Secretary of State Historical Report

I know, not the most interesting title for a blog post, but hear me out. This report is one of the more interesting state government and state history resources we have available here at the library. Complied by the State Capitol Historian, this book has short essays about the history of Arkansas, information about various state officials (as of 2008, the last time it was revised), and complete rosters of all the legislatures going back to the first Territorial General Assembly in 1819. The report also has the historical roster for the Arkansas Courts, and rosters of all the various county officials for all of the counties. But wait, there is more! There are also Arkansas vote tallies for the presidential elections going back to 1836, as well as gubernatorial and U.S. legislative elections.

And the best part? The report is available, for free download or order, to everyone. While we would love to have you come use the report here at the library, we realize that is not always possible. So, if your interest has been peaked, visit the Secretary of State's web page, and start browsing the Historical Report!

Arkansas State Government Resources

Here in Arkansas, the Fiscal Session of the 88th General Assembly starts next month, on February 13th. Right now, legislators are preparing and filing proposed legislation and holding preparatory meetings. You can see the daily schedule of committee meetings, find information about state legislators, and once the session has started, see what bills were filed that day, all on the legislature's home page. You can also find links to searchable versions of the Acts of Arkansas back to 1987, and the Arkansas Code (the state statutes that provide the laws for the state).

Here at the State Library, we have the Acts of Arkansas going back to early statehood, as well as the most recent version of the Arkansas Code. Because we are a government depository, we also have information published by other Arkansas state agencies, as well as the rules and regulations that govern those agencies. These collections are all open for public use, and our reference librarians can help you find the materials you need. To send a request, use our Ask a Librarian form.

Arkansas History Hub

There is a new resource for Arkansas state history teachers: the Arkansas History Hub. Its mission, as taken from the website is "to improve the quality of Arkansas history education across the state by providing comprehensive access to online resources, as well as facilitating the open exchange of ideas and materials between teachers, institutions and history professionals."

There are lesson plans for all ages and grade levels, a database of potential Arkansas history field-trips, and listings for professional development opportunities. You can also sign up to become a member and contribute links and plans.

Here at the Arkansas State Library, we also a range of Arkansas history-related materials, including our Arkansas Collection and Arkansas government documents.

Arkansas Heritage Month

I am a little late bringing you this announcement, but May is Arkansas Heritage Month. The theme this year is "Conflict and Consequence: Commemorating the Civil War." From the Heritage Month 2011 website:

Today, as our nation again encounters painful strife in our country, we experience fierce and often hostile debates over cultural issues -- fortunately without the rush to arms. What better way to revisit the lessons from the Civil War to learn how to deal with our internal differences? How was your community or area affected by the Civil War? Did battles or skirmishes take place near your hometown? How did the locals live and survive during that time? What was it like for those left at home while fathers, brothers and sons went off to war? Do any Civil War-era structures remain in your community? Think of ways to commemorate this time in our history by planning a Heritage Month event to take place in May 2011.
 

 For a list of events around the state commemorating the Civil War and Heritage Month, go to the Heritage Month 2011 website.

Historic Military Records for Arkansans

One question we get fairly frequently is how to find military records for Arkansan ancestors who may have fought in the Civil War. While we have many books on the subject in our Arkansas Collection (just type Arkansas Civil War into the search box on our catalog), we do not have any of the actual service or pension records here at the Arkansas State Library.

There are two local archives, however, that do have military information.  The first is the Arkansas History Commission.  They have Confederate Pension Records as well as Confederate Home Records. To find links to more information about these and the other records the History Commission holds, look at their Military Records page.

The second archives in Little Rock is the Butler Center for Arkansas Studies, part of the Arkansas Studies institute which is a joint venture between the Central Arkansas Library System and the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.  The Butler Center was created "for the purpose of promoting a greater understanding and appreciation of Arkansas history, literature, art, and culture."

Both of these institutions are great resources for anyone looking for more information about the history of Arkansas and their own family's place in that history. And don't forget to check out our own Arkansas Collection of books.

Encyclopedia of Arkansas

One of the best sources of information about the state of Arkansas, its history and people is the Encyclopedia of Arkansas. Curious about the history of Petit Jean State Park? Interested in the singer Lucinda Williams's connections to Arkansas? The Encyclopedia has information on these and many, many more topics. Here is a brief description of the website and its goals, taken from the About page:

The Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture Project strives to offer a definitive, comprehensive, and accurate record of the twenty-fifth state. The online version of the Encyclopedia is the first component of the Project. The online version of the Encyclopedia will be maintained and updated in perpetuity by the staff of the Butler Center for Arkansas Studies.

It is a great place to start for students who need to do reports, or others just seeking facts. Each article has links to other, related articles, as well as a bibliography at the end. There are many pictures, maps and other resources available as well. Take some time to poke around and see what you can find. I promise it will be worth the time!