College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Heritage Studies Ph.D. Program

Doctor of Philosophy In Heritage Studies

Bob Franklin Receives SPJ Award

Heritage Studies doctoral student Robert Franklin is the winner of yet another award for the production of his documentary, Elaine Race Riots of 1919.  In addition to the 2003 AASLH award for this documentary, Bob will honored by the Arkansas Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists at the awards banquet, which will be held at the Airport Holiday Inn in Little Rock on May 22, 2004.  Our sincerest congratulations to Bob.

Heritage Studies student Kathy Dillion interviewed for Harding University magazine

Congratulations to Heritage Studies Graduate Assistant, Kathy Dillion, on the Spring 2004 edition of Harding University magazine, which includes the article,  "Three Military Mothers Share Struggles and Fears While their Children are Serving our Country."  Written by Jennifer Lashley, the article interviews three Harding students and their mothers and is based on how their decision to join the military has effected their life and family.  Kathy's daughter, Jacqueline Dillion,is currently serving in the Army National Guard and is stationed in Iraq. Jacqueline's photograph is on the cover of the magazine and the article will soon be posted on the Harding University website at www.harding.edu.  To view the article on the Harding website, please follow this link:  How Deployment Affects Families

A copy of the magazine is also available for viewing in the Heritage Studies office, Suite 706, A.S.U. Library.

Harding is published in January, May and October by the Public Relations Office for alumni, faculty, staff, parents and friends of the University.  Editorial offices are located on the second floor of the John Mabee American Heritage Center at 900 E. Center St., Searcy, AR.  You may contact the editor, Tom Buterbaugh, at harding-mag@harding.edu or by calling the office at 501-279-4316.

(credit: Harding, Spring 2004 edition)

Heritage Studies receives international press coverage

Congratulations to Heritage Studies graduate assistant, Francesca Muccini, on the article which was recently published in the Italian "Corriere Adriatico", a regional newspaper printed and distributed in the Marche region of Italy.

The “Corriere Adriatico” is the oldest, most known and read local newspaper in the region. (population ca.1.451.000).  The first edition was issued in 1860.  The article is based on Francesca’s presentation at the Delta Blues Symposium in March of this year, “The Question of Identity:  Italian Immigrants in the 1950s in Italian American Literature.”

 To view the article translated in English, please follow this link:

Corriere Adriatico Article

If you wish to view the Italian newspaper’s website, you may follow this link:  http://www.corriereadriaticonline.it

We extend our sincerest congratulations to Francesca. 

Heritage Studies Students receive recognition at Humanities & Social Sciences annual honors banquet

Heritage Studies students Sherry Laymon and Sandy Davis-Baltz were recently recognized for successfully completing the Comprehensive Candidacy Exam at the annual Honors Banquet for the College of Humanities and Social Sciences on Tuesday, April 13, 2004.  Dr. Clyde Milner, Director and Dr. Brady Banta, Associate Director presented the awards.

   Sandy Baltz

  Sherry Laymon

Heritage Studies Student Guy Lancaster publishes short story

Guy Lancaster, Graduate Assistant for the Heritage Studies Ph.D. Program recently has his short story "Almost Left Behind" published in the 2004 issue of the Arkansas Literary Forum, an on-line journal of literature and art published at Henderson State University in Arkadelphia.

Guy's publication will be available for viewing in the fall semester on the Arkansas Literary Forum website: Arkansas Words/AR Literary Forum and go to the "Literary Links" page.

Heritage Studies Student Michael Bowman participates in Ozark Foothills Film Festival

 Michael Bowman, Director of Distance Learning at ASU and a doctoral student enrolled in the Heritage Studies Ph.D. Program, will participate in the 42nd annual Ozark Foothills Film Festival at the Hillhigh Hotel in Horseshoe Bend on Friday, April 2 at 6:00 p.m.  

Michael will be showing his special documentary on the Beatles trip to Northeast Arkansas!   His documentary "POWs In Arkansas" won first place in the Culture Category at the Silver State Documentary Film Festival in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Mr. Bowman also worked on the Ozark Gateway television program years ago. There will be special giveaways, special guests, and the Ozark Foothills Film Festival new color guide will also be available at that time.

