PHOTO: Arkansas Secretary of State John Thurston (left) unveils a portrait of U.S. Marshal Bass Reeves in the Capitol on Dec. 18, 2024. Thurston is joined by Benjamin Johnson, CEO of the U.S. Marshals Museum, Cory Harris, U.S. Marshal for the Eastern District of Arkansas, Sen. Bryan King and portrait artist James Loveless Jr. | Mary Hennigan/Arkansas Advocate
By MARY HENNIGAN | Arkansas Advocate
Until Wednesday morning, all two dozen portraits displayed in the Arkansas Capitol depicted the state’s former governors, all white men.
A portrait of U.S. Marshal Bass Reeves revealed Wednesday by Secretary of State John Thurston, alongside artist James Loveless Jr. and Cory Harris, U.S. Marshal for the Eastern District of Arkansas, marked the first non-governor and African American represented in such a way in the statehouse.
“This portrait is more than just a work of art,” Harris said. “It is a reminder to all who walk these hallowed halls that our state’s history is rich with stories of individuals, such as Bass, who stood tall for what is right. Let it inspire us to continue building our future rooted in justice, courage and inclusion.”
Reeves (1838-1910) was born into enslavement in Crawford County, but he escaped and became one of the first Black U.S. deputy marshals west of the Mississippi River. He is known as one of the most prolific U.S. deputy marshals of the 1800s and has been the subject of several modern movies and television series.
Historic reports say that Reeves could shoot a pistol or rifle accurately with either hand and was considered one of the most respected lawmen in Indian Territory, now present-day Oklahoma. The area was one of the most dangerous areas for federal officers in the Old West at the time, and Reeves arrested more than 3,000 criminals during his service.
In addition to serving as a U.S. marshal, Reeves also served as a police officer in Muskogee, Oklahoma, until his death.
Thurston said he thought it was important to have a portrait of a “legendary individual” in law enforcement displayed in the Capitol to encourage the younger generation.
The idea for the portrait stemmed from a 2017 resolution that Sen. Bryan King, R-Green Forest, filed to recognize Reeve’s contributions to law enforcement. When King returned to the Legislature in 2023, he said he talked with Thurston about commemorating Reeves with a portrait in the Capitol.
Reeves is also portrayed on horseback at the Ross Pendergraft Park in Fort Smith. The town is also home to the U.S. Marshals Museum, which opened last year.
Benjamin Johnson, president and CEO of the museum, said Wednesday it was “ a shame” he didn’t know about Reeves’ history until moving to Arkansas.
“[The portrait] is a great step in ensuring that everybody across the country and hopefully around the world gets to know the man Bass Reeves,” Johnson said.
Borrowed materials from the U.S. Marshals Museum were displayed in cases around the portrait on Wednesday. While Thurston said the portrait will remain on display “until somebody decides it shouldn’t be here,” the exhibit surrounding the artwork will be on rotation.