U of A alumna Kelly Houston-Jones, now an assistant professor of history at Arkansas Tech University, will deliver the main address during the Washington County Historical Society's annual Statehood Day observances at 2 p.m., Sunday, June 12, on the lawn of Headquarters House Museum at 118 E. Dickson St. in Fayetteville.

Houston-Jones is the author of a groundbreaking book, Slavery on the Ground in Arkansas, published by the University of Georgia Press and the first academic update on the topic since the 1960s.

A native of Conway County, Houston-Jones obtained her doctorate in history at the U of A. She earned a bachelor's degree in history at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and her master's degree at the University of North Texas.

The Washington County Historical Society is one of the only county historical groups in Arkansas continuing to observe Statehood Day with an annual address. The speech will be given off the front porch of the Headquarters House Museum with lawn chairs provided for those attending.

The actual date of Arkansas statehood is June 15, but WCHS observes the date on the Sunday before the actual date each year.