Local History Goes to School
February 12 to March 31, 2010 — Arkansas Studies Galleries, Mezzanine Gallery
This exhibit combines student art work with historical documents and text to follow the life and travels of Mifflin W. Gibbs (1823-1915), a prominent African American politician and businessman.
Voices of Arkansas
The Butler Center is partnering with KUAR-FM to promote oral history throughout 2010. The Butler Center invites the public into the new ASI Interview Room in the Arkansas Studies Institute on the first Friday of every month to come in and record oral history interviews. The interview studio will be available for 40-minute recording sessions, and CDs of interviews will be given to participants immediately following the sessions.
For more information, dates & times, or to schedule an interview, click here »
2010 Arkansas History Calendars
The new 2010 Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture calendars are here! They make great gifts. Click here for the order form or visit River Market Books & Gifts at 120 Commerce St. across from the Main Library.
The Butler Center
Welcome to the Butler Center for Arkansas Studies website! Here, you'll find information on our events, links to our digital collections, research tools, and much more.
Our collections and offices have recently moved to the Arkansas Studies Institute (ASI), located at 401 President Clinton Ave. in Little Rock's River Market District. At the ASI, you can visit with our knowledgeable staff, peruse our collections, view art in four galleries, and learn about Arkansas history by viewing the image panels throughout the ASI, as well as the historic buildings that comprise the ASI itself. Please take a moment to browse our website and plan a trip to the ASI and downtown Little Rock.
The Butler Center for Arkansas Studies, a department of the Central Arkansas Library System, was created in 1997 through an endowment by Richard C. Butler, Sr. of Little Rock for the purpose of promoting a greater understanding and appreciation of Arkansas history, literature, art, and culture. The Butler Center operates a book-publishing program, an oral history project, workshops and other training programs, and a number of initiatives to assist teachers with curricular materials. Throughout the year, we host many public lectures and events that cover various Arkansas topics. We also sponsor the onlne Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture, the premier one-stop reference work on the state.
Research Room
Mon.-Sat.: 9am-6pm
Phone: 501.320.5700
Email: arkinfo@cals.org
Art Galleries
Mon.-Sat.: 9am-6pm
Phone: 501.320.5791
Fax: 501.537.4559
Butler Center Offices
Mon.-Fri.: 9am-5pm
Phone: 501.320.5754
Fax: 501.537.4559
Mailing Address
The Butler Center
Central Arkansas Library System
100 Rock St.
Little Rock, AR 72201
Preserve Arkansas History — Donate Today!
Thank you for helping us to promote a greater understanding and appreciation of Arkansas history, literature, art, and culture. You may designate your contribution for one of the specific Butler Center endowment funds listed below, or you may make a general donation to either the Butler Center. Your donation is tax deductible under 170 (c) (1) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. **Please note: The Butler Center is a department of the Central Arkansas Library System (CALS). Any response or confirmation related to your contribution may arrive with CALS logos or insignia, but your donation will be applied to the Butler Center fund of your choice.
To make a secure, online donation:
All transactions are processed securely at the PayPal web site. PayPal only retains the personal information of its registered users, and you have the option of submitting a payment without becoming a registered user.
Please contact Jackie Patel or Dawn Perry at 501-918-3000 if you have any questions about online donations.
To make a donation by check:
Please print this donation form, fill it out and mail it with your check to:
Attn: Susan Hill Gelé
Central Arkansas Library System
100 Rock St.
Little Rock, AR 72201.
November 13 to February 13 Arkansas Studies Galleries, West gallery
New Works by Sui Hoe Khoo
February 3, 2010, noon to 1 p.m. — Legacies & Lunch
Tamela Tenpenny-Lewis discusses "Preserving the Black Family Through Oral History, Death Records, Obituaries, and Tombstone Inscriptions"
February 12 to March 31, 2010 Arkansas Studies Galleries, Mezzanine Gallery
Local History Goes to School: Traveling the World with Mifflin W. Gibbs
This exhibit combines student art work with historical documents and text to follow the life and travels of Mifflin W. Gibbs (1823-1915), a prominent African American politician and businessman.
Join us for the opening of the exhibit at 2nd Friday Art Night, February 12, 2010 from 5 - 8 p.m.
March 12 to May 29, 2010 Arkansas Studies Institute Galleries, Main Gallery
David Bailin: Paper Trails — An exhibit of large-scale, realistic charcoal drawings on paper.
April 10 to May 29, 2010 Arkansas Studies Institute Galleries, Concordia Hall Gallery
AAE State Youth Art Show 2010, organized by the Arkansas Art Educators (AAE) and the Arkansas Department of Education
The AAE State Youth Art Show 2010 highlights the Best of Show winners from art competitions held in seven different regions of the state. Arkansas Art Educators is made up of art teachers who work with the Arkansas Department of Education to promote student art throughout the state.
May 22, 2010 Main Library, Darragh Center
"Arkansas in the Forgotten War: The Korean War Remembered" featuring Dr. James I. Matray, Professor of History at the California State University, Chico.
Click here for more information.