The role that soils have played in sustaining society and the environment can take on many perspectives. Classification, mapping, and interpretation development have been invaluable to the field of soil science for research, as well as, for land use planning. Since 1899 the National Cooperative Soil Survey (NCSS) has been used as a means to develop and implement standards for describing, classifying, mapping, writing, and publishing information about soils. In addition to this; Historically Black Land Grant Institutions, commonly referred to as 1890 Universities have contributed to NCSS directly and indirectly through their three mission critical roles of teaching, research and extension. The science of mapping soils in the United States has evolved from only laboratory and field investigations at its inception to include the utilization of advanced Global Positioning Systems, Geographic Information Systems, databases, and various other technologic advances. Currently Arkansas NRCS is engaged in a partnership effort with the University of Pine Bluff at Arkansas to bridge the gap in the mapping of soils from both a technologic and generation perspective. It is postulated that this partnership will be used as a template to foster greater cooperation between the NCSS and 1890 Universities, while continuing to bridge the gap between the historic soil survey and the new technologically advanced soil survey.