Arkansas History

This essential bibliography, Arkansas History, offers a thorough guide for integrating Arkansas into American historical studies.

The only comprehensive bibliography on Arkansas, Arkansas History serves as an essential resource for historians and librarians aiming to integrate Arkansas into the broader narrative of American history. This volume meticulously catalogs the growing body of literature that explores Arkansas's rich prehistory and the pre-American colonial period, which spanned approximately 250 years. By compiling these resources, it addresses the historical oversight that Arkansas has faced in both Southern and national surveys.

Historically, Arkansas has often been overlooked due to limited archival resources and the absence of a university press. However, recent developments have led to a surge in available archives and scholarly work, particularly from the University of Arkansas Press and the Arkansas Historical Society. Arkansas History effectively demonstrates that there is a wealth of research materials available, countering the narrative of scarcity that has long persisted.

The bibliography is structured into several chapters, with a focus on the statehood period and topical subjects such as minorities, business and economics, education, and social history. Additionally, it includes specific chapters dedicated to local and county history, general histories, archives and museums, and historic sites. The volume begins with a concise chronology and features subject and author indexes, making it a user-friendly tool for anyone interested in the comprehensive study of Arkansas's past.