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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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Gus Ottenheimer

By the mid-1950s, there was strong local support for the transformation of Little Rock Junior College into a four-year institution of higher learning. In 1956, local business leader Gus Ottenheimer chaired a task force instructed to study the feasibility of such a change. Within a few months, the committee recommended the move. In 1957, the four-year Little Rock University, which became the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in 1969, officially enrolled students.

 

By the mid-1950s, there was strong local support for the transformation of Little Rock Junior College into a four-year institution of higher learning. In 1956, local business leader Gus Ottenheimer chaired a task force instructed to study the feasibility of such a change. Within a few months, the committee recommended the move. In 1957, the four-year Little Rock University, which became the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in 1969, officially enrolled students.

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Town buildings and streets as seen from above with photo watermark saying "Downing's Studio Stuttgart, Arkansas" Almyra Arkansas busy city intersection with cars and people, view of state capitol in background Little Rock Pulaski white man in embroidered black shirt and white woman in turtleneck and white jacket smiling in front of trees "Tony and Susan Alamo Tony Alamo sings Mister DJ" Tony Alamo Criminal Activities, Religious Figures Angry white crowd surrounding young African-American girl sitting on bench with white woman talking to her Elizabeth Ann Eckford School Desegregation, School Segregation and Desegregation Interior of high ceilinged room with chairs and desks in rows beneath chandelier and stained-glass dome Arkansas General Assembly Exploded underground missile silo and debris as seen from above Titan II Missile Explosion Post Civil War brick and glass building "Walton Arts Center." Fayetteville Washington Newspaper clipping with illustrations and three headlines saying "runaway negro in jail," "pay up pay up," and "thirty dollars reward" Slavery European Exploration to Early Statehood African-American woman wearing dark colored dress with double strain shell necklace National Association for the Advancement of Colored People Parties and Interest Groups Canopy in park with benches under it and paved walking paths Westside School Shooting Criminal Activities "In memory of those killed December 1987 Pope County Arkansas" flat engraved marker on grass Ronald Gene Simmons Criminal Activities Sneed Tornado of 1929 Climatology Portrait white man in suit military medal long wavy hair thick beard smoking large pipe Albert Pike Individuals, Lawyers, Poetry, State Figures Older African American man and woman at dinner table with younger African American boys and girls Melba Pattillo Beals School Desegregation, School Segregation and Desegregation White women and men with damaged buildings behind them, photograph labeled "Brinkley Cyclone" Tornadoes Climatology, Natural Disasters Loblolly Pine tree with pines deciduous trees in background pine trunk foreground clear sky daytime Official State Tree Official State Symbols
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Paul Van Dalsem State Figures sign outside fence with three water towers and buildings in background National Center for Toxicological Research Projects White girl and boy photographed by woman in front of sign "Welcome to Arkansas Land of Opportunity" Tourism Topical Dilapidated multistory building on street corner Arkansas State Library Libraries and Archives, State Organizations and Structures Blue and yellow bus parked in lot with various city buildings in background Libraries Libraries and Archives Postcard "We all want the freedom to make decisions that affect our lives" Initiatives and Referenda Laws and Court Cases Body of water with bridge in far distance Lake City Craighead Mildred Barnes Griggs Educators and Administrators Two-story wood frame building with dark shutters and "Confederate State Capitol" on the front with rectangular stone monument and barbed wire fence Hempstead County White man smiling in cowboy hat and western clothing Volmer "Cactus" Vick Television and Streaming Two white men in large field with railroad tracks Diamond Mining Industries, Mining Two white men shaking hands outside airplane hanger with crowd behind them Lindbergh Day Festivals and Events White woman posing in flowing Mary Sybil Kidd Lewis Classical and Opera White man in suit wearing pin and chain Frederick Kramer Pulaski Leaders Oval military portrait white man wavy hair large mustache stars on collar large buttons Office of State Treasurer State Organizations and Structures Panoramic overview of streets and buildings of a town Belmont Locations, Pulaski

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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