About 40 people gathered on a recent
Saturday at the MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History in Little Rock to
hear what life was like in Territorial Arkansas.
“Our annual symposium focused on the history
of Territorial Arkansas because we are celebrating the 200th
anniversary of the territory this year,” said Julienne Crawford, interim
Arkansas State Archives director. “Arkansas possess a rich trove of history,
stories and characters who lived in or passed through what was the Territory of
Arkansas. This early history of our state laid the foundation for the
collective identity and heritage that makes us Arkansans.”
During the symposium, “1819-1836: The
History of Territorial Arkansas,” attendees heard from Theo Witsell, chief of research and inventory of
the Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission, who discussed Thomas Nuttall’s
exploration of Arkansas in 1818-1819; Dr. Charles Bolton, history professor
emeritus at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, who presented “Federal
Aid and the Infrastructure of Arkansas Territory;” Callie Williams, education
outreach coordinator with the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program, who
talked about Territorial-era buildings; and Gary Pinkerton, an author and historian
from Houston, Texas, who spoke about Trammel’s Trace. Attendees also got
a glimpse of the ASA’s new traveling exhibit, “Territorial Arkansas: The Wild
Western Frontier.”
“The information about the limited
transportation available makes you stop and think about how much of the
ancestors’ time had to be spent just moving things out of the way – like huge
tree stumps in rivers or forests,” said Jeanne Rollberg, an associate
journalism professor, genealogy specialist and a member of the Friends of the
Arkansas State Archives. “It was also impressive to learn about the funding
issues from federal and local levels to try to help the state progress so it
could attract more residents.”
Territorial Arkansas was created in
1819, but it was difficult to get to the area or to transport goods. The
territory relied on rivers and struggled to build roads before becoming the
state of Arkansas in 1836. Roads remained troublesome even as railroads took
over, but at least one footpath eventually became a major throughway for people
moving to Texas.
The symposium was among several events
the Arkansas State Archives held as part of Arkansas Archives Month in October.
National Archives Month is meant to raise
awareness of the work archives and archivists do.
Crawford said the
symposium helped spotlight an important part of Arkansas history and showcased
the Arkansas State Archives’ mission to preserve and make available historical
artifacts and records.
Rollberg agreed. “Seminars like this one get people very
interested in Arkansas history so that they will come to the Arkansas State
Archives and enjoy all the wonderful collections the state has built there
through the years,” she said.
