Arkansas Constitutional Convention Records
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Not requestable
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of proceedings, pamphlets, newspaper clippings, legislative bills, resolutions and acts, and other published and unpublished materials created, received, or assembled by members and staff of the convention in the course of its work.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
- Arkansas. Constitutional Convention (1969-1970) (Corporate Entity)
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.
- Series 1. Records Pertaining to Creation and Organization of Convention
- Series 2. Records Pertaining to Convention Staff Personnel
- Series 3. Published Research Materials Consulted by Convention
- Series 4. Records Pertaining to Constitution of, and/or Constitutional Revisions in, Other States
- Series 5. Unpublished Research Materials Consulted by Convention
- Series 6. Records Pertaining to Proceedings of Convention Committees
- Series 6. Subseries 1. Administrative
- Series 6. Subseries 2. County Government
- Series 6. Subseries 3. Declaration of Rights
- Series 6. Subseries 4. Education
- Series 6. Subseries 5. Executive Branch
- Series 6. Subseries 6. Finance and Taxation
- Series 6. Subseries 7. General Provisions
- Series 6. Subseries 8. Judicial Branch
- Series 6. Subseries 9. Legislative Branch
- Series 6. Subseries 10. Municipal Government
- Series 6. Subseries 11. Public Information
- Series 6. Subseries 12. Rules
- Series 6. Subseries 13. Schedule and Transitional Provisions
- Series 6. Subseries 14. Style and Drafting
- Series 6. Subseries 15. Suffrage and Elections
- Series 6. Subseries 16. Other Committee Records
- Series 7. Records Pertaining to Convention Proceedings
- Series 7. Subseries 1. Sound Recordings (1969, 1970)
- Series 7. Subseries 2. Transcripts of Sound Recordings
- Series 7. Subseries 3. Other Records
- Series 8. Robert Allen Leflar's Records
- Series 8. Subseries 1. Correspondence
- Series 8. Subseries 2. Speeches and Speech Notes
- Series 9. Records Pertaining to Public Support, or Opposition to, Proposed Constitution
- Series 10. Records Pertaining to the Drafting of the Proposed Constitution
- Series 11. Reports of and Published Materials Created by Convention
- Series 12. Records Pertaining to Election for Adoption of Constitution
- 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.
Processing Information
Processed by Sam Sizer; completed ca 1971.
Creator
- Arkansas. Constitutional Convention (1969-1970) (Corporate Entity)
Source
- Leflar, Robert A. (Robert Allen), 1901-1997 (Donor, Person)
- 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
University of Arkansas Libraries
365 N. McIlroy Avenue
Fayetteville AR 72701 United States
(479) 575-8444
specoll@uark.edu