Lindsley Armstrong Smith Interviews

Lindsley Armstrong Smith

Lindsley Farrar Armstrong Smtih was born in Birmingham, Alabama, on September 8, 1963.

Smith attended college at the University of West Florida, where she completed both a bachelor's in public relations and advertising in 1986 and a master's in communication in 1989.

Smith served in the communication department at Clemson University from 1990 to 1994. She then moved to Fayetteville and earned a J.D. from the University of Arkansas School of Law in 1998. Smith worked as a law clerk for Martin and Kieklak Law Firm and was later promoted to associate. In 2002 she became a research assistant professor of communication at the University of Arkansas.

Smith was elected to the Arkansas State House of Representatives in 2005, where she was re-elected for three terms until 2011. After serving as a state representative, Smith was the communication director for the City of Fayetteville.

Starting in 2006, she began interviewing women who had been members of the Arkansas legislature and co-authored Stateswomen: A Centennial History of Arkansas Women Legislators, 1922–2022. Smith became cofounder and president of Oxbridge Research Associates in 2015.

#1: Composite image of early photo of Lindsley Armstrong Smith and still frame from video interview
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

Lindsley Armstrong Smith's grandfather, George Luther Armstrong (center), with railroad colleagues © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#2: Lindsley Armstrong Smith's grandfather, George Luther Armstrong (center), with railroad colleagues
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

Lindsley Armstrong Smith's great grandfather, engineer Lewis Henry Munn, and railroad colleagues © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#3: Lindsley Armstrong Smith's great grandfather, engineer Lewis Henry Munn, and railroad colleagues
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

Obituary of Lindsley Armstrong Smith's great grandfather, city pioneer Lewis Henry Munn © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#4: Obituary of Lindsley Armstrong Smith's great grandfather, city pioneer Lewis Henry Munn
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

Lindsley Armstrong Smith's grandparents, Sheridan and Classo Ott, with her mother, Jewel Dean, at their home; Pisgah, Alabama © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#5: Lindsley Armstrong Smith's grandparents, Sheridan and Classo Ott, with her mother, Jewel Dean, at their home; Pisgah, Alabama
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

Lindsley Armstrong Smith's grandparents Classo and Sheridan Ott, with her mother, Jewel Dean © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#6: Lindsley Armstrong Smith's grandparents Classo and Sheridan Ott, with her mother, Jewel Dean
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#7: Lindsley Armstrong Smith's role model, Aunt Farrar Armstrong, at bat
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

Lindsley Armstrong Smith's father, Sergeant Lewis Munn Armstrong, in World War II uniform © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#8: Lindsley Armstrong Smith's father, Sergeant Lewis Munn Armstrong, in World War II uniform
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#9: Lindsley Armstrong Smith's's mother, Jewel Dean Ott (Armstrong)
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

Lindsley Armstrong Smith's parents, Lewis and Jewel Dean, at their wedding with (from left), her grandmother, Beulah Armstrong, aunt, Farrar Armstrong, uncle and minister, Luther Armstrong, and grandparents, Sheridan and Classo Ott © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#10: Lindsley Armstrong Smith's parents, Lewis and Jewel Dean, at their wedding with (from left), her grandmother, Beulah Armstrong, aunt, Farrar Armstrong, uncle and minister, Luther Armstrong, and grandparents, Sheridan and Classo Ott
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

Lindsley Armstrong Smith in the Armstrong family child's dress that all Armstrong girls wear at the old home place next to the 1870s Armstrong furniture © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#11: Lindsley Armstrong Smith in the Armstrong family child's dress that all Armstrong girls wear at the old home place next to the 1870s Armstrong furniture
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#12: Lindsley Armstrong Smith (center) with her siblings, Lois and Lewis
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

Lindsley Armstrong Smith with her siblings, Lois and Lewis, Independence Day street parade © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#13: Lindsley Armstrong Smith with her siblings, Lois and Lewis, Independence Day street parade
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

