Frances Potter was born in Strong, Arkansas, in Union County in 1905, the daughter of Finis and Lucy Richardson Potter. She began teaching in the El Dorado public schools in 1924, and married Karl Neal (1887-1963) in 1931. From 1941-1947, Mrs. Neal served as school librarian at Warren Elementary in Bradley County. During that time she also completed requirements for a bachelor's degree at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville in 1945. In 1947 she became circulation and reference librarian at the Arkansas Library Commission. In 1949 Neal was awarded a master's degree from the University of Denver; and, in 1952, she became executive secretary of the Arkansas Library Commission. She served in that capacity until her retirement in 1978. Frances Potter Neal died July 30, 1990.
This collection contains correspondence, awards, reports, and published materials.
- Correspondence (Box 1)
- Personal
- 1. 1954 February 25: Frances Potter Neal, to Janet O'Hara
- 2. 1963 February 14: Frances Potter Neal, to Ina Garrison
- 3. 1963 March 11: Frances Potter Neal, to Maggie Broughton
- 4. 1970 June 18: Frances Potter Neal, to "Starr"
- 5. 1961 November 25: "Lucille," to Karl Neal
- 6. 1967 October 29: "May," to Frances Potter Neal
- 7. 1973 February 21: Sam F. Broughton, to Frances Potter Neal
- 8. 1977 August 15: James H. O'Hara, to Frances Potter Neal
- 9. 1986 July 10: Mrs. Elmo Stoker, to Frances Potter Neal
- 10. 1988 January 7: Vera Jacobs, to Frances Potter Neal
- 11. 1988 April 1: "Virginia G.," to Frances Potter Neal
- 12. 1988 May 3: Lucille Slater, to Frances Potter Neal
- 13. 1988 May 12: Sylvia Mills, to Frances Potter Neal
- 14. 1988 May 13: Gladys Sachse, to Frances Potter Neal
- 15. Undated: Bruce O'Hara, to "Aunt Frances"
- Business
- 16. 1977 July 8: Joan Roberts, to Frances Potter Neal
- 17. 1977 October 10: Richard Reid, to Frances Potter Neal
- 18. 1977 October 10: Mrs. Henry, Lloyd, and David, to Frances Potter Neal
- 19. 1979 July 12: Irene Mason, to Frances Potter Neal
- 20. 1985 April 17: Winifred Lethbridge, to Frances Potter Neal
- 21. 1986 August 21: Bob Razer, to Frances Potter Neal
- 22. 1987 December: Gladys E. Akis, to Frances Potter Neal
- 23. 1988 April 27: Walter L. Brown, (Arkansas Historical Association), to Frances Potter Neal
- 24. Undated: I.E. Osborn, (Who's Who International), to Frances Potter Neal
- Postcards and announcements
- 25. 1977 September: Cards and letters, retirement reception for Frances Potter Neal
- 26. 1977 October-November: Cards and letters, retirement reception for Frances Potter Neal
- 27. 1984-1989: Greeting cards
- 28. 1977 September 26: Postcard, Nola and Lucille, North Pole, New York, to Mrs. Karl Neal
- 29. 1987 August 31: Postcard, (N.E.) [?], Camden, Arkansas, to Frances Potter Neal
- 30. 1988 December 30: Postcard, (N.) [?], El Dorado, Arkansas, to Frances Potter Neal (photograph of First United Methodist Church of El Dorado)
- John A. Culbreath materials
- Correspondence
- 31. 1973 April 12: Evelyn Wood, St. Joseph, Michigan, to John Culbreath
- 32. 1973 May 10: Mamie Doud Eisenhower, Gettysburg, Pennslyvania, to John Culbreath
- 33. Undated: Marie Harr, Johnson City, Tennessee, to John Culbreath
- 34. Biographical sketch of John A. Culbreath, 1973
- Newsclippings
- 35. 1973 May 4: "Arkansan to Mark His 91st Birthday Surrounded by Eisenhower Mementos," Arkansas Gazette
- 36. 1973 May 18: "Open Line," Arkansas Democrat
- Photographs
- 37. Undated: Dwight Eisenhower photographs
- 38. 1973 John Culbreath's 91st birthday reception negatives
- Calendar for engagements
- 39. 1949
- Awards and certificates
- 40. 1956 November 3: Arkansas Junior Chamber of Commerce
