MINUTES OF THE ARKANSAS BLACK HISTORY ADVISORY COMMITTEE

May 29, 2003

One Capitol Mall, Little Rock

Mr. Curtis H. Sykes, Chairman, called the meeting to order at 2:20 p.m. Members present were Dr. John W. Graves and Mrs. Versia Miles.

On motion the minutes of the meeting of November 14, 2002 were read and approved.

On motion the Committee authorized per diem and mileage payments to members for the year 2003.

Ms. Jama Best reported on projects of the Arkansas Humanities Council which are funded by the Committee. The sum of $1,676 remains in the Black History Grant Fund held by the Council.

Mr. Steven Weber of the State Department of Education reported on departmental activities concerning African American history.

On motion the Committee authorized a grant of $1,600 to Ms. Frances A. Tolliver of Roland, a graduate teaching assistant at UALR, who will research Julius Rosenwald schools in Arkansas.

On motion the Committee authorized payment of $3,810 to Charles Apfelbaum of Watchung, New Jersey for a collection of Arkansas slave-related court papers; and the remainder of the current fiscal year budget as a grant to the Research Committee of the Retired Educators of Little Rock and Other Public Schools for a publishing project.

Dr. Graves reported on the current restoration of the Mosaic Templars building; and donated two (2) booklets on the history of Pulaski Heights Christian Church, Little Rock.

The meeting was adjourned at 3:30 p.m. after agreement to meet again at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, August 28, 2003.

John L. Ferguson

Secretary