Lindsley Armstrong Smith (front center) with her siblings, Lois and Lewis, at Aunt Waitie Lou and Uncle Marion Munn's Florida summer home © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#14: Lindsley Armstrong Smith (front center) with her siblings, Lois and Lewis, at Aunt Waitie Lou and Uncle Marion Munn's Florida summer home
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

Lindsley Armstrong Smith (front right) with her mother, Dean Armstrong, and siblings Lois and Lewis at Easter © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#15: Lindsley Armstrong Smith (front right) with her mother, Dean Armstrong, and siblings Lois and Lewis at Easter
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

Lindsley Armstrong Smith with her siblings, Lois and Lewis, playing with a cousin on the Ott family farm © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#16: Lindsley Armstrong Smith with her siblings, Lois and Lewis, playing with a cousin on the Ott family farm
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#17: Lindsley Farrar Armstrong in grade school class photo
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

Lindsley Armstrong (right) with her sister, Lois, performing an Independence Day patriotism routine for a family picnic © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#18: Lindsley Armstrong (right) with her sister, Lois, performing an Independence Day patriotism routine for a family picnic
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

Lindsley Armstrong with US Representative John Hall Buchanan; US Capitol, Washington, DC © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#19: Lindsley Armstrong with US Representative John Hall Buchanan; US Capitol, Washington, DC
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#20: Lindsley Armstrong in high school.
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

Lindsley Armstrong (2nd from right) and her sister, Lois, during college choir practice © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#21: Lindsley Armstrong (2nd from right) and her sister, Lois, during college choir practice
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

Lindsley Armstrong with Whispering Bill Anderson; PoFolks restaurant © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#22: Lindsley Armstrong with Whispering Bill Anderson; PoFolks restaurant
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

College dance team members Lindsley (left) and Lois Armstrong prepare for Homecoming © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#23: College dance team members Lindsley (left) and Lois Armstrong prepare for Homecoming
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

Lindsley Armstrong (left) with college Speech and Debate Team members © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#24: Lindsley Armstrong (left) with college Speech and Debate Team members
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

Lindsley Armstrong (left) with other employees of the University of West Florida's Office of Duplicating © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#25: Lindsley Armstrong (left) with other employees of the University of West Florida's Office of Duplicating
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

Lindsley Armstrong (center) with other University Student Ambassadors; University of West Florida, 1986 © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#26: Lindsley Armstrong (center) with other University Student Ambassadors; University of West Florida, 1986
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

Lindsley Armstrong (front left) on the cover of The <em>Pensacola Entertainer</em> TV Guide Cover; 1988 © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#27: Lindsley Armstrong (front left) on the cover of The Pensacola Entertainer TV Guide Cover; 1988
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

Father Lewis Munn Armstrong's drawing of Lindsley Armstrong's life in childhood and as a young adult © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#28: Father Lewis Munn Armstrong's drawing of Lindsley Armstrong's life in childhood and as a young adult
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

Lindsley Armstrong Smith and Stephen A. Smith at their wedding; Harris-Manchester College Chapel, Oxford University, Oxford, England, August 6, 1994 © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#29: Lindsley Armstrong Smith and Stephen A. Smith at their wedding; Harris-Manchester College Chapel, Oxford University, Oxford, England, August 6, 1994
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

Lindsley Armstrong Smith (right) with Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg; University of Arkansas School of Law © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#30: Lindsley Armstrong Smith (right) with Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg; University of Arkansas School of Law
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

Lindsley Smith when working in Clinton White House; Washington, DC, 1996 © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#31: Lindsley Smith when working in Clinton White House; Washington, DC, 1996
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#32: Lindsley Armstrong Smith working in law office
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

Lindsley Armstrong Smith (3rd from left) with Junior States of America faculty at Yale University © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#33: Lindsley Armstrong Smith (3rd from left) with Junior States of America faculty at Yale University
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

