Bess Moore
Bessie Grace Boehm was born on August 2, 1902 in Owensboro, Kentucky. She earned a teaching degree and certificate at Arkansas State Teacher’s College in Conway and, after teaching in rural Pulaski County, she became the supervisor of Jefferson County rural school. She married Merlin Moore in 1928.
Dr. Moore served in the Arkansas State Department of Education in the 1930’s and was active in the Arkansas Congress of Parents and Teachers. She was recommended by Dr. Flora Gillentine in 1934 as a founding member of Kappa State. Dr. Moore served on the State Library Commission through the terms of seven governors and served as chair of the commission from 1953 to 1958. She also served on an Educational Advisory Council to the president of the United States. Dr. Moore received honorary doctorates from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and the University of Arizona at Tucson. In 1979 the Bessie B. Moore Center for Economic Education was dedicated. Dr. Moore passed away on October 24, 1995 and is buried in Graceland Cemetery in Pine Bluff. Other Documents about Dr. Moore Fersh Biography Founders Memorial Bessie Moore at work Arkansas Democrat Bessie Moore 80th Birthday History of Kappa State Workshop History 2010 by Elizabeth Waldrip |
Constance Mitchell
Constance Mitchell was born in Redford, Virginia on August 10, 1888. She graduated from Illinois Wesleyan University in English, a Master of Arts from Peabody College and earned her post graduate degree in Library Science at the University of Illinois. She came to Arkansas in 1919 and taught English at Arkansas Normal (Arkansas State Teachers College, UCA) from 1919 – 1940 and then served as librarian from 1940 until her retirement in 1954.
Miss Mitchell served Kappa State as a member of Lambda Chapter in Arkadelphia. She was active in the chapter until her death in 1978. In 1966 she served as the librarian for the Children’s Colony at Conway. Kappa State provided funding for the colony during her tenure as librarian. Miss Mitchell was secretary of the Arkansas Education Association and work with the Arkansas State Department of Education, she supported and established undergraduate course in Library Science in Arkansas colleges. She was instrumental in bringing a minor in Library Science to ASTC. During her service at UCA, she spent many years building the collection of Arkansiana at the Torreyson Library. She was honored on May 1, 1954 at a luncheon at the Hotel Marion in Little Rock in appreciation of her thirty-four (34) years of service to Arkansas State Teachers College and Arkansas. Miss Mitchell died in 1978. Biography of Miss Mitchell |
Pearl Williamson
Miss Pearl Williamson was born in Lockesburg, Arkansas on October 14, 1884 to Edwin Young Williamson and Laura Hudson Williamson. She earned her A.B. from Henderson State University and her Master of Arts from Columbia University. She taught summer school at the University of Arkansas and Henderson for many years. Miss Williamson was the first woman to be elected Superintendent of Schools in Arkansas. She was principal of DeQueen High School in 1914 and was elected superintendent shortly after. She served DeQueen schools for thirty five (35) years. In 1935 Miss Williamson became a founder of Kappa State. She served as First Vice President on the first slate of officers. She was a member of the state, because there was no chapter in the DeQueen area until Gamma Zeta. Dedicated to her students and the progress of the DeQueen Public Schools, Miss Williamson influenced youth and community with her high ideals and exemplary character. She was honored upon her retirement with Pearl Williamson Day and many former students and colleagues sent tributes. At her retirement, a Student Loan Fund, to aid DeQueen students was established from contributions from former students and colleagues. She administered this fund until her death and it still is a living memorial to her and her outstanding legacy. She was active on the Arkansas Library Commission, a member of the Board of Stewards at her church, Arkansas Education Association and the National Education Association. She was a strong supporter of promoting harmony between school and home by advocating for the Parent Teacher movement in the nation. Miss Williamson died on October 6, 1968. Her grave in DeQueen is visited often and her influence lives on through the Sevier County Historical Society and her many contributions to the school of DeQueen. Pearl Williamson Day Honor |
Alma Keys
Miss Alma Keys was born in Gurden, Arkansas. She earned her Bachelor of Science from Oklahoma State University and her Master of Science from University of Tennessee. She was appointed Arkansas Supervisor of Home Economics Education in 1941. Her focus in this position was to provide home management skills to the young women of Arkansas, particularly in the rural communities. During her tenure, the number of young women taking home economics classes rose from 1,000 to over 41,000. She and Frances Bailey developed Future Homemakers of America chapters throughout the state.
Miss Keys served Gamma Chapter in Little Rock and as a Kappa State founder. She also was named Woman of the Year in 1956 by Progressive Farmer magazine and 1960 Woman of the Year by the Arkansas Democrat. She also served as a member of the executive council for the American Vocational Association and in 1956 served as a member of the Little Rock Mayor’s Committee of the United Nations.
Miss Keys served Gamma Chapter in Little Rock and as a Kappa State founder. She also was named Woman of the Year in 1956 by Progressive Farmer magazine and 1960 Woman of the Year by the Arkansas Democrat. She also served as a member of the executive council for the American Vocational Association and in 1956 served as a member of the Little Rock Mayor’s Committee of the United Nations.