Dr. Gann Jr Goes to Scotland
Did you know that Dr. Dewell Gann, Jr completed a week-long medical course in just two days? In around 1924, when he was 34, he received a very high honor. He was awarded a fellowship at the Royal College of Surgeons in Edinburgh, Scotland. But to be admitted, candidates had to endure ten written and … Continued
The Oldest Bridge in Arkansas?
Recently, in my research on the Old River Bridge, I have read that it may be the oldest bridge in Arkansas. So, today, I decided to see how our bridge ranks in the chronology of early Arkansas bridges…
City of Bryant Welcomes Newest Museum
by Cody Berry, Special Collections Assistant On April 11, 2024, my manager, Julie Syler, accompanied me on a field trip to the grand opening of the Bryant Historical Museum. The museum is the first of its kind in Bryant. The museum came to be after years of hard work by our friends at the City … Continued
An Old Bridge with A New Purpose
by Cody Berry, Special Collections Assistant On March 11, 2024, I had the pleasure of attending a historic groundbreaking ceremony with Kari Lapp, our Public Relations Manager, and the library’s new Assistant Director, Stony Evans. Together, we walked down the muddy road to a part of the Saline River that had been the site of … Continued
Dr. Gann’s Radioactive Therapy
by Cody Berry, Special Collections Assistant Because of the recent success of films such as Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer and Radium Girls on Netflix, we thought it would be interesting to investigate Dr. Gann Jr’s work with radium. Dr. Dewell Gann Jr (1890-1960) is credited as the man who introduced the use of radium to Arkansas … Continued
Gann Museum Unveils Saline County Veterans Display
By Cody Berry I decided to take a break from the old collection books and put together a tribute to our Saline County veterans. This display features three uniforms from three different wars, two swords from the 1800s, a mess kit and medal from a WWII hero who survived being a prisoner of war, and … Continued
Museum Day in Saline County
Saline County Museums have partnered to host the 3rd annual Saline County Museum Day on Saturday, September 23 from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The ten museums are located throughout the county in Bauxite, Bryant, Benton, Haskell, Mabelvale, and Traskwood. Unlike a typical day for these museums, the event does not require appointments or reservations. … Continued
The Ganns Visit Havana
The Gann family has garnered a great deal of fame in Saline County over the years, but did you know that in 1940 they visited Havana, Cuba? Dr. Gann, Jr., worked for many years as Chief of Staff at St. Vincent’s Infirmary and at Little Rock General Hospital from 1919 to 1924. Reportedly, it was … Continued
Gann Goods: Saline County and Pottery
After the Civil War ended in 1865, many potters came to this part of Saline County. Between 1868 and 1898, there were as many as a dozen potteries in Benton. Locally made and world famous Niloak pottery was discovered in 1912 by Charles “Bullet” Hyten. While most potters made more functional items like flower vases, … Continued
The Gann Memorial (1946 – 1967)
In 1946, Dr. Dewell Gann, Jr and his wife Agnes Baum Gann deeded the Gann building to the City of Benton to be used for “Library Purposes.” The younger Dr. Gann and his wife signed the deed on April 19, 1946. The tiny three-room medical office is a unique landmark, having walls made of bauxite, … Continued