Arkansas Baptists
Special Collections at Ouachita Baptist University serves as the official repository
for historical records of the Arkansas Baptist State Convention, and as such, has
an unsurpassed collection of both archival materials and secondary resources on Arkansas Baptists. A large body of church records, association minutes, pastoral papers, recorded sermons,
organizational records (like the Woman’s Missionary Union) and missionary papers document
the history of the Baptist faith both in and outside of Arkansas, with a particular
emphasis on Southern Baptists. Digital access to many issues of the Arkansas Baptist Newsmagazine is also available.
For Researchers
To locate Baptist materials in our collection, see Arkansas Baptist History and Guides and Finding Aids in the OBU Scholarly Commons and search the Library Catalog.
Our staff and volunteers have also prepared an Association Record Name Index, 1820-1900
as well as maps showing the growth of Arkansas Baptist associations in 1850, 1860,
1870, 1880, 1890, and 1900.
Preserving and Donating Materials
Special Collections plays a key role in preserving the historical records of Baptist churches and associations in Arkansas. If your church or association has records that you would like to see preserved, please contact the Archivist at 870-245-5332 or by email to talk about options for donating materials or loaning them for scanning or filming.
Special Collections also welcomes donations of Baptist pastoral papers, missionary papers, recorded sermons, organizational records, scrapbooks, photographs, media and three-dimensional objects. Special Collections reserves the right to decline offers of material if they do not meet the mission of Special Collections; if we are unable to care for the materials; or because of space limitations. Special Collections staff is unable to appraise materials for monetary value. If you have materials that you would consider donating or loaning to Special Collections, please contact the Archivist at 870-245-5332 or by email.
