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Herbert L. Thomas Papers

Correspondence, Legal Documents, Speeches, Clippings, 1899-1979

Manuscript collection MC 437


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HERBERT L. THOMAS

The founder and president of The First Pyramid Life Insurance Company of America in Little Rock, Herbert Leon Thomas was acutely aware of the importance of financial growth and stability to Arkansas' economy. Born in 1899 in Crossett (Ashley County), Arkansas, Thomas founded The First Pyramid Life Insurance Company of America in Little Rock in 1925. He was Chairman of the Board of the City National Bank of Fort Smith (Sebastian County), Arkansas and the Citizens Bank of Booneville (Logan County), Arkansas, eventually becoming director of the Eden Isle vacation and retirement home project of Heber Springs (Cleburne County), Arkansas. Conscious of the importance of education for financial growth, Thomas served on the Board of Trustees of the University of Arkansas from 1943-51. He was instrumental in the admission of the first black student to the University of Arkansas School of Law in 1948. His interests extended beyond economics and education into politics. Although he never ran for political office himself, Thomas was Chairman of the Little Rock Municipal Water Commission from 1937-40 and served on the Highway Audit Commission of Arkansas, 1951-53. His most significant political relationship was with J. William Fulbright, whom Thomas encouraged to run for the United States Senate in 1944. Further information concerning Thomas may be obtained from Who's Who in the Southwest for 1952.
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THE COLLECTION

Ruby Geraldine Collier Thomas of Eden Isle, Heber Springs (Cleburne County), Arkansas donated the papers of her late husband Herbert Leon Thomas to Special Collections on May 4, 1982.

The Herbert L. Thomas Papers contain correspondence, some with such noted figures as Brooks Hays, Senator J. William Fulbright and Governors Winthrop Rockefeller and Orval Faubus. Additional materials consist of legal documents, speeches, and clippings. A small group of photographs concludes the collection.

NOTE: The series and subseries in the collection conform to Thomas' arrangement of the material.

Significant correspondents include:

Processed by Janet G. Tucker, April 1988. Special Collections Division, University of Arkansas Libraries, Fayetteville, Arkansas.

Special Collections also holds two other collections of Herbert L. Thomas materials: Papers, 1943...(1956-1960)...1976. MS T361 249, 249A-B. Papers, relating to the racial matter in Little Rock, 1958. MS T38. Finding aids are available in the Special Collections Reading Room.

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Contents of Collection ([size (x boxes, y folders)]) NOTE: The series and subseries in the collection conform to Thomas' arrangement of the material.
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Series 1. Biographical and First Pyramid Life Materials, 1899-1975. Box 1.

Materials in Series 1 consist of correspondence pertaining to Thomas' biography, legal documents, and clippings. The Boy Scouts of America awarded Thomas a Certificate of Appreciation in recognition of his work with the Herbert L. Thomas Wildlife Refuge at the Rogers Scout Reservation (Logan County, Arkansas). Papers concerning the First Pyramid Life Insurance Company of America form part of this series.

    Subseries 1. Biographical materials.

    Box 1
  1. Biographical correspondence, 1950-79.
  2. Biographical data, 1899-1973.
  3. Legal documents, 1953.
  4. Herbert L. Thomas Wildlife Refuge, 1956-77, clippings, 1938-58.

    Subseries 2. First Pyramid Life Insurance Company of America.

    Box 1 (cont.)
  5. Correspondence, 1926-75.
  6. Business papers, 1927-56.
  7. Business papers, 1962-75.
  8. Scroll awarded to Herbert L. Thomas on the occasion of the thirtieth anniversary of the chartering of First Pyramid Life, 1955.
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Series 2. University of Arkansas Materials, 1943-72. Boxes 2-3.

Thomas served on the Board of Trustees of the University of Arkansas for eight years, from 1943 until his resignation in 1951. During his tenure on the Board, he manifested a lively interest in academic, athletic, and societal aspects of university life, a concern attested to in the correspondence contained in this series.