- 41. 1957 January 1: The Progressive Farmer
- 42. 1967: Who's Who of American Women
- 43. 1977 October 3: State of Arkansas Certificate of Recognition
- 44. 1978 February 1: Cooperative Office Education Program
- 45. 1984 July: Arkansas Library Association, Life Membership
- University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
- 46. Roster, class of 1945
- 47. Commencement exercises, 1945 June 11
- 48. Three sketches of University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, buildings (Alumni Center, Peabody Hall, Ozark Hall)
- University of Denver
- 49. Master of Arts degree, 1949
- 50. Commencement program, 1949
- 51. Students, School of Librarianship, Summer 1949
- Photographs
- 52. Frances Potter: East School, Warren, Arkansas, 1913 April 16
- 53. Frances Potter Neal, 1955
- 54. Frances Potter Neal, undated
- 55. Frances Potter Neal, 1955, Ashley County Library
- 56. Frances Potter Neal, retirement reception, circa 1977
- Newsclippings (Box 2)
- 57. 1951-1985
- 58. 1986-1987
- 59. Undated
- Published materials (Box 3)
- 60. "A Program for the Development of Library Service in Arkansas," Arkansas State Library Commission, 1945
- 61. "Goethe Bicentennial Convocation and Music Festival," Goethe Bicentennial Foundation, 1949
- 62. "Library Laws of the State of Arkansas," Arkansas Library Commission, 1960
- 63. "Survey of the Arkansas Library Commission and Public Libraries of Arkansas," by Gretchen Knief Schenk, 1964
- 64. "The Pen Woman," by the National League of American Pen Women, 1967
- 65. "The University Library: 1871-1971" Library Committee for the Centennial, University of Arkansas, 1971
- 66. "Newsmagazine," Arkansas Department of Education, 1976
- 67. "Newsletter," Arkansas Library Association, 1977
- 68. "Newsletter," Arkansas Library Association, 1978
- 69. "Arkansas Genealogy Bibliography," by Larry S. Perry, 1978
- 70. Program, First United Methodist Church Sesquicentennial Celebration, 1981
- 71. "A Chapter in Arkansas Library History," Arkansas Libraries, Vol. 43 No. 1, 1986
- 72. "Bessie Moore, A Biography," Arkansas Libraries, 1986 (book review)
- 73. "Bessie Moore Biography," announcement from August House, undated
- 74. "Frances Neal and Bessie Moore," undated
- Reports by Frances Potter Neal
- 75. "Survey of the Arkansas State Library Commission Services to the Schools of Arkansas, 1937-1949," 1949
- 76. "The Winds of Change," 1970
- Reception announcements
- 77. 1977 October 2: Arkansas Library Association honoring Frances Neal, Marie Pinckney, and Freddy Schader
- 78. 1977 October 3: Arkansas Library Association honoring Mr. and Mrs. Bill Brothers and Richard H. Reid
- 79. 1982 November 17: Pope County Library Board honoring Adaline Wetzel
- 80. 1983 February 13: Yell County Library Board honoring Mrs. Norborn Jackson
- Library book lists
- 81. "Wordless Books or Textless Picture Books," compiled by Ola M. Flucas, Arkansas Library Commission, 1977
- 82. "Mysteries," compiled by Arkansas Library Commission, 1977
- 83. "Books about Arkansas or by Arkansas Authors For Grades 1-9," compiled by Freddy Schader, Arkansas Library Commission, 1977
- Biographical sketches
- 84. Governor Frank White
- 85. Governor Bill Clinton
- Memoriams
- 86. Isabel Nichol, 1900-1964, Denver, Colorado
- 87. Kathleen Sharp, 1927-1979, Paragould, Arkansas
- Hymns
- 88. "The Wesley Graces," The Methodist Hymnal, 1932
- 89. "God of Our LIfe, Through All the Circling Years"
- Miscellaneous
- 90. Advertisement promoting Act 341 to construct a State Library building, 1970
- 91. Napkin
- 92. Quotations
- Award plaques
- 93. Appreciation award, Arkansas Regional Library, 1977
- 94. Woman of the Year in Arkansas, 1957," presented by Arkansas Democrat (Box 4)
