.
Wilburn Cartwright letter, 1929
This collection contains a letter.
Wiley family papers, 1912-1930
This collection contains one 8x10 black and white copy photograph of the Wiley family, one page of biographical information on them, and a photocopy of the 1930 federal population census listing the Wiley family.
Wiley Funeral Home records, 1930-1989
This collection contains death certificates, burial transit permits, burial insurance documents, and other items related to Wiley Funeral Home's business in Arkadelphia, Arkansas.
This collection consists of the papers, books, periodicals, catalogs, et cetera, of Wilhelm Berg of Little Rock, Arkansas.
This collection contains two letters written to Wilhelmina Lea in 1933 and a business card for the Virginia Apartments and Rooms in Hot Springs, Arkansas.
William A. and John C. Carter, papers 1855-1923
This collection contains the correspondence, and legal and financial documents of William A. and John C. Carter.
William A. Burke letter [photostat], 1847 April 21
This collection contains a letter written by William A. Burke.
William A. Crawford Civil War letters, 1861-1866
This collection contains sixteen pieces of correspondence and materials related to Captain William Crawford of the 1st Regiment Arkansas Volunteers from 1861-1866.
William and Linda Krieg photograph collection, 1900-1923
This collection is comprised of photographs of Ogden family members, Worthen family members, Tunnah family members, these friends of the aforementioned families, and some influential Arkansans. Also included are a 1909 Little Rock High School yearbook and a 1909 commencement book from Little Rock High School that belonged to Allie Tunnah.
William A. Oilfield letters, 1920
This collection contains four letters
This manuscript written by William A. Spalding concerns the building of the St. Louis and North Arkansas Railroad.
William Ayers Crawford papers, 1861-1874
This collection contains news clippings about and letters by William Ayers Crawford between 1861 and 1874.
William B. Easley letter, 1861
This collection contains correspondence from William B. Easley to N.W. Callicoat, discussing the final settlement of the Blythe McKorkle estate.
William Besser letters, 1912-1913
This collection contains correspondence between William Besser and Arkansas History Commission Director Dallas Herndon relating to the sale of his portraits of David O. Dodd and Albert Pike to the Arkansas History Commission in 1913.
William Bethell diary, 1845-1867
This collection contains a diary that includes monthly accounts of the weather in Tulip Ridge and Des Arc, types and numbers of wild game hunted, list of crops planted, slaves sold and purchased, account of farm animals, William’s opinion of the Civil War, stories of slave maltreatment, bible verses, and advice written from William for his children.
This collection contains one small Bible dated 1926.
William Bittle estate executor's sale notice, 1880
This collection contains a notification for the Estate Sale of William Bittle.
William Bivens probate record, 1862
This collection contains a property appraisal for William Bivens, from 1862.
William Boggess collection, 1786-2012
This collection contains census records, articles, correspondence, newspaper clippings, publications, military records, photographs, computer recording devices, and maps. All the materials in this collection were used to write four books about Arkansas history: That Man Named Solon, Solon Borland and Family, The Story of Two Arkansas Pioneer School Teachers, and The Gray's From Maine.
William Browning Ross papers, 1842-1870
This collection contains a religious sermon about the topic of sin, receipts for the sale of cotton and purchased goods, and probate court land records for Missouri and Arkansas.
William Chilson homestead certificate, 1884
The homestead certificate in this collection is dated November 20, 1884.
William Cummins Ratcliffe ledger, 1840-1869
This collection contains a ledger kept by William Ratcliffe and others. It contains notes, a ledger of rental accounts paid, expenditures for building supplies, and other miscellaneous notes. It has the names of William Ratcliffe, Jack Johnson, and Jack [Collsell] written in the front and back. It is unknown for which buildings the rental accounts and supplies were purchased.
William D. Leiper address, 1858
This collection contains an address given on June 25, 1858 by Professor William D. Leiper. Administrative Information Publication Information
William E. Bradbury business card, 1885
This collection contains one business card.
