Labor and Industry in Arkansas

The middle of the twentieth century was a time of explosive growth for American industry and a test of strength for the nation’s labor movement. For most of this period, the economy of Arkansas was directly tied to the cotton crop. Not until the defense industry boom of World War II, would industry begin to outpace agriculture.

By gathering a variety of materials from the collections of the Central Arkansas Library System’s Butler Center for Arkansas Studies on the Arkansas labor movement, this project aims to capture a formative moment in the struggle of Arkansas workers for dignity, security, and basic democratic rights.

This digital project has interactive elements and sound. Be sure to click through each element and turn up the volume to get the entire experience.