Arkansas History Commission's April 2016 Newsletter

Look inside the April 2016 Issue for these and other features!


AHC Receives $24,387 Grant from Arkansas Humanities Council

We are happy to announce that the Arkansas History Commission has received a generous grant from the Arkansas Humanities Council and the National Endowment for the Humanities of $24,387 to support much of our public programming in 2016.  The grant will provide funding in part for five events occurring between June and October.


AHC Applauds AHA Award Winners

The Arkansas Historical Association held its annual meeting recently in Little Rock, April 21-23.  This was the 75th annual meeting of the AHA, which has close historical ties to establishment of the Arkansas History Commission.  On Friday evening, April 22, the annual awards banquet was held in the grand dining room of the Albert Pike Masonic Temple.  Several of the award recipients were individuals closely connected to our agency.   We’d like to take a moment to recognize them and congratulate them on their accomplishments!


Black History Commission News

This month’s BHCA news spotlights a recent recipient of a Curtis H. Sykes grant. Elmer Beard wanted to raise awareness about the history of African American officeholders in Hot Springs.  When looking at the history of African Americans in Hot Springs, Beard noted that although there were reports of some African American officeholders in the city, there was little information available to historians about who they were.


From the Director

On March 31, 2016,  Governor Asa Hutchinson signed Executive Order 16-05,  establishing a World War I Centennial Commemoration Committee.  I’m  honored to be appointed to serve on this committee, which will coordinate the state’s events, memorials and projects celebrating “the Great War” in 2017 and 2018.