Commems Collection Classic: 1935-39 Arkansas Statehood Centennial - Commissions

In 1934, the Arkansas Honorary Centennial Celebration Commission ("Celebration Commission") was formed to plan the State's centennial celebrations; it was headed by prominent local businessman Harvey C. Couch, the founder of Arkansas Power and Light and ultimately grew to include 158 members who were directed by nine committees.

Among its accomplishments:

- created preliminary centennial celebration plans for the State

- secured a $75,000 grant from the US Government to help fund its plans (with the assistance of Senator Joseph T. Robinson)

- convinced the United States Post Office to issue a commemorative stamp for the Centennial (see 1936 Arkansas Statehood Centennial - Philatelic Tie-Ins for a look at the Official First Day Covers (FDCs) for the stamp that were produced as fundraisers).

Arkansas Statehood Centennial Official First Day Cover (1 of 10)


- secured a US commemorative half dollar to mark the "the one hundredth anniversary of the admission of the State of Arkansas into the Union." The coin bill was enacted on May 14, 1934.

1936 Arkansas Statehood Centennial Half Dollar


On March 21, 1935, the General Assembly of the State of Arkansas created the Arkansas Centennial Commission to replace the Celebration Commission. The purposes of the new Commission were:

"(a) To foster, develop and conduct a befitting celebration of the One Hundredth Anniversary of the State of Arkansas.

"(b) To select, procure, construct, finance and manage Recreational Areas in the State of Arkansas."

To carry out its purposes and objectives. the Centennial Commission was empowered:

"To solicit and receive contributions; to accept grants of money from and to borrow money from the Federal Government or any Federal Agency or from any other source,"

Such fundraising power was necessary as the Legislature did not appropriate funds for the Centennial Commission's use as part of its enacting legislation.

The ongoing sale of the Arkansas commemorative half dollar was one of the Centennial Commission's "other" sources of income. So, even though it did not originate the Federal legislation for a coin, the Centennial Commission enjoyed the benefits of such legislation - thanks to the actions of the Celebration Commission - at the time of the Arkansas Statehood Centennial and for years afterward.


For more of my stories about commemorative coins and medals, including other Arkansas half dollar stories, see: Commems Collection.