News

The successful effort to save the V. C. Kays House was recognized on January 9, 2015 at the annual Arkansas Preservation Awards sponsored by the Historic Preservation Alliance of Arkansas. The event honors the important work being done throughout Arkansas to preserve and protect places of historical or cultural importance.

Dr. Scott Darwin, emeritus professor of German at A-State, received the Award for Outstanding Achievement in Preservation Advocacy for championing preservation of the 1936 home. Darwin gained media attention and built support for saving the house, which will be preserved for use by the Heritage Sites program and will house furnishings from Governor Mike Beebe’s former office.

A-State’s preservation leadership also was recognized through the Parker Westbrook Award for Lifetime Achievement presented to Dr. Ruth Hawkins, director of Arkansas Heritage Sites, for her work in preservation, tourism and education. She has been integral to preservation of many of the region’s and the state’s most significant landmarks.

The Historic Preservation Alliance of Arkansas is the only statewide non-profit organization dedicated to preserving Arkansas’s architectural and cultural heritage. For more information about the Alliance, or photos of the projects contact Vanessa at 501-372-4757, vmckuin@preservearkansas.org, or visit PreserveArkansas.org.

JONESBORO, Ark. – Gov. Mike Beebe, a 1968 graduate of Arkansas State University and past chairman of its Board of Trustees, today announced he would donate his eight years of gubernatorial papers, video, photographs and memorabilia to the university.

A-State plans to use the contribution as the basis for what will be the most comprehensive effort ever to perpetuate the legacy of an Arkansas governor, including the Governor Mike Beebe Economic Development & Education Institute and a Web site for access to the collection. Additionally, areas of the historic V.C. Kays House and the Dean B. Ellis Library will be available to establish interactive presentations of the governor’s legacy in public service and illustrate Beebe’s role in major Arkansas history issues.

“I’ve made no secret of my love for Arkansas State University and the opportunities this school created for me,” Governor Beebe said. “I’ve been fortunate to participate in many historic Arkansas events during the past 32 years. I’m pleased to work with ASU to share my part of our history with researchers, historians and students from Arkansas and beyond.”

ASU System President Chuck Welch and A-State Chancellor Tim Hudson expressed their gratitude to the governor and noted that plans for the archives collection focus on both the past and the future.

“Gov. Beebe’s contributions to our state and our university are extraordinary,” Welch said. “It’s only fitting that Arkansas State would be given the honor of sharing his historic story and extending his legacy of leadership through the Institute.”

Hudson said tentative plans for the initiatives related to Gov. Beebe comprise multiple facets of the university, including the Department of Heritage Studies, the Dean B. Ellis Library Archives, the Kays House, the Department of Political Science in the College of Humanities & Social Sciences, the ASU Museum, the College of Business, the Delta Center for Economic Development and University Advancement.

“The governor is giving us a unique opportunity to bring together faculty and student talents from many disciplines,” Hudson said. “We will preserve and communicate the history of Gov. Beebe while creating interactive educational experiences.”

The mission of the Governor Mike Beebe Economic Development & Education Institute will be to develop Arkansas leaders who value the role of education in economic expansion, cultivate pragmatic ideas that lead to transformative change and perpetuate the legacy of the 45th governor of Arkansas. A-State will create an annual summit to bring together leaders in education, business and government to the Institute.

Jeff Hankins, vice president for strategic communications and economic development for the ASU System, is coordinating efforts between A-State and Governor Beebe. The tentative budget is $650,000, and private funds and grants will be sought to pay for the archives, renovations, Web site and exhibits related to the project. Additionally, the university hopes to raise funds to endow the Mike Beebe Chair of Political Science and fund a Mike Beebe Delta Scholars program.

Hankins said plans for the Kays House include re-creating Beebe’s State Capitol office in the living room, using his furniture and memorabilia. The room, to be known as “Governor Beebe’s Office,” will be used for small dining and reception events. Exhibits in other rooms on the first floor will feature not only Governor Beebe, but also other prominent Northeast Arkansas historical figures such as U.S. Sen. Hattie Caraway.

Earlier this year, the Kays House was listed in the National Register of Historic Places — the first A-State property to have that distinction. Additionally, the Arkansas Natural and Cultural Resources Council approved a $200,000 grant to aid in the renovation and restoration of the property on Aggie Road, and $80,000 in private funds has been raised for the Kays House project. The university continues to consider additional uses of the facility.