William Etter sworn statement, 1841
This collection contains one sworn statement by William Etter, publisher of the Washington Telegraph, Washington, Hempstead County, Arkansas, dated September 10, 1841, and attached to it a related clipping from an unidentified newspaper, news coverage of Clark County court proceedings dated April 20, 1841.
William E. Woodruff family Bibles, 1820-1870
This collection contains three large Bibles, family information sheets, a photograph album, and several miscellaneous items from the Woodruff family of Little Rock, Arkansas.
William E. Woodruff, Jr., papers, 1851-1902
This collection contains the correspondence of William E. Woodruff, Jr., as well as funeral notices and other material related to Woodruff family members.
William E. Woodruff Jr., papers, 1861-1866
This collection consists of two notebooks of Civil War era correspondence, lists, muster rolls, oaths of allegiance, general orders, Arkansas Treasury Warrants, and a telegram. Included are records from some of the units he commanded. Besides Woodruff, the papers mention Sterling Price and William D. Blocker. Locations mentioned are the Indian Territory, Little Rock (Pulaski County), and DuValls Bluff (Prairie County), Arkansas.
William E. Woodruff letter to the editor of the Arkansas Banner, 1846 March 28
This collection contains a letter to the editor of the Arkansas Banner titled, "To the Democracy of Arkansas," by William E. Woodruff, Van Buren, Arkansas. It discusses the sale of the Arkansas Gazette to a member of the Whig party by Woodruff. It was printed on March 28, 1846.
William E. Woodruff papers, 1841-1874
This collection contains a list of lands for taxation and a letter written to William E. Woodruff.
William E. Woodruff Sr. business papers, 1819-1882
This collection contains a journal, correspondence, deeds, promissory notes, invoices, receipts, and miscellaneous papers from Woodruff's 1819-1882 career as a land agent. It does not include business papers related to his ownership of the Arkansas Gazette.
William F. Cox collection, 1945-1993
This collection contains tourism brochures for the State of Arkansas, including road maps, travel brochures, and articles and news clippings concerning Arkansas tourist sites.
William F. Slemons letter, 1865 January 8
This collection contains a photocopy of a letter from Colonel William F. Slemons, to Captain John James Byron Hilliard, written while he was held captive by Union forces during the Civil War.
William F. Switzler writings, 1836
This collection contains memoirs written by William Franklin Switzler, describing his travels through the South in 1836, including Arkansas.
William G. Dampier letter, 1847
This collection contains a letter written by William G. Dampier in Helena, Arkansas to his brother Lemuel Dampier in Mississippi dated October 12, 1847.
William G. Davis papers, 1789-1856
This collection contains a bounty land grant given to William G. Davis for his service in the War of 1812and a receipt to Peter Worsham. The land grant was issued for eighty acres of land in any part of the United States.
William Gilmore Simms letter, circa 1860s
This letter from William Gilmore Simms informs John E. Knight that a story written by Knight will be published in the September issue of a magazine, not the August issue.
William Graham Harrison papers, 1843-1956
This collection consists of correspondence, deeds, indentures, land patents, legal records, tax receipts, photographs, publications, genealogical data, clippings, memorandum books, a hymnal, and other material.
William G. Thompson Civil War letters, 1861-1864
This collection contains correspondence between William G. Thompson and his wife related to Civil War action in Missouri, Arkansas, Louisiana, Texas, and Alabama. A number of letters were written from Springfield, Missouri, and Fayetteville, Arkansas, and contain information on the Battle of Prairie Grove, Arkansas, December 1862.
William Haynie papers, 1839-1904
This collection contains bills, statements, insurance policies, leases, receipts, tax records, permits, and legal documents.
William H. Davis cotton destruction voucher, 1862
This collection contains a voucher to William H. Davis of Chicot County, Arkansas, for six bales cotton, weighing twenty four hundred pounds.
William Henry Halliburton letter, 1861
This collection contains a letter written by William Henry Halliburton, of Little Rock, Arkansas dated September 2, 1861 to Joseph M. Refeld of Arkansas Post, Arkansas and a list of instructions for planting vegetables written in French.