For additional information, please follow the link below:

Ozark Foothills Film Festival

Heritage Studies Faculty & Students Participate in Delta Blues X

Thursday, March 25, 2004   11am-noon

Dr. Gregory Hansen, Assistant Professor of English & Philosophy and member of the Heritage Studies Program Committee, served as moderator for a panel on Ethnographic Representations of Roots Music in the Delta. 

Thursday, March 25, 2004    1:30-3pm

Heritage Studies graduate assistant Francesca Muccini presented her paper entitled "The Question of Identity:  Italian Immigrants in the 1950s in Italian American Literature." (Museum 157)

Heritage Studies Graduate Assistant Francesca Muccini presents at Delta Blues X

Dr. Brady Banta, Associate Director for Heritage Studies, will moderate a panel on "Delta Lifeways."  (Museum 182) 

Dr. Jason Combs, Assistant Professor of Geography and member of the Heritage Studies Program Committee, will present "Delta Population Trends: 1990-2000."

Gary Buxton, Heritage Studies student, presented his lecture entitled "Hog Killing in the Delta."

   Heritage Studies graduate student Gary Buxton

Friday, March 26, 2004      4-5pm

Dr. Clyde Milner, Director of Heritage Studies and Professor of History, will introduce the featured lecture for Delta Blues Symposium X, "The Elvis Girls" by Dr. Joel Williamson, Lineberger Professor in the Humanities, University of North Carolina.

Saturday, March 27, 2004     8:30-10:45am

Dr. Janelle Collins, Assistant Professor of English & Philosophy and member of the Heritage Studies Program Committee, will moderate "Brown v. Board" in the ASU Museum, Room 157.

Dr. C. Calvin Smith presents public lecture on February 22, 2004

A 32-year veteran of Arkansas State University, Dr. Smith was named the first Presidential Distinguished Professor of Heritage Studies at ASU in January, 2003, in recognition of his outstanding career in teaching and scholarship.  One of the best known and respected members of the Arkansas State faculty, Dr. Smith joined the university's department of history as the 1st African American tenure faculty member in August, 1970.  He announced his retirement from the history faculty after the spring semester, 2002.  However, Arkansas State--with its new, Ph.D. program in Heritage Studies, could not let him rest on the sidelines.  Dr. Smith's research and writing about Arkansas and his knowledge of the Delta region are invaluable to the students enrolled in the program.  Dr. Smith is currently teaching a graduate course entitled “Regional Cultures: History of the MS River Delta.”  He presented his public lecture entitled “From Reconstruction to Brown:  The Legacy of Black Public School Administrators” on Sunday, February 22, 2004.

Commercial Appeal reporter interviews ASU Professor Dr. C. Calvin Smith for Black History month

To view the article, click on this link: Commercial Appeal Article

Dr. Richard Burns participates in National Public Radio Talk Show Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2004

Dr. Richard Burns, Associate Professor of English & Folklore and member of the Heritage Studies Program Committee at ASU, was invited to participate via telephone in a National Public Radio talk show in Las Vegas, Nevada on Tuesday, January 27, 2004. 

Marc Breindel, Producer, "KNPR's State of Nevada", personally invited Dr. Burns to join the panel on African-American storytelling, in anticipation of a series of storytelling events at local libraries. The series is inspired by African-American History Month. 

Several local storytellers joined Dr. Burns, as he provided context as a local folklorist.  One of the participants told the story of how her great-grandfather came to Nevada as a pioneer from Fordyce, Arkansas.

This interview was heard on News 88.9, KNPR, Nevada Public Radio.  KNPR interviews can also be accessed via your computer by clicking on the "listen live" link at the KNPR website, www.knpr.org. (Please note you must have access to RealPlayer)

For additional information, please contact Dr. Richard Burns at the ASU English department, 870-972-3043.

ASU Staff and Faculty participate in Jonesboro  march to celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Jonesboro area citizens, public officials, media and military personnel joined together in a parade and celebration of Dr. King's birthday on January 19, 2004. Dianna Davis and Craig Rickert of KAIT-8 served as grand marshals of the event. Jonesboro Mayor Hubert Brodell, City Attorney Phil Crego, and attorney Bobby McDaniel also participated in the ceremony.  Achievement awards were presented to local civil rights activists and the church choir gave an outstanding performance that brought the audience to their feet.

