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Ben Boulden
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We wrapped up this year’s Pen to Podium lecture series with
a fascinating look at Fort Smith during the early 1900s.
Ben Boulden, historian, author, professor and former
journalist, recently discussed unionization among women in 1917, the Red Light
District that temporarily legalized prostitution and powerful women who helped
shape Fort Smith. His lecture is from his book, “Hidden History of Fort Smith,
Arkansas.”
Attendees were treated to rough-and-tumble stories about
Fort Smith residents and how and why the city remains different from other
Arkansas cities.
Boulden’s lecture helped us keep history alive! Thank you!
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| Vinnie Ream, 1847-1914, sculptor |
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| Kate Sandels, Federal Court official |
Next up in our Historical Writers’ Lecture Series, Dr. Blake Perkins will discuss the history of defiance unique to people in the Ozark Mountain region.
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| Dr. Blake Perkins |
Perkins is assistant professor and chair of the History Department at Williams Baptist College in Walnut Ridge. His book, “Hillbilly Hellraisers: Federal Power and Populist Defiance in the Ozarks,” has drawn praise for its insightful look into how rural people in the Ozarks reacted to and resisted federalism in the 19th and 20th centuries. That history continues to impact people in the region today.
Perkins’ lecture kicks off our third year of Pen to Podium events. We are proud to promote Arkansas history and offer Arkansans a chance to learn about their own heritage. Our lectures are free and open to the public.
So, mark your calendars! The next event is 6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 15, at the Department of Arkansas Heritage! We hope to see you there!
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| Boulden and Stacy Hurst, director of the Department of Arkansas Heritage, take a moment to pose for a photo during Pen to Podium this November. |
Check out
our video of Boulden's lecture below or on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_Q0mtF_b6g&t=541s!
