White County, Arkansas

White County Historical Society

An Argenweb Project     

Welcome to the website of the White County Historical Society. We were founded in 1961 "to bring together those people interested in the history of White County." Our major function is to discover and collect material that may help document the history of our area. The Society is one of the largest in the State of Arkansas. We have three major restoration projects: (1) Pioneer Village, (2) 1857 Smyrna Church and (3) the last M&NA passenger car. We also research and preserve genealogical records of the county, comprehensive cemetery, marriage lists, Probate Court records and other “pieces of the past” such as oral histories and old photographs. The Historical Society also offers several publications and books..

This website contains a nearly comprehensive list of all known cemeteries in the county, an extensive list of probate records, and many other genealogical records.

Pioneer Village is a collection of 19th century buildings, farm implements and other items of historical interest. 

Built in 1857, the Smyrna church is one of only five known antebellum church buildings remaining in the state and the oldest documented building standing in White County. It is presently undergoing an extensive restoration. 

The White County Historical Society offers several publications for sale.  Our cookbook " White County Cookin" is presently in it fourth printing.  The second cookbook "White County Cookin Again" has recently been reprinted and a third "White County Cooks, Another Helping "is now available. "A Humorous History of White County" by Claude Johnson, provides a selection of pioneer customs, stories, lists and statistics.  This book has recently been reprinted and is available for purchase.