Hoxie: The First Stand Museum slated to open  

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by George Jared ([email protected]) ago 0 views 

The Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce, in collaboration with the Hoxie: The First Stand Museum, will host a ribbon cutting Saturday, Jan. 24, marking the official grand opening of the museum and the opening of the Ethel Tompkins Exhibit Hall.

The event will take place at the museum on Lawrence Street in Hoxie. It is open to the public.

The event marks a milestone in preserving and sharing the history of Hoxie’s role in Arkansas and national history.

Founded to preserve and interpret the events surrounding the Hoxie School Integration of 1955, the museum educates visitors about a pivotal moment when local leaders and residents chose unity and progress amid national resistance. Exhibits and artifacts highlight those who stood for equality and ensure the story is preserved for future generations.

Speakers will include Ethel Tompkins, president of Hoxie: The First Stand Museum; Frances Green, vice president of Hoxie: The First Stand Museum; and Terrence Ward, executive director of the Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce. 

In 1955, the school district had financial problems. Superintendent Edward Kunkel Vance hatched a plan. He decided to integrate the student body. At the time, he said he supported it because it saved the district money, it complied with the recently decided U.S. Supreme Court case Brown vs. The Board of Education of Topeka, Kan., and it was “right in the eyes of God.”

In July of that year, 29 Black students entered the previously all-white school. Only 21 would complete the term, Tompkins said. An avid reader, Tompkins said she marveled at how many books were in the school library and how much nicer the facilities were.

The museum operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, supported entirely through donations from individuals and businesses.

“This museum exists because our community believes these stories matter,” said Leslie Reed, secretary of the museum’s Board of Directors. “Every donation helps us preserve these exhibits and share Hoxie’s history with visitors from near and far.”