An existing 600-square-foot area near the entrance to the Dean B. Ellis Library and the ASU Museum will be renovated for exhibits related to Beebe’s role in Arkansas history.

The Archives & Special Collections division of the library will oversee the archiving process, the ASU Museum will curate the exhibits and the Publications & Creative Services department will develop the Web site. Graduate and undergraduate students will work with faculty and staff members on the project.

A full-time archivist will be hired for three years to transition Gov. Beebe’s collection to A-State, Hankins said. Priority will be given to major historic issues including the Lake View School District case; healthcare initiatives such as the Private Option and ArKids First; managing state government amid the Great Recession; reductions in the grocery sales tax; support for higher education and research; and jobs creation.

“We’re fortunate that so much of the collection is already in digital formats — from documents to photos to video,” Hankins said. “But it will still require careful archiving and planning. The campus site exhibits will be nice, but we’re just as excited about being able to make the materials widely accessible through a database-driven website.

A-State expects to hire an archivist this fall to begin work on the project and help plan for the transfer of the collection when Governor Beebe’s term ends on Jan. 13, 2015. Beebe previously donated his papers from his time as attorney general and state senator to A-State.

The original A-State news article can be found here.

JONESBORO — One thing that makes the appearance of the V.C. Kays House on the National Register of Historic Places special is the fact it is the first property on the Arkansas State University campus to be included in this prestigious list.

The announcement of the Kays House being added to the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program (AHPP) list came the day before Arkansas State sustained substantial damage to the campus and several buildings during a forceful thunderstorm. Luckily, the Kays House that is undergoing restoration escaped serious damage.

Arkansas State officials received official notification from Ralph Wilcox, National Register and Survey Coordinator for the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program. The properties are nominated by AHPP and the National Park Service makes the final decision as to which properties are included in the historic listing.

The certification letter, sent to Chancellor Tim Hudson, also outlines additional benefits to accompany the stature of presence on the list. In addition, the AHPP offers free technical advice to owners of National Register properties to help maintain properties in historically accurate condition. A-State will also receive a certificate signed by the Governor that acknowledges the placement of a property on the National Register.

In addition to the V.C. Kays House, 17 other properties in Craighead County appear on the list. They are the Bay Mounds, and in Jonesboro — Bell House, Berger House, Berger-Graham House, C.A. Stuck and Sons Lumber, Earl Bell Community Center, Craighead County Courthouse, Craighead County Road 513C Bridge, Edward L. Westbrooke Building, Frierson House, Mercantile Bank Building, Nash-Reid-Hill House, U.S. Senator Hattie Caraway gravesite, West Washington Avenue Historic District.

In Monette, the First National Bank and the Water Tower are in the list as is the St. Francis River Bridge in Lake City.

For the original A-State news article, click here.

JONESBORO — The V.C. Kays House on the Arkansas State University campus is one of five Arkansas properties recently listed in the National Register of Historic Places, announced the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program (AHPP). The register is the nation’s official list of properties that are considered historically significant. There are several homes and other structures in Jonesboro on the list, but the Kays House is the first Arkansas State property to be added to the register.

“We’re pleased with the National Register of Historic Places designation for the Kays House,” stated Dr. Tim Hudson, A-State chancellor. “We continue to explore funding sources for the renovation, as well as ideas for the best uses of the building. Making this iconic structure a prominent destination on campus, one that embraces and exemplifies the university’s history, is important to the faculty, our alumni base, our students and to me personally.”

Arkansas State officials received official notification from Ralph Wilcox, National Register and Survey Coordinator for the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program. The properties are nominated by AHPP and the National Park Service makes the final decision as to which properties are included in the historic listing.

Architect A.N. McAninch designed the structure. According to the National Register nomination, “The V. C. Kays House is an important reflection of the legacy of Kays with respect to Arkansas State University, especially his later years of involvement with the institution. When the house was built in 1936, it was near the end of Kays’ tenure at the institution, but he still had a lasting legacy in those years. As business manager and interim president, Kays had an important role in the university’s transition from his leadership to that of his successor.”

The Victor Cicero (V.C.) Kays residence was the home of the first president of Arkansas State, who built the Tudor-style home and moved in with his wife Bertie. Kays was selected in 1910 to establish and direct the college and did so for 33 years. Despite the impact of the Great Depression, two world wars and a 1931 fire that destroyed the school’s main building, Arkansas State continued to show significant progress under Kays’ leadership.

Arkansas State recently received a $200,000 grant from the Arkansas Natural and Cultural Resources Council to aid in the renovation and restoration of the Kays House.

