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Arkansas Constitutional Convention Records

 Collection
Identifier: MS Ar4 Con 89, 89A-D

Scope and Content Note

Materials include correspondence, memoranda, reports, lists, speeches, minutes of meetings, sound recording's and transcripts of proceedings, pamphlets, newspaper clippings, legislative bills, resolutions and acts, and other published and unpublished materials created, received, or assembled by members and staff of the convention in the course of its work.

Dates

  • 1969-1970

Creator

Language of Materials

Materials are in English.

Access Information

Please call (479) 575-8444 or email specoll@uark.edu at least two weeks in advance of your arrival to ensure availability of the materials.

Use Information

No Use Restrictions Apply.

No Interlibrary Loan.

Standard Federal Copyright Laws Apply (U.S. Title 17).

Biographical Note

Written in response by conservative Democratic “redeemers” to Arkansas’s pro-Union Reconstruction era constitution, the Constitution of 1874 remains in effect to this date. Efforts in the 1880s as well as a constitutional convention in 1917-1918 failed to replace this constitution. Another attempt was initiated in 1967 when the state legislature voted to create the Constitution Revision Study Commission. The study resulted in a constitutional convention convening in 1969-1970. Dr. Robert A. Leflar of the University of Arkansas law school was unanimously elected to serve as the convention’s president. The 100 delegates focused on three issues: state usury laws, the “right to work,” and voting age. However, the resulting new constitution was defeated overwhelmingly by voters in 1970, with 57 percent against the measure. Subsequent efforts to replace the 1874 constitution, including a convention in 1979-1980, also failed.

Extent

25 Linear Feet (51 boxes)

Arrangement of the Papers

Materials are arranged and described in thirteen series. Loc. numbers for this collection are Loc. 994-1044.

  1. Series 1. Records Pertaining to Creation and Organization of Convention
  2. Series 2. Records Pertaining to Convention Staff Personnel
  3. Series 3. Published Research Materials Consulted by Convention
  4. Series 4. Records Pertaining to Constitution of, and/or Constitutional Revisions in, Other States
  5. Series 5. Unpublished Research Materials Consulted by Convention
  6. Series 6. Records Pertaining to Proceedings of Convention Committees
  7. Series 6. Subseries 1. Administrative
  8. Series 6. Subseries 2. County Government
  9. Series 6. Subseries 3. Declaration of Rights
  10. Series 6. Subseries 4. Education
  11. Series 6. Subseries 5. Executive Branch
  12. Series 6. Subseries 6. Finance and Taxation
  13. Series 6. Subseries 7. General Provisions
  14. Series 6. Subseries 8. Judicial Branch
  15. Series 6. Subseries 9. Legislative Branch
  16. Series 6. Subseries 10. Municipal Government
  17. Series 6. Subseries 11. Public Information
  18. Series 6. Subseries 12. Rules
  19. Series 6. Subseries 13. Schedule and Transitional Provisions
  20. Series 6. Subseries 14. Style and Drafting
  21. Series 6. Subseries 15. Suffrage and Elections
  22. Series 6. Subseries 16. Other Committee Records
  23. Series 7. Records Pertaining to Convention Proceedings
  24. Series 7. Subseries 1. Sound Recordings (1969, 1970)
  25. Series 7. Subseries 2. Transcripts of Sound Recordings
  26. Series 7. Subseries 3. Other Records
  27. Series 8. Robert Allen Leflar's Records
  28. Series 8. Subseries 1. Correspondence
  29. Series 8. Subseries 2. Speeches and Speech Notes
  30. Series 9. Records Pertaining to Public Support, or Opposition to, Proposed Constitution
  31. Series 10. Records Pertaining to the Drafting of the Proposed Constitution
  32. Series 11. Reports of and Published Materials Created by Convention
  33. Series 12. Records Pertaining to Election for Adoption of Constitution
  34. Series 13. Records Pertaining to Publicity of Constitutional Revision in Arkansas

Acquisition Information

The Arkansas Constitutional Convention Records were donated to Special Collections by convention chairman Robert Allen Leflar in February 1970 to October 1971.

Related Materials

For related materials, see the Arkansas Constitution Revision Study Commission Records.

Processing Information

Processed by Sam Sizer; completed ca 1971.

Title
Arkansas Constitutional Convention Records
Status
Completed
Author
Samuel Sizer
Date
circa 1971
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding aid is written in English.

Repository Details

Part of the Special Collections Department Repository

Contact:
University of Arkansas Libraries
365 N. McIlroy Avenue
Fayetteville AR 72701 United States
(479) 575-8444