    Subseries 1. Admission of Black Students.

    Box 2
  1. Correspondence, 1948-57.
  2. Correspondence, 1972-73.
  3. Guerdon Nichols, "Breaking the Color Barrier at the University of Arkansas," 1968.
  4. Thomas, "Admission of Blacks to the University of Arkansas," 1972.
  5. Clippings, 1948.

    Subseries 2. Athletic Advisory Committee.

    Box 2 (cont.)
  6. Correspondence, 1956.
  7. Correspondence, 1957.
  8. Leaflets, 1959; Certificate of Appreciation, 1969.

    Subseries 3. The Board of Trustees.

    Box 2 (cont.)
  9. Correspondence, 1943.
  10. Correspondence, 1944.
  11. Correspondence, 1945.
  12. Correspondence, 1946.
  13. Correspondence, 1947.
  14. Correspondence, 1948.
  15. Correspondence, 1949-50.
  16. Correspondence, 1951.
  17. Correspondence, 1952-54.
  18. Correspondence, 1955.
  19. Correspondence, 1958.
    Box 3
  1. Correspondence, 1959.
  2. Correspondence, 1960.
  3. Correspondence, 1961.
  4. Correspondence, 1962.
  5. Correspondence, 1963.
  6. Correspondence, 1964.
  7. Correspondence, 1965.
  8. Correspondence, Sept-Dec, 1971.
  9. Correspondence, Apr, 1972-Dec, 1976.
  10. President Lewis Webster Jones' speech, Jun 9, 1947.
  11. Meetings of the Board of Trustees, 1950-51.
  12. Draft of "Long-Run Developments in the United States in the Demand for Goods and Services and for Labor," by Lee R. Martin, Chapter 3 of Investment in Human Resources and Economic Development.

    Subseries 4. Honorary degree.

    Box 3 (cont.)
  13. Correspondence, 1955.
  14. Citation, Commencement Programs, 1955.
  15. Clippings, 1955-57.

    Subseries 5. University of Arkansas Medical Center.

    Box 3 (cont.)
  16. Correspondence, 1957.
  17. University of Arkansas, materials, 1946-57.
  18. University of Arkansas, clippings, 1957-61.
Return to "Contents of Collection"

Series 3. Desegregation of Public Schools, 1948-59. Boxes 4-5.

This series pertains to the desegregation of public schools in Arkansas. Materials concerning the desegregation of public schools in Little Rock and the Little Rock Crisis are also part of the present series, which contains correspondence with former Governor Orval Faubus and others. Dimensions for broadsides are given height first.
    Box 4
  1. Correspondence, 1948-49.
  2. Correspondence, Feb-Mar, 1958.
  3. Correspondence, Apr 1-15, 1958.
  4. Correspondence, Apr 16-30, 1958.
  5. Correspondence, May, 1958.
  6. Correspondence, June-Oct, 1958.
  7. Correspondence, 1959.
  8. Correspondence, Advisory Committee for the Peaceful Operation of the Free Public Schools, 1959.
  9. Correspondence, Civil Rights Commission, 1958.
  10. Correspondence with Eugene Warren, June-Aug, 1959.
  11. Correspondence with W. S. Mitchell, 1959.
  12. Correspondence with Orval Faubus, 1959.
    Box 5
  1. Correspondence concerning Rotary Club speech, 1957.
  2. Rotary Club speech, 1957.
  3. Speeches about desegregation, 1958.
  4. "The Arkansas Plan," Apr 7, 1958.
  5. Thomas' "Statement . . . For . . . Protestant Church Leaders," 1958.
  6. Mailing lists for speeches, 1958.
  7. Miscellaneous materials concerning desegregation, c. 1958.
  8. Materials concerning desegregation in the Southern and border states, 1957-59.
  9. Magazine articles, reprints, 1956-58.
  10. Clippings, 1950-58.
  11. Segregationist materials, 1954-58.
  12. Segregationist clippings, 1958.
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Series 4. Political Materials, 1940-74. Boxes 6-8.