Today the house is among the oldest structures on the Arkansas State University campus, along with the Memorial Arch and Wilson Hall. While private gifts supported cosmetic improvements to the exterior of the house, the grant will enable the university to complete major exterior restoration work such as waterproofing basement walls, installing a drainage system, cleaning and repairing the tile roof, replacing gutters and downspouts.

For the original A-State news article, click here.

Arkansas State University’s award of $200,000 from The Arkansas Natural and Cultural Resources Council for work on the V.C. Kays House has been reported on in the Arkansas Business article, “Arkansas State Gets Grants for Dyess Colony, V.C. Kays Home. To view the complete Arkansas Business article, please click here.

JONESBORO, Ark. — Arkansas State University has received two grants totaling nearly a million dollars from the Arkansas Natural and Cultural Resources Council (ANCRC) to be used for theatre reconstruction in Dyess, Ark., as part of the Johnny Cash Boyhood Home project and renovation of the historic V.C. Kays house on the A-State campus.

“Preserving our heritage is part of Arkansas State’s role for our region. These grants allow us to further our mission of enhancing our communities,” Chancellor Tim Hudson said. “On our campus, salvaging the Kays House was a project I became involved in when I arrived at A-State. Along with our system president, Dr. Chuck Welch, and listening to faculty leaders, we worked together to turn the planned demolition of the home into a lasting part of our legacy. In Dyess, Ark., the grant not only restores an important historic building, but it also economic impact through the future tourism associated with the Johnny Cash Boyhood Home site.”

The council awarded a grant of $200,000 for work on the Kays House and a separate grant of $750,000 to rebuild the notable Dyess Theatre for use as a visitor orientation/welcome center. These are competitive grants that are awarded annually to state agencies for the preservation and conservation of state-owned cultural and natural resources. The grants are made possible through proceeds from the Arkansas real estate transfer tax.

“The V. C. Kays residence remains one of the few campus structures associated with A-State’s formative years,” said Dr. Ruth Hawkins, executive director of Arkansas Heritage Sites program, who applied for the grants. “This is a rare opportunity to create new usages, which coincide with and support academic and public programs that are a part of the university’s mission today.”

The V.C. Kays residence was the home of the first president of Arkansas State, who built the home and moved in with his wife Bertie. Kays was selected to establish and direct the college and did so for 33 years. Despite the Great Depression, two world wars and a 1931 fire that destroyed the school’s main building, Arkansas State continued to show significant progress under Kays’ leadership.

Today the house is among the oldest structures on the Arkansas State University campus, along with the Memorial Arch and Wilson Hall. While private gifts supported for cosmetic improvements to the exterior of the house, the grant enable the university to complete major exterior restoration work such as waterproofing basement walls, installing a drainage system, cleaning and repairing the tile roof, replacing gutters and downspouts.

The Dyess Theatre reconstruction will complement the adjacent historic Dyess Administration Building, which has now been restored by Arkansas State University using previous ANCRC grants, as well as the exhibits inside the building that have been funded through the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH).

“The restored Dyess Colony Administration Building, the exhibits within the building, and the restored Johnny Cash Boyhood Home all are part of Phase One of the master plan for redevelopment of Dyess as a heritage tourism destination,” she continued. “Rebuilding the Dyess Theatre as a visitor center is the beginning of Phase Two of the plan, and we are delighted this grant will enable us to move forward with this next phase. All of these structures are important aspects of preserving and communicating the Dyess Colony story.”

When the theatre is completed, visitors will come first to this building, where they will purchase admission tickets and view an orientation film. From the visitor orientation center, visitors will move to the museum exhibits next door in the Administration Building, and then will be shuttled to the restored Johnny Cash Boyhood Home, two miles from the colony center. The Cash home has been restored by Arkansas State University using proceeds from an annual Johnny Cash Music Festival. All three sites are important aspects of preserving and communicating the Dyess Colony story.

Dyess has a rich heritage as the nation’s largest agricultural resettlement colony during the New Deal. Its place in history is all the more significant in that Ray and Carrie Cash, parents of international music icon Johnny Cash, were among the out-of-work farmers recruited to relocate to the colony. Johnny Cash was three years old when his family moved to Dyess in 1935, and he remained there through his high school graduation in 1950.

