Arkansas History for November 12: Evolution ban struck down

Important Arkansas historical events and significant anniversaries for November 12, with notable births and deaths of people with Arkansas connections for this date. Information is drawn from state archives, historical societies, contemporary newspapers and other media archives, and legal records. Much of this information comes from the Encyclopedia of Arkansas, an online publication. ChatGPT has collected this data.

1968 — U.S. Supreme Court overturns Arkansas evolution ban. In a landmark decision, the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously struck down Arkansas' 1928 law prohibiting public school teachers from teaching human evolution. The case, Epperson v. Arkansas, originated with Susan Epperson, a biology teacher at Little Rock Central High School. The justices ruled that the law violated constitutional protections against government establishment of religion. The decision reversed an Arkansas Supreme Court ruling and became a major precedent concerning religious neutrality in public education.

1863 — Civil War skirmish at Roseville. Union and Confederate forces clashed at Roseville in Logan County during military operations in western Arkansas. The engagement is recorded in Arkansas Civil War chronologies for November 12.

1864 — Union cavalry expedition continues. Federal cavalry under Lieutenant Colonel Hugh Greeno moved toward Searcy while searching for Confederate forces commanded by Colonel Thomas H. McCray and others. Flooding complicated the crossing of the Little Red River. The expedition eventually returned to DeValls Bluff with prisoners and captured livestock.

1896 — Racial violence disrupts southern Arkansas lumber operations. Following attacks by armed white men against Black lumber workers, mills remained idle November 12. The violence included gunfire directed into a workers' camp and reports of a wounded Black woman. The episode reflected violent racial conflict over employment in the region's timber industry.

NOTABLE BIRTHS

1905 — Louise McPhetridge Thaden. Born in Bentonville, Thaden became one of America's pioneering women aviators. She established speed, altitude and endurance records and, with Blanche Noyes, became the first woman to win the Bendix Transcontinental Air Race in 1936. She attended the University of Arkansas and helped establish the Ninety-Nines organization of women pilots.

NOTABLE DEATHS

1993 — Bill Dickey dies in Little Rock. The Hall of Fame New York Yankees catcher died November 12 at age 86. Dickey was born in Bastrop, Louisiana, rather than Arkansas, but had longstanding Arkansas connections.

Arkansas History for November 12: Evolution ban struck down

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