Documenting Arkansas


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CARAT databases, the online catalog, and Documenting Arkansas, with digital access to original documents and materials from our holdings, are works in progress. Check back regularly to access recent additions.

Search Arkansas History Commission databases — This includes:


ECD0040-2 Microfilming Arkansas papers at Arkansas History Commission, February 20, 1963 [Frances Bowles]Arkansas History Commission microfilm

The Arkansas History Commission has been microfilming records loaned or donated to the AHC since 1957. In addition, the History Commission has purchased microfilm from outside sources. The bulk of this film consists of U.S. census records, military records, newspapers, county records, and the general microfilm file. The general microfilm includes a wide variety of source material from records related to Arkansas its people, places, and events much of which is unavailable elsewhere.

All microfilm is available in the Arkansas History Commission research room. Patrons can obtain print copies of this microfilm on reader/printers. Duplicate rolls of most of the microfilm created by the History Commission are available for purchase.


ECD0927-4 Post Offices, John H. McMullan on last run as Cotton Plant rural mail carrier, December 30, 1964 [McMullan on last run] or ECD2316 61 mail boxes in a row located at highway 20 and Valley Road between Helena and West Helena, Ark., Photo by Harold Phelps, Arkansas Publicity and Parks Commission, Little Rock, Ark.)Manuscripts

More than 4000 manuscript collections housed at the Arkansas History Commission focus on the private and business papers of individuals as well as records of religious, educational, business, patriotic, social, and civic organizations. In addition, the Commission preserves state and federal government records, such as Arkansas land records and papers of numerous Arkansas governors. Collectively, manuscript materials such as diaries, letters, journals, and ledgers comprise a major source of Arkansas history. Finding aids for the manuscript collections are available in the Research Room as well as online.


G2098-07 Fort Curtis, Helena, Arkansas, 1863Military Records

An extensive collection of military records includes Arkansas Civil War service and Confederate pension files. Holdings related to Arkansas Civil War veterans include the Arkansas Confederate Home records, the 1911 Confederate veteran reunion index and the 1911 biographical memoranda questionnaires. Information is available about Arkansas soldiers serving in the Mexican, Spanish-American, and First World wars, along with various indexes to service records from the American Revolution, the War of 1812, Indian wars, and the U.S. regular army.


ECD0627-1 Hot Springs, Tibor Abahazy, track photographer, Oaklawn Park [View 1]Photographs

The History Commission maintains over one-half million photographic images of Arkansas and its people. The majority of the collection consists of black-and-white prints and negatives, as well as rarer daguerreotypes, tintypes, ambrotypes, and cyanotypes. Line drawings, postcards, engravings, and portraits are also maintained by the Commission. Approximately 13,000 images are available online. Other resources available are the Shrader Negatives Database with 60,000 personal and business name entries, the Thomas Harding Photographs, and an online list of early Arkansas Photographers. While digital images are available for purchase online, to request a copy of other photographs see the Photograph Order Form.


G4594-29, Men, one an Arkansas Democrat carrier, and planes at Eberts Field, Lonoke, ArkansasNewspapers

The newspaper collection includes microfilm in excess of 3,000 titles published at 250 different places in Arkansas, from 1819 to the present. In addition to papers featuring state and local news, the collection also contains religious, professional, and special-interest publications. The online newspaper database is searchable by city, county, and title.


ECD0694-09 State Library Commission, Little Rock, Ark. [Frances Potter Neal]Books and Printed Material

An extensive collection of books and printed material is available on family, military, and state and local history. To access these items, search the online catalog.




ECD0937-1 Publicity and Parks Commission [Information kit]) ECD1779-1 Markers and monuments, Prairie Grove Battlefield markers [March of the armies]Maps

The map collection contains over 3,000 items, both historic and contemporary, related to the state of Arkansas. Maps of Arkansas's counties, cities, townships, and geographical locations, as well as maps of surrounding states and regions, comprise the unique collection. For access, search the map catalog in the Research Room, as well as Documenting Arkansas and the online catalog.


PS51-32 St. Bartholomew's Church, Little Rock, Ark. [graphic]Church and Cemetery Records

Church and synagogue material at the Arkansas History Commission consists of records of religious organizations and individual congregations. The holdings include cemetery records and indexes from all 75 counties of Arkansas.



ECD1713-3 Courthouses, Desha County, Arkansas City, November 1959 [Cars parked in front of courthouse]County Records

Legal documents from all Arkansas counties include marriage records, deeds, circuit and chancery court records, probate records, tax records, and naturalization records. Inventories of county records are available in the Research room, as well as online.



PS04-05 Mr. James A. [Shivers] and family, 1930Census Records

The History Commission has microfilm of populations and special census schedules for 42 states. Ancestry.com Library Edition is available for visitors to the research room.


 

 

To learn more about Arkansas history, check out historical facts and Arkansas history questions and answers.

Copies of Arkansas History Commission holdings can be ordered by completing order forms and returning them with payment to the

Arkansas History Commission
One Capitol Mall, 2B215
Little Rock, AR 72201

Have a question? Ask the Archivist-on-Duty