This collection focuses on John C. Futrall and Annie Duke Futrall, figures important in the development of the University of Arkansas and, by extension, in the state of Arkansas as a whole. The son of Thomas Andrew Futrall and Emma Headen Futrall, John C. Futrall was born in Jackson (Madison County), Tennessee in 1873. He attended the Arkansas Industrial University (later the University of Arkansas) from 1888-1890, receiving his B.A. and M.A. degrees from the University of Virginia in 1894. Futrall pursued further studies at Johns Hopkins, the University of Chicago, and the Universities of Bonn and Halle in Germany. Futrall's specialties were Latin and Greek; he was appointed professor of Latin at the University of Arkansas in 1894 and professor of Latin and Greek a year later. He was named acting president of the University of Arkansas in 1913 and elected president in 1914, holding this post until his death in an accident in 1939. The development and scope of the university expanded extensively during his tenure, the longest for any president at the University of Arkansas.

Annie Duke Futrall was an important figure in her own right. Her influence and popularity resulted in a great honor in 1963, when Annie D. Futrall Hall was named for her.

Futralls's sister Alma, his daughters Emily Futrall Donaldson and Helen Futrall Stough and granddaughter Joan Futrall Lines left papers as well: correspondence, genealogical materials, clippings, and photographs. These materials are contained in the present collection.