Arkansas History Commission

The Arkansas History Commission has scattered issues of African American school yearbooks.  Former students often seek out old yearbooks like The Lion, The Dragon, The Bearcat or even The Polar Bear to reminiscence of school days and old friends.  And, with the increased popularity of class and school reunions, yearbooks have proved very helpful to reunion organizers.  The History Commission has a good start on this collection, considering the scarcity of African American yearbooks, but would like to increase its volume of both high school and college yearbooks through donations.

The yearbooks which vary in size, content and format have been acquired through various collections or loaned to the Archives to be photocopied or microfilmed and then the original returned to its owner. Researchers can browse page by page for images of their former school, classmates, principals, teachers, staff, and district administrators.  Or, perhaps you are just out to verify a parent’s story of being a star athlete, a majorette for the marching band, or a cheerleader.  Some yearbooks may even provide information on previous graduates, such as El Dorado’s Washington High School’s 1946 “Hornet” highlight of Reece “Goose” Tatum, who by then was starring with the Harlem Globetrotters.  And, some older African American yearbooks can provide career information about favorite teachers that you may not have realized during the time you were in school, such as names of colleges they attended, degrees earned, or subjects taught. 

The following yearbooks are contained in various collections at the Arkansas History Commission:

• Augusta, Arkansas - Carver High School, “The Bearcat,” 1956.
• Brinkley, Arkansas - Marion Anderson High School, “The Dragon,” 1964.
• Conway, Arkansas - Pine Street High School, “The Polar Bear,” 1959.
• El Dorado, Arkansas - Washington High School, “Bulletin,” 1940-1941, 1943-1947, 1949.
• Little Rock, Arkansas – Philander Smith College, “The Philanderian,” 1971.
• North Little Rock, Arkansas - Scipio A. Jones High School, “The Dragonette,” 1942, 1946-1948, 1951, 1953-1955, 1960-1962, 1965-1966.
• Pine Bluff, Arkansas - Arkansas State College (AM&N), “The Lion,” 1930; Coleman High School, “The Bear,” 1963; Dollarway High School, “The Cardinal,” 1966 (integrated); Jefferson High School, “The Jeffersonian,” 1950; Merrill High School, “Merrillean Annual Yearbook,” 1946; Townsend Park High School, “The Eagle,” 1964.
• Strong, Arkansas - Gardner High School Yearbook, 1949.
• Turrel, Arkansas - Golden High School, “The Dragon,” 1957.

To donate or loan yearbooks for microfilming, please contact: Linda McDowell, African American History Coordinator, Arkansas History Commission, One Capitol Mall, Little Rock, Arkansas 72201, 501.682.6900.
Email: linda.mcdowell@arkansas.gov