MINUTES OF THE ARKANSAS BLACK HISTORY ADVISORY COMMITTEE

August 28, 2003

One Capitol Mall, Little Rock

 

            Mr. Curtis H. Sykes, Chairman, called the meeting to order at 2:10 p.m.  Members present were Rev. Barry Dobson, Dr. John W. Graves, Dr. Henri L. Linton and Mrs. Versia Miles.  Members absent were Mr. Mylas Jeffers and Mr. Nashid Madyun.

 

            On motion the minutes of the meeting of May 29, 2003 were read and approved.

 

            Ms. Lavona Wilson 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 Humanities Council.

 

            Members of the Committee discussed the status of the $50,000 appropriation for grants authorized by the General Assembly.  The appropriation is currently unfunded.

 

            Paula Taylor, staff archivist with the History Commission, displayed and discussed documents pertaining to an Arkansas slave theft legal case which were recently purchased by the Committee.

 

            On motion the Committee authorized a grant of $1,400 to the Retired Educators of Little Rock and Other Public Schools for a publishing project.

 

            On motion the Committee authorized a grant of $2,300 to the Arkansas Chapter of the Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society for its annual genealogy conference on February 21, 2004.

 

            Dr. Graves reported on the progress of the restoration of the Mosaic Templars building in Little Rock.

 

            The meeting was adjourned at 3:45 p.m. after agreement to meet again at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, November 20, 2003.

 

 

           

 

                                                                                                            John L. Ferguson

                                                                                                            Secretary