Before the United States entered World War I, President Wilson and Congress established the Council of National Defense, August 29, 1916. Each state formed a State Council that oversaw the structure and organization of smaller county councils, community councils, women's committee, and black auxiliary councils. Scholarship focused on Arkansas State Council of Defense (ASCD) is scarce, but scholarship on Colored Auxiliary Council of Defense (CACD) for Arkansas is virtually nonexistent.

This digital history project, titled The Arkansas Colored Auxiliary Council: Black Activism during World War I, 1917-1918, explores the history of CACD, its formation, individuals involved, and some of its accomplishments. The goal of this project is to bring awareness to the CACD’s mission, work, and members. Official reports submitted by Arkansas to the federal government omitted work accomplished by the Colored Auxiliary Council. This project highlights the contributions of black civilians and CACD in Arkansas during World War I.