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. The Commercial Appeal offered Allin a job first, and he 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