Historic Texarkana School Launches Oral History Project

A piece of Texarkana’s history is getting new life through a grant designed to preserve the voices of the past.

The historic Orr School, located at 831 Laurel Street in Texarkana, Arkansas, has been awarded funding from A Blade of Grass, a New York-based organization that supports community arts. The 2025 Field Funds grant will support a project to collect oral histories from former students, educators, and neighborhood residents who have personal connections to the school.

History Of The Orr School:

Built around 1880, the Orr School is believed to be one of Texarkana, Arkansas’s earliest public schools. Through the years, the building has survived fires and shifted roles, serving at various times as a low-income daycare center and a ministry for the surrounding community. Many of today’s advocates for the Orr Schools preservation are people who grew up in or around the school.

Who’s Leading the Project:

The oral history project will be led by local volunteers in partnership with historians Dr. Laura Sikes and Jamie Simmons. Together, they aim to record memories that reflect the cultural and social legacy of the Orr School.

“We’re excited to gather and protect these stories for future generations,” said Whitney Allen, Vice President of the preservation group.

How To Share Your Story:

The public is invited to contribute memories, photos, or memorabilia. To share your story, or a loved one’s, email OrrSchoolTXK@gmail.com or you can call or text 903-884-8093.

Items may also be mailed to:
City Federation of Colored Women’s Clubs of Texarkana
P.O. Box 182
Texarkana, TX 75504