Ouachita Baptist University Department of History

09/08/2026

Interested in studying in Mexico next summer? Please consider attending an interest meeting today at 3:30pm or Friday at noon, both in Lile 310. We look forward to seeing you there--and in the cenotes!

(and yes, alums and friends of the departments are welcome!)

08/28/2026

What a helpful resource! We're grateful for the work of alumna and department affiliate Dr. Lisa Speer, university archivist, and her colleagues. We look forward to introducing students to these resources!

Browsable list of collections located in Ouachita's Archives and Special Collections.

08/20/2026

Very congratulations to 2020 graduate Maggie (Donnell) East, who has been named a 30 Under 30 Non-Profit Organization Award from NextGen Oklahoma!

Maggie also holds a JD from the University of Oklahoma School of Law and practices family law, often working with clients and families in challenging places. Well done, Maggie!

08/19/2026

Congratulations to 2006 alumnus Clint Pumphrey on the publication of his new book The Outdoor Archive! It is linked in the comments and provides an analysis of recreation company catalogs.

Clint serves as Librarian, Program Chair, and Outdoor Recreation Archive Coordinator at Utah State University. He also holds an MS in History from USU. He began his interest in outdoor histories at Ouachita, mapping Civil War and other trails in Arkansas. Well done, Clint!

📸: Utah State University

08/13/2026

We feel blessed to be the only university in Arkansas participating in this program! Associate Professor and Chair Dr. Myra Houser will return for a second year as a Council on Foreign Relations Education Ambassador. This program provides opportunities for course development, and it also allows us to showcase our unique curriculum, such as The Contemporary World course, among educators and practitioners interested in building global affairs literacy.

08/06/2026

How lovely it is to hear from 2025 graduate Didi. A double major in Criminal Justice, she has spent much of her summer in Czechia!

07/20/2026

Happy belated birthday to First Baptist Church of Arkadelphia! The church recently celebrated its 175 anniversary, including its role in Ouachita’s founding and close relationship since. We were so pleased that the congregation called on our historians and archivists to help interpret and tell their story.

05/24/2026

Congratulations!

She made history for decades. Now she has a degree in it.

Congratulations to Billie Jean King on earning her BA in history from from Cal State LA, 65 years after first enrolling.

05/21/2026

There’s nothing quite like feeling the History, is there? Glad the Empires II course has enjoyed Greece. Surely there is more History to feel and see in Rome.