History

Settlers, such as fur trappers, moved to Arkansas in the early 18th century. These people used Arkansas Post as a home base and entrepôt. During the colonial period, Arkansas changed hands between France and Spain following the Seven Years’ War (1756-‘63), although neither showed interest in the remote settlement of Arkansas Post. In April 1783, Arkansas saw its only battle of the American Revolutionary War, a brief siege of the post by British Captain James Colbert with the assistance of the Choctaw and Chickasaw. Napoleon Bonaparte sold French Louisiana to the United States in 1803, including all of Arkansas, in a transaction known today as the Louisiana Purchase. French soldiers remained as a garrison at Arkansas Post. Following the purchase, the balanced give-and-take relationship between settlers and Native Americans began to change all along the frontier, including in Arkansas. Following controversy over allowing slavery in the territory, the Territory of Arkansas was organized on 4 July 1819. It was created from the portion of the Missouri Territory lying south of a point on the Mississippi River at 36° N.L.  running west to the St. Francois River, then followed the river to 36° 30’ north latitude, then west to the territorial boundary. This included all of the present state of Oklahoma south of the parallel 36°30' north. The westernmost portion of the territory was removed on 15 November 1824, a second westernmost portion was removed on 6 May 1828, reducing the territory to the extent of the present state of Arkansas.

When Arkansas applied for statehood, the slavery issue was again raised in Washington DC. Congress eventually approved the Arkansas Constitution after a 25-hour session, admitting Arkansas on 15 June  1836 as the 25th state and the 13th slave state, having a population of about 60,000 Arkansas struggled with taxation to support its new state government, a problem made worse by a state banking scandal and worse yet by the Panic of 1837.

In the American Civil War Arkansas seceded from the United States of America on 6 May 6, 1861 and was readmitted on 22 June 1868

Heraldry

The Seal

The present official state seal of Arkansas derives from the territorial seal designed and drawn in 1820 by Samuel Calhoun Roane, engrossing clerk of the state House of Representatives. When Arkansas became a state in 1836, the legislature ordained that the seal be altered by substituting "Seal of the State of Arkansas" for its original territorial designation. An 1856 enactment specified the "impressions, emblems and devices" to be included in all renderings of the state seal. The law named sixteen separate elements, plus the words and phrases "Regnat Populi" (Latin for "the people rule"), "Mercy,""Justice,"and "Seal of the State of Arkansas." This seal remained in use until 1864, when the legislature adopted a new design that survives to this day.

In its middle was an achievement of which the desciption can be as follows:

Seal of Arkansaw Territory. 1832

Arms: A mountain ridge and a sun radiant

Crest: The cap of Liberty on a pole,

Supporters: Two flags on their poles, a mortar and a cannon on its gun-carriage, cannon-balls etc; and a gun and a spear per pale

Legend: ARKANSAW TERRITORY  and  eight six-pointed stars in base

The dexter flag  shows the arms, the sinister flag is of three breadths red, white and red and a blue canton (of two breadths) charged with a six-pointed star.

The seal for the territory now called ‘of Arkansas’ was designed in 1835. It is:

Seal of Arkansas Territory, 1835

Arms: Tierced per fess, in the first a steamer to the sinister; the second parted per pale, in the first a plow and in the second a bee-hive; in the third a star.

Crest: An allegory of Liberty with a phrygian cap on a pole and crow of laurel in het sinister hand

Supporters: Two eagles with rings in their beaks addorsed reguardant standing on cornucopia

Motto: REGNANT POPULI

Legend: ARKANSAS TERRITORY  [1]

The present great seal of Arkansas is based on the territorial seal designed by Samuel Calhoun Roane (†1852). The seal design was altered in 1836 when Arkansas became a state. Arkansas state Code requires the following elements on any rendering of the state seal:

Seal of Arkansas, 1864

The seal of Arkansas is described as follows: “An eagle at the bottom holding a scroll in its beak, inscribed ‘Regnant Populi,’ a bundle of arrows in one claw and an olive brancg in the other; a shield covering the breast of the eagle, engraved with a steamboat at top, a bee-hive and a plow in the middle, a sheaf of wheat at the bottom; the Goddess of Liberty at the top, holding a wreath in her right hand, a pole in the left hand, surmounted by a liberty cap, and surrounded by a circle of stars, outside of which is a circle of rays; the figure of an angel on the left, inscribed ‘Mercy’and a sword on the righ hand, inscribed ‘Justice,’ surrounded with the words ‘Seal of the State of Arkansas.’” [2]

The same emblems and devices are borne upon the seals of State offices, with the proper change of surrounding words, in the secretary´s seal, - “Seal of the Secretary of State, Arkansas;” on the Auditor´s  seal,  - “Seal of the Auditor of State, Arkansas,” etc. [3]