Lindsley Armstrong and Stephen A. Smith, Oxford England Study Abroad faculty © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#34: Lindsley Armstrong and Stephen A. Smith, Oxford England Study Abroad faculty
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

Lindsley Smith makes celebratory toast before Oxford University Study Abroad High Table Banquet © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#35: Lindsley Smith makes celebratory toast before Oxford University Study Abroad High Table Banquet
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

Lindsley Armstrong and Stephen A. Smith with President Bill Clinton at Jim Blair's law office © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#36: Lindsley Armstrong and Stephen A. Smith with President Bill Clinton at Jim Blair's law office
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

Lindsley Armstrong Smtih (right) with other AFSCME Cynthia Nance and Lioneld Jordan present shirt and hat to Jesse Jackson © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#37: Lindsley Armstrong Smtih (right) with other AFSCME Cynthia Nance and Lioneld Jordan present shirt and hat to Jesse Jackson
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

Lindsley Armstrong Smith (left) with Senator David Pryor and Dina Wood © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#38: Lindsley Armstrong Smith (left) with Senator David Pryor and Dina Wood
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#39: Lindsley Armstrong Smith (left) with Senator Blanche Lincoln
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#40: Lindsley Armstrong Smith with Senator Dale Bumpers
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

Lindsley Armstrong Smith filing for State House Representative as Democrat © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#41: Lindsley Armstrong Smith filing for State House Representative as Democrat
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#42: Lindsley Armstrong Smith at the Arkansas State Capitol
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

Lindsley Armstrong Smith (right) with Miss Arkansas's Outstanding Teen Savvy Shields (later Miss America) © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#43: Lindsley Armstrong Smith (right) with Miss Arkansas's Outstanding Teen Savvy Shields (later Miss America)
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

Lindsley Armstrong Smith with Congressman John Boozman; US Capitol Building, Washington, DC © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#44: Lindsley Armstrong Smith with Congressman John Boozman; US Capitol Building, Washington, DC
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#45: Lindsley Armstrong Smith (left) with Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton
© ©Barbara Kinney/HillaryClinton.com

Lindsley Armstrong Smith presenting a bill in the well of the Arkansas House of Representatives; Little Rock, Arkansas © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#46: Lindsley Armstrong Smith presenting a bill in the well of the Arkansas House of Representatives; Little Rock, Arkansas
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

Lindsley Armstrong Smith, Equal Rights Amendment sponsor, speaking at an ERA rally; State Capitol Building, Little Rock, Arkansas, 2007 © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#47: Lindsley Armstrong Smith, Equal Rights Amendment sponsor, speaking at an ERA rally; State Capitol Building, Little Rock, Arkansas, 2007
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

Lindsley Armstrong Smith testifying for the Equal Rights Amendment with Phyllis Schlafly (center) and other Eagle Forum members in background © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#48: Lindsley Armstrong Smith testifying for the Equal Rights Amendment with Phyllis Schlafly (center) and other Eagle Forum members in background
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

Lindsley Armstrong Smith at Women's Rights rally ; Fayetteville, Arkansas © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#50: Lindsley Armstrong Smith, delegate for Hillary Clinton; 2008
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

Lindsley Armstrong Smith with Governor Mike Beebe; Arkansas State Capitol, Little Rock, Arkansas © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#51: Lindsley Armstrong Smith with Governor Mike Beebe; Arkansas State Capitol, Little Rock, Arkansas
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

Lindsley Armstrong Smith (seated) with Stephen Smith at the launch of their book, <em>Stateswomen</em>; Clinton Presidential Center, Little Rock, Arkansas © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#52: Lindsley Armstrong Smith (seated) with Stephen Smith at the launch of their book, Stateswomen; Clinton Presidential Center, Little Rock, Arkansas
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

Still frame from video interview with Lindsley Armstrong Smith, Fayetteville, Arkansas, 2022 © Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas

#53: Still frame from video interview with Lindsley Armstrong Smith, Fayetteville, Arkansas, 2022
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas