Orval Eugene Faubus Papers Addendum

Collection

Identifier: MC 922

Staff Only
Select files to request

Scope and Content Note

This collection is essentially a continuation of the Orval Eugene Faubus Papers, 1910...(1939-74)-1978 (MS/F27/301/FAUBUS). Materials in this collection pertain primarily to the life of Orval Faubus following his six terms as governor of Arkansas. Included are items pertaining to his marriage to Elizabeth (Beth) Drake Thompson Westmoreland (1969); his adoption of her daughter, Kim Elizabeth, and son, Frederick ("Ric" or "Ricci") King (1971); Beth's death (1983); and his marriage to Janice (Jan) Wittenburg (1986).

The collection includes correspondence, materials pertaining to the books written by Orval Faubus, speeches, diaries and appointment books, souvenirs and mementos, clippings, items pertaining to Faubus's military service, photographs, and sound and video recordings. Much of the collection, especially the photographs, pertains to Beth and her family.

Dates

1928-1994

Creator

Faubus, Orval Eugene, 1910-1994 (Person)

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

Grade books ("Arkansas School Registers") from 1928-1935, when Faubus taught school in Madison County are restricted in compliance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (U. S. Code). Researchers desiring access to the material should consult with the Head of Special Collections.

No Interlibrary Loan.

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

Biographical Note

Orval Eugene Faubus was born in the Ozark Mountain community of Greasy Creek; taught school in rural communities (1928. . .1939); worked as itinerant farm laborer and lumberjack (1931. . .1935); briefly attended Commonwealth College, the radical labor school at Mena, Ark. (1935); was elected to two terms (1939-1942) as Madison County, Ark. Circuit Clerk and Recorder; served in the U.S. Army, as an enlisted man and subsequently as a commissioned officer in Europe (1942-1946); was Huntsville, Ark. postmaster (1946-47, 1953-54); edited and published the weekly Madison County Record (1947-1967); was a member of the Arkansas State Highway Commission (1949-1951) and Director of Highways (1952-1953); was elected to six consecutive terms (1955-1967) as Governor of Arkansas, and attracted international attention for his controversial role in the Little Rock, Ark. Central High School racial desegregation crisis (1957-1959); subsequently sought, unsuccessfully, election to the gubernatorial office again in 1970 and 1974. He published accounts of his military experiences, In This Faraway Land (Conway, Ark., 1971), and of his ascent to political power, Down From the Hills (Little Rock, Ark., 1981). (Taken from Orval Eugene Faubus Papers (MS F27 301 FAUBUS).)