The Seal of Arkansas 1907

The present seal of the State of Arkansas was approved by an act of the State legislature on May 23, 1907. This act amended the act of May 3, 1864, by changing the wording of the motto from Regnant Populi to Regnat Populus [4] The law specifies that the seal of the State of Arkansas “ shall present the following impressions: devices and emblems, to wit:  An eagle at the bottom, holding a scroll in its beak, inscribed ‘Regnat Populus,’ a bundle of arrows in one claw and an olive branch in the other; a shield covering the breast of the eagle, engraved with a steamboat at (the) top, a bee-hive and (a) plow in the middle, and a sheaf of wheat at teh bottom; Tthe Goddess of Liberty at the top, holding a wreath in her right hand, a pole in the left hand, surmounted by a liberty cap and surrounded by a circle of stars, outside of which is a circle of rays; the figure of an angel on the left, inscribed ‘Mercy,’ and a sword on the right hand, inscribed ‘Justice,’ surrounded with the words ‘Seal of the State of Arkansas.’”  [5]

The Mottoes

The motto of Arkansas is Regnat Populus, signifying The people rule. The original source of this expressions cannot be accounted for.

The State of Arkansas, besides her Latin motto, has the words Mercy and Justice on her seal. No information seems available as to the origin of this Larin motto, or as to the special significance  of the English phrase. [6]

The Achievement

The Arkansas Achievement 1835-‘64

As on $ 5 bills, 1882

The achievement as adopted in the act about the seal of 3 May 1864 is as follows:

Achievement of Arkansas 1876 [7]

Arms: Tierced per fess, on the first a steamboat; on the second a plow on the dexter  and a bee-hive, on the sinister; on the third a sheaf of wheat.

Crest: the Goddess of Liberty at the top, holding a wreath in her right hand, a pole in the left hand, surmounted by a liberty cap, and surrounded by a semi-circle of thirteen stars, outside of which is a circle of rays;

Supporters: On the dexter: The figure of an angel, and the inscription ‘MERCY’; Behind the shield: The American Eagle; On the sinister: A sword inscribed ‘JUSTICE’

Motto: REGNAT POPULUS on a ribbon flowing from the beak of the eagle

Æ See illustration in the head of this essay (1864-1907 version) [8]

Police

Emblem

Cap Badge

Arkansas Army National Guard

Crest

Description

That for regiments and separate battalions of the Arkansas Army National Guard:  From a wreath of colors, above two sprays of apple blossoms Proper a diamond Argent charged with four mullets Azure one in upper point and three in lower within a bordure of the last bearing twenty-five mullets of the second.

Symbolism

The apple blossom is the State flower of Arkansas.  The diamond-shaped device, taken from the State flag, signifies that Arkansas is the only diamond-bearing state in the Union.  The twenty-five stars on the border show it was the twenty-fifth state admitted to the Union.  The three stars in the lower part represent the three countries to which the state belonged, namely, Spain, France and the United States, while the upper one commemorates the Southern Confederacy.

Background

The crest was approved for the National Guard of the State of Arkansas on 11 November 1929.

Distinctive Unit Insignia

Description

A gold color metal and enamel device 1 1/4 inches (3.18 cm) in height consisting of a curved red scroll with ends turned back inscribed in gold with the words "ARKANSAS FIRST," and standing upon the center of the scroll in front of a red background enclosed by a gold laurel wreath a white spearhead passing part of the way through a blue diamond-shaped frame and bearing four blue stars, one above three.

Symbolism

The wreath of laurel, diamond shape and stars, as well as the colors blue, white, red and gold are derived from the flag and seal of the State of Arkansas.  The upright spearhead at center is symbolic of the alertness and preparedness of the Arkansas Army National Guard forces.

Background

The distinctive unit insignia was originally approved for Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment and noncolor bearing units, Arkansas Army National Guard on 4 November 1971.  It was redesignated effective 30 December 1983, for Headquarters, State Area Command, Arkansas Army National Guard.  The insignia was redesignated for the Arkansas Army National Guard Element, Joint Force Headquarters and amended to update the description effective 1 October 2003.

Shoulder Sleeve Insignia

Description

On a white diamond with a blue border bearing twenty-five white stars, 2 7/16 inches (6.19 cm) in height and 3 3/8 inches (8.57 cm) in width overall, a red razor-back hog.

Symbolism

The diamond shape, taken from the State flag, signifies that Arkansas is the only diamond bearing state in the Union.  The twenty-five stars on the border show it was the twenty-fifth state admitted to the union.  The wild hogs known as razor-backs were native to the Arkansas wilderness.

Background

The shoulder sleeve insignia was originally approved for Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, Arkansas National Guard on 16 May 1952.  It was redesignated for Headquarters, State Area Command, Arkansas Army National Guard on 30 December 1983.  The insignia was redesignated for the Arkansas Army National Guard Element, Joint Force Headquarters and amended to update the description and add a symbolism effective 1 October 2003.  (TIOH Dwg. No. A-1-157)

Tribes

The original inhabitants of the area that is now Arkansas included:

Seal of the Caddo Indians

Seal of the Chickasaw Indians

Seal of the Osage Indians

Seal of the Quapaw Indians

Logo of the Tunica Indians