In the News

UCA gets grant for Bigelow school site

06/21/2020
Arkansas Democrat Gazette

The University of Central Arkansas received a $634,594 grant from the Arkansas Natural and Cultural Resources Council to revitalize and preserve the Bigelow Rosenwald School.

The school was built in 1926 through support from the Rosenwald Fund, which was created in 1912 by Booker T. Washington and Julius Rosenwald to provide money to help build state-of-the art elementary schools for black children across the South.

"Rosenwald Schools remain a cornerstone of African American communities, but their existence and the important role they played in education and history is not widely known," said UCA President Houston Davis. "We hope to preserve and uplift this important piece of Arkansas and American history, while working with Bigelow community members to ensure the facility meets their needs and accurately tells their story."

The Bigelow school, which now serves as a community cultural center, was one of 389 Rosenwald schools built in Arkansas. According to the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program, only 18 Rosenwald buildings remain in Arkansas today.

Mel Williams -- who has lived in Bigelow for more than 40 years and has served as president of the Rosenwald Community Cultural Center board for the past decade -- said the community has hoped to renovate the building for many years.

"Sen. [Jason] Rapert has been very faithful in assisting us in getting this job done. I have been in this community for 48 years, and he is the only state representative who has been involved in this community," said Williams. "Rapert got [U.S. Rep.] French Hill involved, and both have been excellent supporters of this project. They attend every event we host."

In a statement, Hill said that this funding is a "victory for the people of central Arkansas" after five years of communication, collaboration, and cooperation.

Upon completion, the facility will serve as a museum that educates visitors on the historical significance of Rosenwald Schools. It will also remain a community cultural center for Bigelow and will become a location where UCA can host community classes, meetings and other gatherings.