The Arkansas Natural and Cultural Resources Council was established by the Arkansas General Assembly in 1987 by Arkansas Act 729 (now codified as Arkansas Code Annotated 15-12-101 through 15-12-103). The act created the ANCRC to manage and supervise grants and trust funds for the acquisition, management and stewardship of state-owned properties acquired or used for ANCRC-approved purposes. The grants are funded through the state’s real estate transfer tax. The ANCRC consists of 11 voting members. Grants from this fund are for projects that protect and maintain state-owned natural areas, historic sites and outdoor recreation.

For the original A-State news article, click here.

The efforts of the Save the Kays House campaign to prevent the destruction of the Kays House are discussed by Jonesboro Occasions in the article, “Saving the Kays House.” Dr. Clyde A. Milner, a history professor at ASU and the director of the Heritage Studies PhD program has been leading the campaign. Current plans for the Kays House, if saved, include a visitors’ center for Arkansas Heritage Sites, space for public gatherings, and offices for the Heritage Studies PhD Program, the Arkansas Heritage Sites and Arkansas Delta Byways. To view the article, please click here.

The Arkansas News article, “Fund-raising Campaign to Save the Historic Kays House Picks Up Steam,” discusses the fund-raising progress made by the supporters of preserving the Kays House. Although only $30,000 has been raised to date, the hope is to raise more than $100,000 by April. Chancellor, Dr. Tim Hudson, and Arkansas State University President, Dr. Charles Welch, agreed to refrain from demolishing the Kays House until June 1, 2013. To view the article, please click here.

In the Arkansas Times article, “Historic Home Set for Removal in Jonesboro: Sorority Houses Will Replace it,” ASU Interim Chancellor Dan Howard’s announcement that he plans to remove the Kays House to make room for sorority housing, and the University faculty’s response to it, is discussed. To view the article, please click here.

In an effort to continue the forward progress of Arkansas State University, preparation and construction of new Greek sorority housing is imminent on the campus. Dr. Dan Howard, interim chancellor, announced Wednesday that site preparation and construction will commence in April. Completion date is July 2013 with sorority students expected to occupy the homes in the fall of 2013.

“It is clear that there is a demonstrated need for this type of housing,” said Dr. Howard. “New sorority housing will enhance the living and learning environment of the university and will help to attract additional highly qualified students.” Dr. Howard mentioned that during the past three years, ASU has been engaged actively in discussions with a variety of campus constituencies about the development of sorority housing. Currently, sororities have outgrown space provided to them in existing residence halls on campus. The new houses will be a southern mansion style with each containing 8,051 square feet.

“By providing high quality, stand alone sorority housing, ASU will become more attractive in recruiting,” he continued. “We want to be competitive with other universities, and with this type of housing, ASU will achieve this important objective.”

The Board of Trustees for Arkansas State University recently approved the development of sorority housing in terms of location as well as providing capital bond funding to cover the cost site preparation and construction. After much discussion, it was determined that construction of sorority housing will require the removal of a number of old houses on campus, most of which need considerable repairs.

Among these houses is the Kays house on Aggie Road that was constructed in 1936 as a personal residence by ASU’s first president, V.C. Kays. Kays paid for the house with his personal funds and no funding by the university. He was the only ASU president to live in the house. ASU purchased the home at 1503 Nettleton Avenue in 1955 as the president’s residence. Since then, seven ASU presidents have resided in the stately brick home, and ASU officials said that new chancellor Dr. Tim Hudson and his family will call it home as well.

Dr. Howard noted the Kays Foundation property was acquired by the university in 2004, with the purpose for future growth and expansion. North Park Quad, Red Wolf Den, Honors, ROTC, STEM, Living and Learning Communities are examples of that property development. ASU now moves to the next phase with sorority housing, Phase I, and the Honors expansion.

Dr. Howard noted that ASU acquired the 4,401-square foot Kays house, along with additional property in 2004, and it was utilized as temporary housing for new employees until a year ago.

“The Kays house has so much deferred maintenance, it cannot be used for that purpose anymore,” continued Dr. Howard. “It would cost more than $440,000 to renovate the Kays house and at least another $250,000 to make it handicapped accessible.”

ASU will make the Kays house available for purchase and relocation. It will be advertised for this purpose statewide this weekend.

The development of sorority housing at ASU has been included in discussions with the Smith Group/JJR design firm which is helping Arkansas State University develop a campus facilities master plan that will provide a definition of the future of the campus. Construction of sorority housing will also allow ASU to effectively utilize land mass by exchanging approximately 20 residents in the old houses that will be removed with 80 students who will reside in the new sorority housing.

For the original A-State news article, click here.