The University of Arkansas – Fort Smith, will host a traveling exhibit titled Territorial Arkansas: The Wild Western Frontier, Sept. 4-25 at the Boreham Library. The exhibition, which tells the story of Arkansas Territory, will be open for viewing 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday-Friday; and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. 

A grand opening for the exhibit will be held Thursday, Sept. 5 from 4-6 p.m. in the Boreham Library room 122, with refreshments, discussions and a performance by the Squirrel Brain Gravy band. At the grand opening, remarks will be delivered by UAFS Chancellor Dr. Terisa Riley, and a talk titled, "Indian Territory and the East-West Axis of Slave Escapes in Arkansas," will be led by Dr. Charles Bolton, professor emeritus at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.

The traveling exhibit consists of 15 panels that explore the history of Arkansas Territory though the collections of the Arkansas State Archives, the Northeast Arkansas Regional Archives in Powhatan and the Southwest Arkansas Regional Archives in Washington. 

"I am very pleased that the University of Arkansas – Fort Smith is sharing Territorial Arkansas: The Wild Western Frontier with their visitors and community," stated Dr. Wendy Richter, the Arkansas State 'Archives' Director. "Created to commemorate the Bicentennial of Arkansas Territory, this exhibit allows us to bring the incredible Arkansas Territory resources of the Arkansas State Archives to local communities throughout the state."

Each Wednesday, the Boreham Library will host brown bag lunches, from 11:30-1 p.m. in room 122. Wednesday, Sept. 11 will feature Catherine Forman-Gray, Cherokee Nation History, and Preservation Officer speaking on Cherokee Old Settlers in Early Arkansas; Wednesday, Sept. 18 will feature Billy Higgins, UAFS associate professor of history, speaking on Free Black Communities in antebellum Arkansas; and Wednesday, Sept. 25 will feature Tom Wing, UAFS assistant professor and director of the Drennen-Scott Home speaking on John Drennen and the Making of Arkansas.

For more information about the exhibit at the University of Arkansas – Fort Smith, call: 479-788-7200, email: library@uafs.edu.

 

Credits: 
Rachel Rodemann Putman
Photo Credits: 
from the collections of the Arkansas State Archives.
Date Posted: 
Thursday, August 22, 2019
Source URL: 
https://news.uafs.edu/0
Story ID: 
5159