Although never running for public office himself, Thomas was active in Arkansas politics. Orval Faubus' role in the Little Rock School Crisis of 1957-58 precipitated a political movement, in which Thomas was active, to defeat the governor in the election of 1960. Materials concerning the senatorial campaign of J. William Fulbright, the Voting Machine Amendment of 1962, and the Urban Progress Association, Inc. are included. Senator J. William Fulbright and Brooks Hays are significant correspondents in this series, which also contains papers dealing with Thomas' work with the Arkansas Highway Commission; much of the Fulbright correspondence is photocopied.

    Subseries 1.Political materials.

    Box 6
  1. Correspondence, 1940-60.
  2. Correspondence, 1956.
  3. Correspondence, 1957.
  4. Correspondence, 1958.
  5. Correspondence, 1959.
  6. Correspondence, 1960.
  7. Correspondence, "B" Bonds, 1942.
  8. Correspondence with William Good, 1956-60.
  9. Correspondence, Voting Machine Amendment, Jan-Mar, 1962.
  10. Correspondence, Voting Machine Amendment, Apr-Dec, 1962.
  11. Correspondence, Governor's Mansion, 1972-74.
  12. Correspondence, Urban Progress Association, Inc., 1959.
  13. Materials concerning Governor Orval Faubus, 1960.
  14. Chamber of Commerce Materials, 1959.
  15. Voting Machine Amendment, c. 1962.
  16. Voting Machine Amendment, clippings, 1962.
  17. Materials, Governor's Mansion, 1972-73.
  18. Urban Progress Association, Inc., reports, newsletter, 1959-60.
  19. Urban Progress Association, Inc., Board of Directors materials, 1959.
  20. Urban Progress Association, Inc., miscellaneous materials, clippings, 1959.
  21. Speeches, 1960.
  22. Pamphlet, program, 1958-60.
  23. Clippings, 1940-41.
  24. Clippings, 1961-73.

    Subseries 2. J. William Fulbright.

    Box 7
  1. Correspondence, 1943-46.
  2. Correspondence, 1950-51.
  3. Correspondence, 1955-58.
  4. Correspondence, 1959.
  5. Correspondence, 1960.
  6. Correspondence, 1975-76.
  7. Fulbright campaign materials, 1944.
  8. Senatorial materials, c. 1950-60.
  9. Congressional Record, Mar 5, 1960.
  10. Clippings, 1959.

    Subseries 3. Arkansas Highway Commission.

    Box 7 (cont.)
  11. Correspondence, 1950-52.
  12. Correspondence, 1953-79.
  13. Committee Materials, 1952-55.
  14. Bills, Arkansas Legislature, 1934-c. 1962.
    Box 8
  1. Retirement materials, 1949-52.
  2. Virginia Retirement Plan, 1951-52.
  3. Merit System Provisions, Feb, 1952.
  4. Report by Arkansas Public Expenditure Committee, 1952.
  5. The Arkansas Economist, Fall, 1958.
  6. Thomas' Rotary Club speech, c. 1952.
  7. Clippings, 1954.
  8. Arkansas Highway Audit Commission, correspondence, 1951.
  9. Arkansas Highway Audit Commission, correspondence, 1952.
  10. Arkansas Highway Audit Commission, correspondence, 1953-76.
  11. Arkansas Highway Audit Commission, reports, 1951-53.
  12. Arkansas Highway Audit Commission, speeches, 1953-54.
  13. Arkansas Highway Petitions, correspondence, May-June, 1965.
  14. Arkansas Highway Petitions, 1965.
  15. Clippings, June 5, 1952.
Return to "Contents of Collection"

Series 5. Arkansas Economy, 1953-79. Boxes 9-20.

