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The Arkansas American Civil War Association P. O. Box 2004 Jonesboro, AR 72404-2004 jblcivilwar@cox.net
The Arkansas American Civil War Association is composed of a group of individuals, and a number of Arkansas historical groups, who have joined together to sponsor the publication of a documented history of the American Civil War as it was fought in the State of Arkansas. One hundred and thirty-eight years have passed since that War ended, and during that time no one has written, or published, a book, or a series of books to document the many events that occurred in the State during the most important historical event in its history. We think that is long enough to wait, and the time has come to fill a deep void in our history and heritage. Jim Lair, one of our Directors, has spent the last 10 years researching and writing a four-volume series of books to document this important Arkansas story. Those volumes have been written in chronological order, with one book for each year of the War. Lair has written, and had four books published that relate directly to the history of Arkansas. The latest of these, a biography of David Owen Dodd, a 17-year-old young man who was executed as a Confederate spy in Little Rock during the War, received the S.A. Cunningham Award for Literary Accomplishment this year. Other writings by the author have received awards from the Arkansas Historical Association. Walsworth Publishing Company, of Marceline, Missouri, has accepted these books for publication, and Volume I, "Pillars of Power" ... Steps Toward Secession will be published this fall. Other volumes will be published approximately every six months after the first book is published. Each of these books will be offered in limited editions, and a pre-publication sales campaign will be conducted. For more information on that campaign anyone who is interested may contact the Association at the addresses on this letterhead. In conjunction with this historical publication effort, the Arkansas American History Association has also decided to solicit biographies of those Arkansas men who were involved in the American Civil War. We would also welcome photographs of those individuals where they are available. The biographies will be published in a fifth volume in this historic series, with a working title of Lest We Forget ... Arkansans in the Civil War. The author of the other four volumes will edit these submissions so that the book will present each life in a similar format to ensure the professionalism of this book. Each individual who submits a biography will receive a proof copy of that biography before it is published to approve and check for any errors. Arkansas was a Confederate State. However, not everyone in the State chose to join the Union Army, and many Arkansans fought for the Union. Those biographies are also welcome, along with those of any African Americans who were involved in the War. Finally, a number of the participants in the Civil War moved into Arkansas after the War to make their own contributions toward finding a lasting peace, and helping to recreate life in the State during Reconstruction. Biographies of those men are also solicited. We in the Association feel that each of the individuals who participated in that historic confrontation embraced ideals and ideas that were larger than larger than themselves. They were willing to fight, and in many instances die, for those beliefs. Their demonstrated dedication and courage should not be forgotten, and this historic publication seems to be a fitting memorial remembrance. Each of the volumes in this series will be published in hard bound copy, with a dust jacket, on acid free, archival paper to ensure their long life, and historic photographs and maps will augment the written text. The first four volumes will be presented in a 6 inch by 9 inch format, with each book averaging 350 pages. Please make the members of your organization aware of this request for biographical information, and urge each of them to participate so that their ancestors can receive the recognition they richly deserve. We are confident that this memorial volume will become a cherished family keepsake for those who take the time to see that their ancestors are included. There is no limit on the number of ancestors an individual can submit, and all that we ask is that those who are included have an Arkansas connection. The size and the number of pages in this fifth volume will be determined by the response of the public in this solicitation campaign, but it will become a beautiful volume that can be passed on to those who come after us in justifiable pride. This volume will be published after the other four to provide time for receiving and editing the material. Biographical submissions can be E-mailed to jblcivilwar@cox.net or they can be mailed to the Arkansas American Civil War Association, P.O. Box 2004, Jonesboro, Arkansas, 72404-2004. If photographs are submitted, we ask that copies be sent to us and not the originals. Any questions can be submitted to either of the E-mail address on the letterhead, or mailed to our post office box. We are also enclosing a copy of a letter-sized poster you may post, or copy and share with those who are interested in participating in this solicitation project. Please join with us in this historic endeavor. Poster.DOC Click on the link "Poster.DOC" with your right mouse button, then select "Save Target As" to download the poster in MSWord format. W. D. Honnoll
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