Welcome to the Encyclopedia of Arkansas

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This Day in Arkansas History

April 4, 1928

Writer and poet Maya Angelou was born Marguerite Johnson in St. Louis, Missouri. She later moved to Stamps (Lafayette County), where she lived with her grandparents for most of her childhood. Her experiences in Stamps gave rise to her most famous book, the autobiographical I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. Although she was born elsewhere, Angelou remains one of Arkansas’s most notable and recognizable literary figures, representing, in her writings and her outlook on life, the spiritual and faith-based upbringing that has long been a mainstay of Arkansas culture. She was a first-year inductee into the Arkansas Black Hall of Fame.

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Fort Smith Jail

In 1872, a year after the military abandoned Fort Smith (Sebastian County), the old barracks building shown here became the home of the Federal Court for the Western District of Arkansas. One room served as the courtroom, with the remainder being used as court offices. The basement, formerly used as a mess hall, was converted into a two-cell jail. Jail conditions soon became so bad that prisoners referred to it as “Hell on the Border.”

 

In 1872, a year after the military abandoned Fort Smith (Sebastian County), the old barracks building shown here became the home of the Federal Court for the Western District of Arkansas. One room served as the courtroom, with the remainder being used as court offices. The basement, formerly used as a mess hall, was converted into a two-cell jail. Jail conditions soon became so bad that prisoners referred to it as “Hell on the Border.”

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About the Encyclopedia

The CALS Encyclopedia of Arkansas is a free, authoritative source of information about the rich history, geography, and culture of Arkansas. It is updated regularly to ensure the people of Arkansas have an accurate and accessible resource to explore our heritage. We invite you to browse our text entries and media galleries to learn more about the people, places, events, legends, and lore of the 25th state. We are continually adding new entries, photographs, maps, videos, and audio files, so check back frequently to see what’s new.

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