No Drugstore On Every Corner: a brief look at the history of pharmacies in Arkansas

The current exhibit located just inside the library contains information about local drugstores and local pharmacists/physicians in the era before drugstores were as plentiful as they are now.

Dr. Matthew Cunningham, the first physician and mayor of Little Rock in 1820, was also the only physician in this part of Arkansas at that time.  Like many physicians, he was both prescriber and preparer of drugs, and operated a drug store in Little Rock.

Dr. R. L. Dodge came to the area as a medical missionary to the Choctaw Indians.  When the tribe was moved out of Arkansas, he brought his large family to Little Rock, and afterwards opened a drug store.  He owned two lots on Fourth and Scott Streets, the corner in Little Rock now owned by the Women’s City Club.  He sold items and substances used to treat people to other doctors in Arkansas, as well as locally.

Items in the exhibit include:
A copy of a druggist’s account book from Helena, Arkansas (1846-1847) as well as prescriptions from local drugstores from the early 1900’s through the 1940’s and 1950’s. 

Pictures of local drugstores during the middle of the 1900’s, as well as mortars and pestles representative of the items used to prepare drugs, as well as medications carried by doctors in their bags during the era of house calls.

Exhibit by Amanda Saar and April Hughes

For more information, please contact Amanda Saar, Chair, Historical Research Center, 686-6733