M03-16 – RICHARD ALLIN COLLECTION

Richard Allin was born on October 6, 1930 to Richard and Dora Harper of Helena, Arkansas.  He attended elementary school at Jefferson Elementary School in Helena and graduated from Helena-West Helena Central High School in 1947.

In the eighth grade Allin joined the band and learned to play the baritone.  He later made the transition from baritone to tuba (sousaphone).  Allin played the tuba for many years and performed professionally for ten years with the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra (ASO) as principal tuba.  Allin dubbed his tuba “Elizabeth” after Elizabeth Gregg Young who gave it at Allin’s suggestion to the orchestra in memory of her late husband. Prior to playing tuba for the ASO he played in the percussion section.

After graduating from high school, Allin attended University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature.  He then entered the Naval Officer Candidate School at Newport, Rhode Island and received a commission as an ensign.  Ensign Allin was assigned to the Office of Naval intelligence in the Pentagon at Washington where he served for twenty-three months.  His next assignment was aboard the heavy cruiser U.S.S. Des Moines, as a Communications watch officer.  The U.S.S. Des Moines was the flagship of the United State Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean.

In 1956 he left the Navy and returned to Helena where he applied for jobs with the Commercial Appeal and the Arkansas Gazette.  Both papers offered him a job but the Commercial Appeal caked first and Allin began working as a roving reporter.  He worked at the Commercial Appeal for three years before being assigned to the Little Rock Bureau in 1960 to cover the Arkansas State Capitol and political news.

Allin joined the Arkansas Gazette in 1963 and worked the Arkansas State Capitol and general assignment before being assigned the “Our Town Column” in September 1965.  He wrote for the Arkansas Gazette and Arkansas Democrat-Gazette until he retired in December 2003.

Richard Allin has served on several boards in central Arkansas including: the Pulaski County Mental Health Association, The Little Rock Chamber Music Society, and The Museum of Science & Industry.  He has also served as editor of the Arkansas Churchman, later renamed the Arkansas Episcopalian.  Allin is a communicant and vestry member of Saint Mark’s Episcopal Church.

He is married to Carol Cole Allin, formerly of Paragould.  Richard and Carol reside in the Heights in Little Rock.

 

Box 1

File 1 – Newspaper Articles: UCA to House Works of Allin & Allbright, 1003

File 2 – Richard Allin’s Biographical Information

File 3 – Various Photographs of Richard Allin with Friends and Family

File 4 – Personal Correspondence

File 5 – Professional Correspondence

File 6 – Speeches Delivered to Various Groups

File 7 – Newspaper Articles on Richard Allin’s Book, The Southern Legislative Dictionary, 1987-1988

File 8 – “State Money”, An Article Written by Richard Allin, July 26, 1964

File 9 – Saint Vincent Infirmary Medical Center, An Arkansas Gazette Article by Richard Allin, December 12, 1987

File 10- Writings of Richard Allin for Church Bulletins, 1982-1994

File 11- Newspaper Articles Written about Richard Allin, 1984-1998

File 12- Newspaper Articles Written about Carol Allin, 1983-1991

File 13- Mrs. Dora Harper Allin-November 8, 1900-November 28, 1984, Mother of Rev. John M. Allin and Richard Allin

File 14- RT. REV. John Maury Allin, Arkansas Gazette-September & December 1985, brother to Richard Allin

File 15- Anne Elise Shehan & Richard Philip Herget III, 1986

File 16- Pamela Ann Flemister & Walter Eric Herget, 1988

File 17- Newspaper Article on Richard Allin’s Train Excursion Through Canada, December 25,1983

File 18- Travel Hosts Richard & Carol Allin, 1988-1994

File 19- Newspaper Articles on Bus and Train Tour of Scotland, September Through October,1995

File 20- Dining/Recipes/E-Mails from Fans, 2003

File 21- Missouri & North Arkansas Railway (M&NA) Streetcars and High Speed Trains, 2003

File 22- Correspondence on Playing the Tuba, 1998

File 23- Joke & Cartoon Collection, 1985-2001

File 24- Religious Poems and Hymns

File 25- Various Types of Printed Memorabilia, Including Dark Blue Personal Phone Book

File 26- Article in Delta Farm Press on the Allin House in Helena, August 21, 1992

File 27- Article in The Arkansas News on Richard Allin’s Boyhood Years in Helena, Arkansas Spring 1995

File 28- Letters to the Editor on Various Columns, 1979-1990

File 29- Speak English! E-mails From Readers on Making English the Official Language of the United States, 1998-2003

File 30- Essential Words in The Spanish Language for Travelers

File 31- Comments From Teachers on Allin Article from October 12, 1999

File 32- E-Mail’s From readers Regarding Various Allin Columns, 2002-2003

File 33- Account of Passing Motorist Who Stopped to Assist Dr. Rhonda Lewis, UALR Professor Who Was Killed While Crossing University Avenue, October 2, 2003

End of Box 1

 

Box 2

File 1 – Richard Allin’s Letter to Walter Hussman Concerning Griffin Smith’s Termination of Allin & Allbright, November 12, 2003 and a Response By Walter Hussman, January 7, 2004