For photographs and additional details, follow this link:  MLK 2004

Peggy Robinson Wright keynote speaker for  Dr. Martin Luther King brunch event at ASU

Peggy Wright, Coordinator of the Delta Studies Program and a Professor of Geography, served as the keynote speaker for  the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Brunch held at the Grand Hall of the Fowler Center at ASU on January 16.  The brunch event was sponsored by the student activities board. 

To view Mrs. Wright's speech, please follow this link:  Peggy Robinson Wright
 

Dr. C. Calvin Smith featured speaker at MLK Celebration in Blytheville

Blytheville Ministerial Alliance kicks off a week-long celebration on Sunday, January 11, 2004 with the "Celebration of Unity" program at the Ritz Civic Center in Blytheville, AR.  Dr. C. Calvin Smith was the featured speaker for the event. This event was designed to honor those who have dedicated their lives and/or resources to help those less fortunate.  Appreciation plaques and certificates signed by Dr. Smith were given out during the program.

For more information, please follow the link below:

MLK Celebration

or

Blytheville Courier News

Fall Semester 2003

Dr. C. Calvin Smith Book Signing and Reception on December 7, 2003

A book signing and reception for Dr. C. Calvin Smith, in recognition of his recently published book "Educating the Masses:  The Unfolding History of Black School Administrators in Arkansas, 1900-2000," was held on Sunday, December 7, 2003, in the lobby of the Dean B. Ellis Library at Arkansas State University.

For details: C. Calvin Smith Book Signing and Reception

Photos of Book Signing and Reception for Dr. Smith:

Dr. C. Calvin Smith

Dr. Greggory Hansen, Professor of English, recently contributed to the production of the Florida Music Train.  The Florida Music Train is a multimedia learning resource on Florida's traditional music, which recently won the 2003 Dorothy Howard Award for excellence in Folklife in Education from the American Folklore Society.

 Dr. Martha Sandweiss Presents Lecture

On Monday, October 13, 2003, Dr. Martha A. Sandweiss presented her illustrated lecture, "Print the Legend: Photography and the American West" to a public audience at the Arkansas State University Museum.  Dr. Sandweiss focused on her work on photography in the American West, and displayed several forms of photography, including daguerreotypes, which are small photographic images on silver plated metal mounted in a case.   The slide show included images from the 1930s depicting scenes related to the Mexican War, (1846-1848) that resulted in an American victory and the annexation of California and the south west.  These were the world’s first photographs of war.  The lecture also included stories of the famous daguerreotype photographer, John Wesley Jones.

Following the lecture, several members of the ASU faculty and students enrolled in the Heritage Studies Ph.D. Program participated in a ninety-minute workshop on photography with Dr. Sandweiss.   

Her latest publication of the same title (Yale University Press October, 2002) contains splendid images of daguerreotypes and albumen silver prints and tells the intertwined stories of photography and the American West.   The book offers powerful stories of aspiring photographic adventurers.  Dr. Sandweiss chronicles the history of how Americans first came to conceive western photographs and envision their developing nation.

Dr. Martha A. Sandweiss, a professor of American Studies and history at Amherst College, is the author of several books on American history and photography.  She co-edited, along with Dr. Clyde A. Milner II and Dr. Carol A. O’Connor, the Oxford History of the American West, winner of the prestigious Caughey Award from the Western History Association. 

          Dr. Martha A. Sandweiss, Amherst College

Professor Martha Sandweiss teaches classes in western American history and the history of photography as well as a variety of introductory American Studies courses. She received her doctorate in History from Yale University and came to Amherst College in 1989 after working for ten years as the Curator of Photographs at the Amon Carter Museum, Ft. Worth. From 1989 to 1997, she served as Director of the Mead Art Museum at Amherst, while teaching part-time for the departments of American Studies and Fine Arts. She stepped down from the museum to become a full-time faculty member in 1997. She is the author of Laura Gilpin: An Enduring Grace (1986), co-author of Eyewitness to War: Prints and Daguerreotypes of the Mexican War, 1846-1848 (1989), editor of Photography in Nineteenth-Century America (1991), co-editor of The Oxford History of the American West (1994), and a contributor to numerous volumes on the art and photography of the American West. At present, she is at work on a book on the cultural history of photography in the American West during the nineteenth-century, a study that is both a narrative history and an exploration of how the new medium of photography gained credibility as a form of information.