While Thomas manifested great concern for the state of Arkansas with his political and educational activities, he devoted most of his time to the development of the economy of Arkansas. The present collection contains material focusing on Thomas' activities regarding the Arkansas economy, specifically the Arkansas Industrial Development Commission, the First Arkansas Development Finance Corporation, and the Small Business Act. His speeches, including the "Flight of the Dollar," are included. Important correspondents include Orval Faubus, Wilbur Mills, John McClellan, John Sparkman, and J. William Fulbright. The projected Water Spectacular National Park was never built.

    Subseries 1.Miscellaneous Economic Materials.

    Box 9
  1. Correspondence, 1955.
  2. Correspondence, Jan-Apr, 1956.
  3. Correspondence, May-June, 1956.
  4. Correspondence, July-Sept, 1956.
  5. Correspondence, Oct, 1956.
  6. Correspondence, Nov, 1956.
  7. Correspondence, Dec, 1956.
  8. Correspondence, 1960-61.
  9. Correspondence, 1962.
  10. Correspondence, 1963.
  11. Correspondence, 1964-65; John M. Peterson paper, c. 1965.
    Box 10
  1. The Arkansas Fund, Inc., 1939.
  2. Little Rock Water Works, data, 1937-76.
  3. Committee for Economic Development materials, 1956.
  4. Arkansas economy, data, committees, 1956.
  5. Arkansas economy, 1954-c. 1960.
  6. Arkansas economy, pamphlets, map, 1950-56.
  7. Arkansas economy, professional groups in Arkansas, 1955-56.
  8. Arkansas economy, pamphlets, newsletters, 1955-58.
  9. Arkansas economy, pamphlets, newsletters, 1960.
  10. Arkansas economy, newsletters, miscellaneous materials, 1960.
  11. Arkansas economy, pamphlets, newsletters, 1961.
  12. Arkansas economy, pamphlets, newsletters, 1962-63.
  13. Utilities, 1956.
  14. Massachusetts Business Development Corporation, Act, 1953.
    Box 11
  1. Arkansas Management Institute, 1958-59.
  2. Arkansas Christmas Gift Promotion, 1959-60.
  3. Clippings, 1955-56.
  4. Clippings, 1957-62.

    Subseries 2. Arkansas Industrial Development Commission.

    Box 12
  1. Correspondence, Jan-Mar, 1957.
  2. Correspondence, Apr-May, 1957.
  3. Correspondence, July-Dec, 1957.
  4. Correspondence, Jan-Mar, 1958.
  5. Correspondence, Apr-June, 1958.
  6. Correspondence, 1959-63.
  7. Political materials, 1956-58.
  8. Arkansas Industrial Expansion Conference, Winrock Farm, Sept., 1960.
  9. Pamphlets, newsletters, clippings, 1957-59.

    Subseries 3. First Arkansas Development Finance Corporation.

    Box 13
  1. Correspondence with Rick Satterfield, 1959.
  2. Correspondence with Rick Satterfield, Jan-June, 1960.
  3. Correspondence with Rick Satterfield, July-Dec, 1960.
  4. Correspondence with Rick Satterfield, Jan-June, 1961.
  5. Correspondence, 1957-1961.
  6. Correspondence, 1962.
  7. Correspondence, 1963.
  8. Correspondence, 1964.
  9. Correspondence, 1965.
  10. Correspondence, 1979.
  11. Correspondence, stockholders, 1959-60.
  12. Correspondence, stockholders, 1961-64.
  13. Correspondence, summary of activities, 1959-61.
    Box 14
  1. Loan policies, program, 1960-61.
  2. Loan applications, Dec, 1959-June, 1960.
  3. Loan applications, July-Dec, 1960.
  4. Loan applications, Jan-Mar, 1961.
  5. Loan applications, Apr-Oct, 1961.
  6. Loan applications, 1962.
  7. Loan applications, 1963.
  8. Loan applications, 1964.
    Box 15
  1. Summary of activities, related financial materials, 1959-61.
  2. Balance sheets, 1959-61.
  3. Annual audits, 1961-64.
  4. Board of Directors materials, 1958-64.
  5. Discount Committee, Loan and Discount Committee, materials, 1963-64.
  6. Executive Committee materials, 1959-60.
  7. Executive Committee materials, 1961.
  8. Executive Committee materials, 1962.
  9. Executive Committee materials, 1963-64.
  10. Nominating Committee, 1960.
  11. Small Business Advisory Committee, 1960.
  12. Stockholders' meetings, 1963-79.
  13. Stockholders' financial statement, 1959, Annual Reports, 1961-64.
  14. Stockholders' Annual Reports, 1975-79.
  15. Investors, 1959.
  16. Bank commitments, 1959-60.
  17. Salaries and expenses, 1960.
  18. National Association of Business Development Corporations materials, 1963.
  19. Miscellaneous materials, 1959-60.
  20. Clippings, 1959-61.

