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Recording,
photographs, and clippings, 1954-1955
Manuscript Collection 837
About
the Collection
Ellen Compton of Fayetteville, Arkansas donated these papers
to Special Collections on May 27, 1988.
The
papers contain one recording, 12 photographs, and 21 clippings
related to the All-America City Award given to Decatur, Arkansas.
Photographs are labeled on verso and are of the receipt of the
All-America City Award and of Decatur area views.
After
the only industry and several small businesses in Decatur
(Benton County) Arkansas began closing their doors in 1952,
most people predicted that the town of 390 would soon become
a ghost town. However, concerned citizens, including Chamber
of Commerce President David Compton and industrialist Lloyd
Peterson, established the Decatur Development Company and
obtained enough money for a new poultry plant. After Decatur
citizens secured a new poultry processing plant employing
65 persons, they built a new airport, built a sale barn, opened
the State Bank of Decatur, and commenced publication of The
Decatur Herald. Decatur, Arkansas, did not die, and for
that, Look Magazine and the National Municipal League
presented Decatur, Arkansas, with the All-America City Award
on February 4, 1955.
Processed by Anthony J. Wappel, Special Collections, University
of Arkansas Libraries, Fayetteville, Arkansas, in December
1988.
Contents
of the Collection - one box (34 items)
Box 1
1. Audio-cassette recording of the address given by David Compton
to the judges of the All-America Cities contest, Kansas City,
Missouri, January, 1955.
2. Photographs, 1955.
3. Clippings, May 1954 - Mar 1955.
Last
modified: Thursday, January 15, 2004 |