Amherst College

AR Delta Byways 2003 Awards

The 2003 ceremony for the annual Delta Awards banquet was held on October 3, 2003, at the Forrest City Civic Center.  Rodney Rouse, President of the Arkansas Delta Byways, served as the Master of Ceremonies. 

After a beautiful invocation by LaShante' Walker, attendees and finalists were welcomed by Forrest City Mayor Larry Bryant.  

Dr. Ruth Hawkins, Executive Director for the AR Delta Byways, entertained the audience with a powerpoint presentation of the 1st annual "Thunder On the Byways" event.

Ten awards, including the Tourism Person of the Year, were presented by the AR Delta Byways Officers. 

For a complete list of the winners:  AR Delta Byways Awards

Fall, 2003 Get-Together

On Thursday, September 4, 2003, the returning doctoral students in the Heritage Studies program, met with new students, faculty and friends to hear about the new fall courses, new faculty members, and the  practicum which was completed by Sandy Davis-Baltz this summer at the St. Louis Art Museum.  

  Sandy Davis-Baltz                     

Heritage Studies Retreat at Hemingway/Pfeiffer in Piggott

Heritage Studies faculty and program committee enjoyed their 1st annual retreat at the Hemingway/Pfeiffer Museum and Education Center in Piggott, Arkansas on August 18, 2003.  After the fall semester meeting, faculty members were treated to a tour of the Hemingway estate by Dr. Ruth Hawkins. 

Hemingway Estate, Piggott AR                         HS faculty tours Hemingway estate

Pfeiffer Home                                              Hemingway/Pfeiffer walking trail

  Heritage Studies Program Committee

Dr. Clyde Milner and Dr. Carol O'Connor present a public lecture at Chapel Hill, North Carolina

For Details:  Milner/O'Connor UNC Lecture

New book edited by Dr. Calvin Smith

(published in November, 2003 by University of Arkansas Press)

Information released by the University of Arkansas Press:

“An arresting account of professional dedication which, although long confronted by unremitting racial adversity, has resulted today in remarkable progress in public education in Arkansas. Professors Smith and Joshua have rendered a valuable service with their comp-rehensive history.”—David Levering Lewis, author of W. E. B. Du Bois: Biography of a Race, 1868–1919 and W. E. B. Du Bois: The Fight for Equality and the American Century, 1919–1963 (both Henry Holt & Co.), winners of the Pulitzer Prize for biography in 1994 and 2001.

“A compelling social history . . . a story of triumph over incredible adversity.”—John Graves, author of Town and Country: Race Relations in an Urban-Rural Context, Arkansas, 1865–1905 (Arkansas, 1991)

Dr. Calvin Smith speaks at Cemetery Preservation Conference in Helena, AR

Dr. C. Calvin Smith, Presidential Distinguished Professor of Heritage Studies Ph.D. Program, presented a speech at the Preservation of African American Cemeteries, Inc. Conference in Helena, Arkansas.  The program was entitled "Reclaiming Our Past To Preserve Our Future."

Dr. Smith, along with Ms. Peggy Wright, Coordinator of the Delta Studies Center at ASU, are a Charter Members of the organization.

The project is supported in part by a grant from the Arkansas Humanities Council and the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Afro-American Historical & Genealogical Society-Arkansas Chapter, the Delta Studies Center-ASU and the Arkansas Delta African American Historical Society in Helena, Arkansas.  

Heritage Studies Student Sandy Davis-Baltz Artist for Pocahontas "Century Wall"

Sandy Davis-Baltz, Instructor of Fine Arts at Black River Technical College and a doctoral student in the Heritage Studies Ph.D. Program, served as the Artist for "The Century Wall" project in Pocahontas.

