University Museum and Cultural Center

About

The University Museum and Cultural Center was founded in 2004 to collect, preserve, and celebrate the rich history of the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff and the Arkansas Delta. We are located in Childress Hall on the campus of UAPB.

Description

The University Museum and Cultural Center (UMCC) was founded in 2004 to collect, preserve, and celebrate the rich history of the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff and the Arkansas Delta. UMCC is housed in Childress Hall, formerly the John Brown Watson Memorial Library and later the student services center. The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff’s former master plan, which was developed more than ten years ago, had cited the building for demolition. However, it was Chancellor Emeritus Lawrence A. Davis Jr.’s desire to save this beautiful and historical campus landmark constructed in the Art Deco style of the 1930s. The remodeled Childress Hall currently houses the offices of University Relations and Development, Title III, and the University Museum and Cultural Center.

UMCC is home to The Keepers of the Spirit: The L.A. Davis, Sr. Historical Collection that documents the history of the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. This exhibit was the brainchild of the late U. G. Dalton and Henri Linton, Sr. The Keepers of the Spirit exhibit was an outgrowth of the Persistence of the Spirit exhibit, which documented the history of African Americans in Arkansas. In addition to the Keepers of the Spirit exhibit, UMCC features a large collection of photographs, catalogs, yearbooks, letters, artifacts, portraits and other ephemera that document the lives of the people who helped to shape the history of the university and the Arkansas Delta. The museum also offers innovative educational programs and rotating exhibits on the mezzanine level designed to increase awareness of the accomplishments and contributions of the diverse population of the university and surrounding areas.

Mission

•Educate students, faculty, staff and the public about the rich history of the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB) and the Arkansas Delta
•Act as the official museum and archives of UAPB
•Promote and encourage historical research

"The Arts & Science Center for Southeast Arkansas serves as a cultural crossroad: engaging, educating, and entertaining through the arts and sciences. ASC presents programming in the visual arts, performing arts, and the sciences through exhibits, performances, classes, and local partnerships. Classes are offered for children, youth, and adults with scholarships available. Gallery admission, hands-on programming, and school field trips are all free—thanks to sponsors, successful grant writing, and the generosity of the local community."