Local & Family History

Ouachita Baptist University's Archives and Special Collections serves as a regional center for genealogy and local history research.  The department cares for manuscript collections, publications, and other research materials focusing on Arkansas and Baptists, with special emphasis on Clark County and southwest Arkansas.

As the official repository for the records of the Clark County Historical Association, the department holds many official Clark County records.  Some of the earliest county records, including probate, criminal, civil, chancery and tax records, are housed in Special Collections.

For Researchers

 

Through the work of our staff -- past and present -- and volunteers from the Clark County Historical Association, many of our materials can be searched online by personal name.  Guides to archival materials may also be searched or browsed in the OBU Scholarly Commons.

 

Donating Materials

 

Special Collections welcomes donations of material pertaining to the history of Clark County and the region originally constituting Clark County at the time of its founding on December 15, 1818.  Personal papers of individuals and families, records of businesses, organizations and institutions, scrapbooks, photographs, media, and three-dimensional objects are among the types of materials appropriate for donation.  Special Collections reserves the right to decline offers of material if the materials do not meet the mission of Special Collections; if we are unable to care for the materials; or because of space limitations. Special Collections staff is unable to appraise materials for monetary value. If you have materials that you would consider donating to Special Collections, please contact the Archivist at 870-245-5332 or by email.