The Century Wall was developed by Black River Technical College and the citizens of the community, with financial and technical assistance  provided in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.  The Century Wall is a mural project that depicts 109 faces of individuals who made an impact in the world. For information on the City of Pocahontas and Randolph County, contact the Chamber of Commerce at 870/892-3956 or visit the website at www.randolphchamber.com . 

Sandy Davis-Baltz also completed her 300-hour practicum at the St. Louis Art Museum during the summer. 

Sandy Davis-Baltz, Artist for the Century Wall with Dr. Debbie Chappel, ASU Professor

Dr. Calvin Smith serves as Scholar for the Malvern Black Heritage Committee

Dr. C. Calvin Smith, Presidential Distinguished Professor of Heritage Studies Ph.D. Program, was recently asked to serve as Scholar for a Malvern Black Heritage Committee Program and Reception, "The Hidden Riches in Black History."  The program was held on July 24, 2003, at the Adult Recreation Center in Malvern, Arkansas, and was supported in part by a grant from the Arkansas Humanities Council and the National Endowment for the Humanities.  

Dr. Smith's lecture focused on Arkansas Black History. 

The Malvern Black Heritage Committee is a racially diverse, small committee of people working toward preserving and documenting the history of Malvern and surrounding Hot Spring County areas, and is a sub-committee of the Greater New Hope Baptist Church Media Center and Library Committee

 Delta Studies Center Oral History Exhibition

The Arkansas State University Delta Study Center's traveling exhibit, "Arkansas Delta Agricultural and Community in Transition, 1920-1980: An Oral History," will be on permanent display at the Natural Resources Conservation Service in Little Rock.

 Jonesboro Sun Article

Robert Franklin Wins Award 

Heritage Studies doctoral student Robert A. Franklin has been selected as the 2003 AASLH award winner.  Mr. Franklin received a Certificate of Commendation for the documentary, "The Elaine, Arkansas Race Riots of 1919."  The American Association for State and Local History (AASLH) awards program is the nation's most prestigious competition for recognition of achievement in local, state, and regional history.

Bob Franklin is an award-winning producer and the station manager of KASU-FM, Arkansas State University's National Public Radio affiliate.

"I would like to thank all of those who assisted in the production of the Elaine, Arkansas Race Riots of 1919 documentary.  A heartfelt thanks to the late, Grammy Award winner, William Warfield, of Helena, Arkansas.  Mr. Warfield's narration in the documentary was superb.  Also, special thanks to the Paul Robeson Fund for Independent Media in New York for funding the documentary and to WGBH-Radio, Boston, Massachusetts for in-kind technical support."  by Robert Franklin

The awards program was initiated in 1945 to establish and encourage standards of excellence in the collection, preservation, and interpretation of state and local history throughout America.  The AASLH publishes books, technical publications, a bimonthly magazine, and monthly newsletter.

The 2003 awards banquet will be held on Friday, September 19, 2003 at the AASLH annual meeting in Providence, Rhode Island.

For more information on the AASLH, follow the link below to their website:

American Association for State and Local History 

President Bill Clinton visits ASU

Former US President Bill Clinton visited Arkansas State University and University President Dr. Les Wyatt on Thursday, June 25.

For details, please follow the link below to the Jonesboro Sun article in the June 26 edition:

6/24/03

Dr. Brady M. Banta

Dr. Brady M. Banta, Archivist of the Dean B. Ellis Library, has been appointed to the position of Associate Director of the Heritage Studies Ph.D. Program.

Dr. Banta will supervise the processing of archival collections by Heritage Studies Graduate Assistants in 2003-04 academic year.  In addition to his new position, Dr. Banta will continue teaching graduate level courses in the Fall, 2003 semester.  

Dr. Banta came to Arkansas State University in April, 1997.  Prior to that, he served as the Archivist and Special Collections Librarian at Louisiana State University School of Medicine in Shreveport, where he served as the President of the Louisiana Archives and Manuscripts Association (1996-97). 

Dr. Banta has published numerous articles & papers and is an active member of several professional societies, including the Academy of Certified Archivists and the Southern Historical Association.

To view Dr. Banta's complete vitae, please follow the link below:

Dr. Brady Banta