    Subseries 4. "Flight of the Dollar" and other speeches.

    Box 16
  1. "Flight of the Dollar," correspondence, Mar-May, 1956.
  2. "Flight of the Dollar," correspondence, June-Aug, 1956.
  3. "Flight of the Dollar," correspondence, Sept-Dec, 1956.
  4. "Flight of the Dollar," correspondence, 1957.
  5. "Flight of the Dollar," speech and record, July 12, 1956.
  6. "Flight of the Dollar," financial materials, 1956-57.
  7. "Arkansas and its Economy," 1956.
  8. "Life Company Investments," correspondence, 1955-56.
  9. "Life Company Investments," 1956.
  10. Correspondence concerning speeches, 1957-59.
  11. Speeches, Jonesboro, 1955-58.
  12. Speeches, 1948-60.
  13. Pamphlets for speeches, 1955-59.
  14. Speech materials, 1957.
  15. Speech materials, 1961-63.
  16. Clippings, 1954-57.

    Subseries 5. Small Business Act.

    Box 17
  1. Correspondence, June, 1957.
  2. Correspondence, Apr-Dec, 1958.
  3. Correspondence with Paul Brann, 1958-59.
  4. Correspondence, University of Arkansas, 1959.
  5. Correspondence, Jan-June, 1959.
  6. Correspondence, July-Oct, 1959.
  7. Correspondence with J. William Fulbright and J. H. Yingling, 1959.
  8. Correspondence, 1960.
    Box 18
  1. Sparkman Bill, correspondence, 1957.
  2. Small Business Advisory Committee, correspondence, 1958-59.
  3. Small Business Act of 1953.
  4. Industrial Loan Act of Georgia, 1955-57.
  5. "Research for Mississippi's Industrial Development," 1959.
  6. Steering Committee, Arkansas Congressional Districts, 1957.
  7. Steering Committee, stockholders, 1957.
  8. Steering Committee, 1957-59.
  9. Industrial Advisory Committee, 1958.
  10. United States Senate materials, 1957-59.
  11. Testimony at United States Senate Subcommittee Hearings, 1957-59.
  12. United States Senate and House of Representatives bills, 1955-59.
  13. NASBIC (National Association of Small Business Investment) Washington Report, Mar-Nov, 1959.
  14. Press releases, 1957.
  15. Pamphlets, newsletters, 1957-58.
  16. Miscellaneous papers, 1955-59.
  17. Clippings, 1957-58.
    Box 19
  1. Correspondence, Southwest Manufacturing Company, 1956-57.
  2. Miscellaneous materials, Southwest Manufacturing Company, 1956-57.
  3. Clippings, Southwest Manufacturing Company, 1956.
  4. Correspondence, Turney Wood Products, 1956-57.
  5. Clippings, Turney Wood Products, 1957.
  6. Correspondence, White River Propane Gas, 1957.
  7. Reports, advertising materials, White River Propane Gas, 1955-57.
  8. Correspondence, Mar-Dec, 1956.
  9. Correspondence, Jan-June, 1957.
  10. Correspondence, July-Sept, 1957.
  11. Case histories, 1957.
  12. Case histories, c. late 1950s.
  13. Clippings, 1956.

