Arkansas Blog

Max, thanks for that obit. I am going to pass it on to others, especially those who have written and studied the history of Commonwealth College over here in our part of the state.

By the 1930s, Lucien Koch had transformed this rural labor college into a militant institution to assist Munro and others in Eastern Arkansas with their labor movement. This has all been documented and written about. The demise of Commonwealth can be laid at the doorstep of the Arkansas General Assembly who was in the hip pocket of the wealthy landowners in Eastern Arkansas.

Wonderful Story and OBIT about Munro , thanks for posting it Max !
She was a One of a kind A WOMAN leading a Union in the 1940's talk about a death wish, LOL, she was great on ( Social Issues ) !

Hey Cato, I'd sure be interested in your Commonwealth College bibliography or contacts. I had the opportunity to research and write one article on Commonwealth years ago but that was before the advent of e-mail and the fabulous internets! I have long tried to interest my brother in writing a screenplay together about Commonwealth. I think it could make a great movie. Is there a group of scholars and fans?

Mag, the best known authority of know presently in Dr. Bill Cobb, retired history professor at East Carolina U. His latest book came out in 2000 and is titled, "Radical Education in the Rural South, Commonwealth College, 1922-1940,"
Wayne State University Press, Detroit.

Wayne State University probably has the best collection of CC materials. Cobb did his master's thesis on CC and his writings are in the Arkansas Historical Quarterlys.

Raymond and Charlotte Koch, both deceased now, wrote a very good book titled, " Educational Commune, The Story of Commonwealth College," Schocken Books, New York, 1972.

The Kochs were students at RMCC and later faculty members. They were a rich source of information while they were alive. I don't know if Raymond's brother Lucien is still alive or not. He did live in the New England area the last I heard. But Bill Cobb would have the contacts and he would be easy to contact at ECU.

I agree that the topic would make a good movie. Orval Faubus came to CC as a young man. He walked the 13 miles from Mena to the CC campus on a dirt road.

Corrections: I typed too fast and did not proof read. "authority of know" should read "authority I know." And "The Kochs were students at RMCC and later faculty members. " should read "were students at CC and..."

Thank you, Cato. I did my research before 2000 so the 1972 work is the only book I was able to use. I look forward to reading Cobb's book, too. Thanks again.