William Henry Stingley papers 1902-1952
This collection contains records of funerals, conversions, weddings and marriages performed by preacher William Henry Stingley of Arkansas between 1902 and 1952.
William H. Gardenhire Rebel property seizure documents, 1865 November 30
The document in this collection is dated November 30, 1865.
William H. Halliburton papers, 1861-1906
This collection contains the appointment of William Henry Halliburton as Chief Collector for the State of Arkansas and his autobiography.
William H.H. Clayton letter, 1889
This collection contains one letter from William H.H. Clayton of Fort Smith, Arkansas, to A.W. Baker of Springdale, Arkansas, dated March 6, 1889.
William H. Holmes commission; 1864
Civil War officer's commission for William H. Holmes, signed by Governor Harris Flanagin.
William Holcomb papers [photocopy], 1861-1881
This collection contains photocopies of items related to William Holcomb, including Civil War receipts for corn and a shotgun, a certificate for service as a “Spy company” of the “Yell Ranger” in 1861, orders to pay Joshua Baker in Washington County, Arkansas in 1862 and a report of the Arkansas Industrial University (later known as the University of Arkansas) dated 1881.
William H. Woodruff papers, 1861-1891
This collection contains letters written by the William H. Woodruff family, receipts, and fragments of letters and other documents.
This collection contains a handwritten copy of a deed from William Ingram to Hugh Knox.
William James Schmitz copy book, 1843-1846
This copybook belonged to William James Schmitz and was used to practice his penmanship.
William Jennings Bryan Postcard , Undated
This collection contains a postcard.
William Kavanaugh Oldham plantation records, 1885-1920
This collection contains three plantation ledgers and a college yearbook.
William K. Perkins papers, 1851-1860
This collection contains correspondence, receipts, surety bonds, sworn statements, accounts due, and legal documents relating to William K. Perkins and his 1854-1860 career as constable of Boon/Boone Township, Scott County (now Logan County), Arkansas.
William L.D. Williams deed, 1851
This collection contains a donation deed issued to William L.D. Williams, Prairie County, Arkansas.
William Leon Russell, Jr., papers, 1940-1974
This collection contains a scrapbook on William Leon Russell's life and military service. He is notable for being awarded the equivalent of 8 purple heart medals.
William Lovely papers, 1814-1817
This collection consists of letters written by and to William Lovely from 1814 to 1817.
William L. Taylor affidavit [photocopy], 1913
The photocopy in this collection consists of a one-page affidavit, dated July 23, 1913.
William Ludlow papers, 1838-1908
This collection contains correspondence received by William Ludlow from family members and business associates, his Justice of the Peace commissions, business and legal papers, and miscellaneous materials.
William McKinley Auxiliary memorial program, 1941
This collection contains a memorial program for the William McKinley Auxiliary.
William Meade Fishback letter, 1885
This collection contains a letter written by William Meade Fishback to Dr. John Wyley Simpson Leslie on September 6, 1885 discussing local politics.
This letter was written by William Moore, brother-in-law of Nancy Jordan Moore Yell, second wife of Archibald Yell, to his wife, Betsey Lawson Moore. Moore writes about settling Yell's estate. Yell (1797?-1847) perished leading a charge in the battle of Buena Vista during the U.S. Mexican War. Moore describes Yell's uniform, "so badly cut in pieces that it barely hangs together--14 holes and splits by the lances of the Mexicans."
William Moore letter (photocopy), 1847 October 14
This letter was written by William Moore, brother-in-law of Nancy Jordan Moore Yell, second wife of Archibald Yell, to his wife, Betsey Lawson Moore. Moore writes about settling Yell's estate. Yell perished leading a charge in the Battle of Buena Vista during the U.S. Mexican War. Moore describes Yell's uniform, "so badly cut in pieces that it barely hangs together--14 holes and splits by the lances of the Mexicans."
William N. May homestead certificate, 1882 May 10
The homestead certificate in this collection is dated May 10, 1882.
William N. Parish letter, 1863
This collection contains a letter written by Confederate William N. Parish, in which he describes the Battle of Port Hudson, Louisiana, to his wife.