    Subseries 6. Water Spectacular National Park.

    Box 20
  1. Correspondence, 1960.
  2. Correspondence, 1961.
  3. Correspondence, 1962.
  4. Correspondence, 1963.
  5. Correspondence, 1964.
  6. Correspondence, 1965.
  7. Correspondence, 1966.
  8. Correspondence, 1967-68.
  9. Correspondence, 1970.
  10. Correspondence, 1971.
  11. Financial and statistical reports, 1964-71.
  12. Clippings, 1964-71.
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Series 6. Arkansas Arts Center. Box 21.

Thomas' interest in the development of Arkansas extended beyond economics and education to culture. His efforts, ultimately fruitful in creating an arts center for Arkansas, are testimony to this interest. This series contains correspondence, budgetary materials, and records of meetings concerning the creation of the Community Center of Arts and Sciences, later called the Arkansas Arts Center.

    Subseries 1. Community Center of Arts and Sciences.

    Box 21
  1. Correspondence, 1957.
  2. Correspondence, 1958-59.
  3. Meetings, agendas and minutes, 1959.
  4. Schedules, reports, memoranda, bylaws, 1960.
  5. Pamphlets, c. 1960.
  6. Clippings, 1957-58.

    Subseries 2. Arkansas Arts Center.

    Box 21 (cont.)
  7. Correspondence, 1958-60.
  8. Correspondence, May-Dec, 1961.
  9. Correspondence, 1962-74.
  10. Little Rock City Ordinance, 1935.
  11. Reorganization, 1959-61.
  12. Funding, 1960-62.
  13. Budget materials, 1960-63.
  14. Committee chairmen, 1960.
  15. Building Committee Minutes, 1960-62.
  16. Board Meeting Minutes, 1960-72.
  17. Pamphlets, 1961-63.
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Series 7. Photographs. Box 21.

This series contains photographs of Thomas taken for newspaper stories or political purposes. Two are group photographs and include images of Governor Orval Faubus. All are black and white; dimensions are given height first.
    Box 21
      Folder 18. Individual photographs.
    1. Thomas, formal portrait, c. 1955. 7 x 5 proof print.
    2. Thomas, formal portrait, c. 1955. 7 x 5 proof print.
    3. Thomas, formal portrait, c. 1955. 2 3/4 x 2 halftone mat (mold).
      • a. 2 3/4 x 2 halftone mat (mold).
      Folder 19. Group photographs.
    4. Thomas standing left, Orval Faubus seated, unidentified man standing left, two unidentified women standing right. Little Rock, c. 1960. 8 x 10 formal portrait. Stamped on verso: "Please credit, Photo by Bell. Arkansas Publicity and Parks Commission. State Capitol - Little Rock, Ark."
    5. Thomas standing second from left, Orval Faubus seated, unidentified man standing left, two unidentified women standing right. Little Rock, c. 1960. 8 x 10 formal portrait. Stamped on verso: "Please credit, Photo by Bell. Arkansas Publicity and Parks Commission. State Capitol - Little Rock, Ark."
    6. Thomas seated right, Harville Adams, Senator Doc Baker, and Bill Nash. c. 1960. 10 x 8. Handwritten notation on verso: "R - H. L. Thomas, Sr. - organizer and 1st President of Dev. (?) project Corp to aid small businesses for long term capital - First Arkansas Development Finance Corp - FADFC. Harville Adams, Senator Doc Baker - Bill Nash.
    7. Thomas seated right, three unidentified men, Arkansas Industrial Expansion Conference, Winrock Farm, Petit Jean Mountain (Conway County), Arkansas, 1960. 8 x 10. Winthrop Rockefeller's card attached.
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