Extracted from The Nevada County Picayune (Prescott, AR)
Samuel Dickinson
Mr. Samuel Dorris Dickinson, 95, of Prescott, Friday, Nov. 30, 2007, at Hillcrest Care and Rehab in Prescott.
He was born Feb. 26, 1912 in Prescott, to Sam P. and Bessie Sue Litton Dickinson. He studied American archaeology, and for several years he was engaged in that profession. He taught at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville and Southern Arkansas University. He was in charge of the University of Arkansas - WPA archaeology laboratory. He then turned to journalism. For a total of 28 years he held the position of associate editor to the Little Rock Arkansas Gazette, the Little Rock Arkansas Democrat and the Shreveport Journal. In retirement he continued to contribute to archaeological, historical, folklore, and literary journals, as well as to newspapers and popular magazines. He translated colonial French and Spanish accounts of Louisiana and Arkansas. Six books of him were published. His analysis of Gombo, the African-French dialect spoken by Louisiana slaves, was one of the very few ever published on that subject. Both the Arkansas Preservation Alliance and the Arkansas Historical Association gave him lifetime achievement awards. He was a member of Phi Beta Kappa. He has been called the “Father of Arkansas archaeology”, because of his archaeological research was the first done in a scientific manner in this state.
He is survived by his care giver and friend Ronnie Vandiver of Prescott.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m., Sat., Dec. 15, at Brazzel/Cornish Funeral Home Chapel of Prescott, with Mr. Ed Talley officiating.. Arrangements are by Brazzel/Cornish Funeral Home in Prescott.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Cammie Henry Room, Eugene Watson Library, Northwestern State University of Louisians, Natchitoches; Riley-Hickingbotham Library, Ouachita Baptist University, Arkadelphia; the First Methodist Church of Prescott; and the Old Washington Foundation, Washington, AR.
An online guest book is at www.brazzelfuneralhomes.net.
Wednesday, December 12, 2007