August …
Arkansas Baptist College — a private, historically Black liberal arts college in Little Rock, AR — was founded in August 1884 by the Colored Baptist State Convention of Arkansas and opened in November of the same year.
Established originally as the Minister’s Institute, the school operated in the facilities of Mount Zion Baptist Church in Little Rock. Its founding reflected a broader post-Reconstruction effort among African American religious communities to provide formal education and theological training at a time when access to higher education was severely limited.
The institution was renamed Arkansas Baptist College in 1885 to reflect its expanding academic scope.
The college’s early development was shaped by influential leaders, including Reverend J.P. Lawson, its first principal, and Joseph Albert Booker, who became president in 1887. Booker, a formerly enslaved man, led the institution for nearly 40 years, overseeing its growth from a small training institute into a recognized college.
In 1893, construction began on the “Old Main” building after a fire destroyed an earlier structure. This building became the center of campus life and symbolized the institution’s permanence.
Over time, the curriculum expanded beyond religious instruction to include liberal arts, teacher training, and vocational education. This aligned with the evolving needs of African American communities in Arkansas and the broader South.
The institution has produced a number of notable alumni who have contributed to American culture and public life. They include the following.
- E. Alce Taylor (1913) — Entrepreneur, teacher, community organizer, and board member of the Boston NAACP for 50 years;
- Louis Jordan — Pioneering figure in jazz and rhythm and blues; and
- Harry Kenyon Lunn (1915) — Prominent religious leader and educator in Arkansas.
Today, the college remains an urban religious college focused on serving the needs of its students and community. In 2010, its enrollment was 950 students. The institution has four academic programs accredited by the North Central Association, consisting of five bachelor’s and three associate’s degrees.
In keeping with its early history as a training ground for ministers, religious studies continue to be one of the major areas of matriculation at Arkansas Baptist College.
Footnotes:
- BlackPast.org, “Arkansas Baptist College (1884– ).”
- Davis, E. (2011, March 01). Arkansas Baptist College, Little Rock, Arkansas (1884- ). BlackPast.org.
- Jones, Johnny D. “Arkansas Baptist College.” CALS Encyclopedia of Arkansas. Accessed March 8, 2026.
- Lewis, Todd E. “Elias Camp Morris (1855-1922).” CALS Encyclopedia of Arkansas. Accessed March 11, 2026.
- Arkansas Baptist College Website.
- Wikipedia contributors. “Arkansas Baptist College.” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 5 Nov. 2025. Web. 9 Mar. 2026.