William Oscar Springer papers, 1897-1937
This collection contains correspondence from William Oscar Springer of Barber, Logan County, Arkansas, to Dallas Herndon, Secretary of the Arkansas History Commission. There are also news clippings and articles written by Springer.
William O. Wilson estate record, 1853
This collection contains a letter regarding the estate of William O. Wilson who died August 28, 1853.
William P. Barron pension papers [photocopy], 1901-1907
This collection contains a photocopy of portions of the pension papers for William P. Barron completed in 1901 and 1907.
William P. Fletcher papers, 1891-1897
This collection consists of an account book and biographical material about W.P Fletcher and information concerning the Fletcher residence.
This collection contains a letter written by citizens of Bradley County to lawyer William P. Grace of Jefferson County, Arkansas,
William Porter account with A. Wilkins and Company, 1859
The account in this collection is dated December 31, 1859.
William Quesenbury papers, 1860-1888
The materials in this collection includes correspondence, a postscript remark, and literary works. Correspondence included are a letter to Judge John F. Wheeler discussing president of the Arkansas Press Association James Smithee and a photocopied letter to Elias Boudinot where ideas about history, poetry, and literature are reviewed. This collection has a postscript note regarding an error in the Argus Press which cited the wrong location of a speech given by an unknown orator. Literary works included are as follows: “Kansas” is concerning abolitionists; “The Others” is an article about a 4th of July celebration and a short history of prominent figures in Arkansas; "To the Mexican Veteran" is a poem honoring veterans; finally the “Carrier's Address to the Readers of the Western Independent” is a Christmas poem.
William R. Johnson and Company record, undated
This price list for William R. Johnson and Company gives current prices for animal pelts.
This collection contains a Deed of Trust issued by Russell, William to John L. Horner of Helena, Arkansas for the founding of an institution for the education of youth in St. Louis County, MO.
This collection contains a letter written by William Russell in 1818, and an undated petition concerning Missouri Territory.
Williams and Edwards memo, 1890
This collection contains one business memo.
William Savin Fulton papers, 1807-1909
This collection contains correspondence, notes, resolutions, agreements, a diary, and other items pertaining to William Savin Fulton and his family.
This collection contains one diary of the last territorial Governor of Arkansas, William S. Fulton.
William Shepperd death announcement, 1835
This 1835 death announcement of William Shepperd is printed on a piece of cloth.
Williamson family history collection, 1713-2002
This collection contains family, school, and church histories, geographical research, and correspondence. The research resulted in the publication of “A Williamson Saga: Samuel and John,” compiled by Donald K. Campbell (2002). In the book, Campbell explores the forgotten ties between the white and black Williamson families.
This deed was issued to William Strong of St. Francis County, Arkansas.
William Theus and Theus Murphy Campbell paper, 1903-1948
This collection contains thirty-nine items consisting of a letter from Theus Murphy Campbell to his son, William Theus, a second letter from Theus Murphy Campbell to Ruby Shropshire, Theus M. Campbell's army discharge papers, Theus M. Campbell's delayed birth certificate, the obituary for William Theus Campbell, several envelopes, and stamps.
William T. McClain record, 1857
This collection contains a receipt by William T. McClain of Saline County, Arkansas to William Scott for payment for shoes.
William W. Caldwell manuscript, 1890-1988
This collection contains the manuscript of William W. Caldwell's "The Arkansas Society Sons of the American Revolution History 1890-1988," a general history of the society and its twelve different chapters throughout Arkansas. It also includes the 1988 Arkansas State Society roster and an index.
William Weightman deed, 1864 May 19
This collection consists of one deed from William Weightman and his wife, Louisa, to Henry M. Boyd for a lot in the 12th ward of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, dated May 19, 1864. This deed was found in the attic of 1806 South Gaines, Little Rock, Arkansas in 1985.
William Wilson broadside: "Execution Sale," 1879
This collection contains one broadside announcing the sale of real estate of William Wilson after his death.
This collection contains one letter.
