Biography

Ronnie Nichols is Owner/Consultant of Nichols Consulting where he provides planning, research, and technical services for documentary films, publications, and public programs. Over the past 15 years, Nichols has conducted workshops and professional research in genealogy. The bulk of his research has focused on the Civil War in Arkansas with a collection of information on more than 2,500 soldiers and sailors. In 1997 he organized and founded the Arkansas Chapter of the Afro-American Genealogical and Historical Society. He has written a number of articles and presented papers on the role of troops of African descent in the Civil War serving west of the Mississippi River. He received notoriety when he served as a Technical Advisor for the Academy Award winning movie, Glory. Ronnie is a graduate of the historic Little Rock Central High and has his BA from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. His Masters of Fine Arts degree is from Otis/Parsons Art Institute in Los Angeles. He is a W. K. Kellogg National Fellow Recipient. He has more than 30 years experience in the museum field, including as former Director of the Delta Cultural Center, and the Old State House Museum in Little Rock. [The Old State House Museum is located directly between the two host hotels.] He is a former member of the Board of Directors, Little Rock/Central High Visitor Center and Museum and the Board of Trustees of the Arkansas Arts Center.