E. Fay Jones’ Boar’s Tusk

Creator

Preview

Photo Credit

Autumn Blaylock, Collections Intern, University of Arkansas Museum

Object Date

World War II Era

Description

“A boar’s tusk carried in the pocket is said to relieve toothache, if the bad tooth is on the right side, carry the tusk in the right-hand pocket; If on the left, carry it in the left-hand pocket...”

This boars’ tusk was originally found in a trunk alongside belongings of the prominent architect and Razorback legend Euine Fay Jones upon his return from duty in World War II. Donated by Jones’ daughter, Cami, in 2017, the boars’ tusks can likely be attributed to a feral pig (Sus scrofa L.)¹, an invasive species containing the DNA of both the Asiatic and the European wild boar in the South Pacific. While it is unknown how the gnarled appendages came into Jones’ possession, the tusks could have been collected during Jones’ tour and perhaps might have even acted as a reminder of home. Randolph suggests within the 1933 issue of The American Journal of Folklore, that wild boars’ tusks were historically used as a medicinal remedy in the hills of the Ozarks for toothaches and in some instances venereal disease.² While differing in exact breed from South Pacific boars, Eurasian boars have been invasive to the region of the Ozarks as far back as the early 1500s when they were introduced by early colonizers and used for sport hunting.³

1 Wehr, Nathaniel H., Steven C. Hess, and Creighton M. Litton. “Biology and Impacts of Pacific Islands Invasive Species. 14. Sus Scrofa the Feral Pig (Artiodactyla: Suidae).” Pacific Science, April 30, 2018. https://pubs.usgs.gov/publication/70197481.

2 Randolph, Vance. “Ozark Superstitions.” The American Journal of Folklore 46, no. 179, March 1933.

3 Zellers, Randy. “Arkansas Battles Feral Hog Invasion: A Timeline of Eradication Efforts • Arkansas Game & Fish Commission.” Arkansas Game & Fish Commission, May 30, 2025. https://www.agfc.com/news/arkansas- battles-feral-hog-invasion-a-timeline-of-eradication-efforts/.

Object Dimensions

W ~ 10.5 cm

Object Housed

University of Arkansas-Museum

Object Accession Number

2017-0011-0004

Donor

Cami Jones