File 2 – Correspondence from Readers Supporting Richard Allin, August 5, 2003 through December 30, 2003

File 3 – Arkansas Times Articles on Allin & Allbright, October-December 2003

File 4 – E-Mails from Supporters of Allin & Allbright, September-October 2003

File 5 – E-Mails from Supporters of Allin & Allbright, November – December 2003

File 6 – Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Articles Supporting Allin & Allbright, September 27, 2003-February 14, 2004

File 7 – Arkansas Times Tribute to Richard Allin & Charlie Allbright, December 26, 2003

File 8 – Active Years Article on Charlie Allbright’s Arkansas Traveler Column, April, 1992

End of Box 2

 

Box 3

File 1 – Arkansas Gazette Sold To Gannett Company, October 31, 1986

File 2 – Arkansas Gazette Newspaper Employees Phone Directory, 1990

File 3 – The Dallas Morning News-Article on The Little rock Newspaper War, October 13,1991

File 4 – Arkansas Business Article on The End of the Arkansas Gazette, November 3, 1991

File 5 – Arkansas Times Article on Who Killed the Arkansas Gazette? December 1991

File 6 – Arkansas Times Article on John Robert Staff, January 1992

File 7 – Newspaper Pictures of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Columnists, Circa 1993

File 8 – Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Article on Crisis in Little Rock & Will Counts-Photographer, June 3 1997

File 9 – Arkansas Gazette and Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Articles on William “Bill” Jefferson Clinton as Governor and President, December 12, 1984, November 9, 1992 & January 24, 1993

End of Box 3

 

Box 4

File 1-  Allin & Allbright Advertisement in Arkansas Gazette, Circa 1980

File 2 – “Our Town” Columns by Richard Allin, 1976

File 3 – “Our Town” Columns by Richard Allin, 1977

File 4 – “Our Town” Columns on Lawyer Baxter Bagfield by Richard Allin, 1977

File 5 – “Our Town” Columns by Richard Allin, 1978

File 6 – “Our Town” Columns featuring Gudge Creek and Wad by Richard Allin, 1976-1984

File 7 – “Our Town” Articles by Richard Allin, 1976-1984

File 8 – “Our Town” Columns with Various Characters and Humorous Situations, Including Legislative Satire, 1976-1984

File 9 – “Our Town” Columns, 1980

File 10- “Our Town” Columns, 1981

File 11- “Our Town” Columns, 1982

File 12- “Our Town” Columns, 1983

End of Box 4

 

Box 5

File 1 – “Our Town” Columns by Richard Allin, April 1976-July 1976

File 2 – “Our Town” Columns by Richard Allin, August 1976-December 1976

File 3 – “Our Town” Columns by Richard Allin, January 1977-June 1977

File 4 – “Our Town” Columns by Richard Allin, July 1977-December 1977

File 5 – “Our Town” Columns by Richard Allin, January 1978-June 1978

File 6 – “Our Town” Columns by Richard Allin, July 1978-December 1978

File 7 – “Our Town” Columns by Richard Allin, January 1979-June 1979

File 8 – “Our Town” Columns by Richard Allin, July 1979-December 1979

File 9 – “Our Town” Columns by Richard Allin, January 1980-June 1980

File 10- “Our Town” Columns by Richard Allin, July 1980-December 1980

File 11- “Our Town” Columns by Richard Allin, January 1981-June 1981

File 12- “Our Town” Columns by Richard Allin, July 1981-December 1981

File 13- “Our Town” Columns by Richard Allin, January 1982-June 1982

File 14- “Our Town” Columns by Richard Allin, July 1982-December 1982

End of Box 5

 

Box 6

Arkansas Gazette newspaper articles;  these copies are of the front pages containing Richard Allin’s “Our Town” columns from July 1981-December 1981 and January 1983-1985

End of Box 6

 

Box 7

Arkansas Gazette newspaper articles; these copies are of the front pages of the newspaper, which featured Richard Allin’s “Our Town” columns from July 1985-December 1986

End of Box 7

 

Box 8

Arkansas Gazette Newspaper articles; these copies are of the front pages of the newspaper, which featured Richard Allin’s “Our Town” columns from January 1987-June 1989

End of Box 8

 

Box 9

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Newspapers articles; these copies are of the front pages of the newspaper, which featured Richard Allin’s “Our Town” column from July 1989-December 1991

End of Box 9

 

Box 10

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette newspaper articles; these copies are of the front pages of the newspaper, which featured Richard Allin’s “Our Town” column from January 1992-June 1994

End of Box 10

 

Box 11

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Newspaper articles; these copies are of the front pages of the newspaper, which featured Richard Allin’s “Our Town” column from July 1994-December 1996

End of Box 11

 

Box 12

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Newspaper articles; these copies are of the front pages of the newspaper, which featured Richard Allin’s “Our Town” column from January 1997-March 1999

End of Box 12

 

Box 13

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette newspaper articles; these copies are of the front pages of the newspaper, which featured Richard Allin’s “Our Town column from July 2001-December 2003

Item 1 – Photographs of Richard Allin & Charles Allbright, 1 – 20” x 16” photograph, 3 – 12” x 8” photographs, 2004

End of Box 13

End of Collection