The Butler Center for Arkansas Studies -- News & Events

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This exhibit combines student art work with historical documents and text to follow the life and travels of Mifflin W. Gibbs (1823-1915), a prominent African American politician and businessman.

February 12 to April 30, 2010 Arkansas Studies Institute, Atrium Gallery
The Big Bear's Arkansas ABCs: Original Artwork and Storyboard
Illustrated by Leslie A. Przybylek with map graphics by William H. Isenberger; written by Dr. Charley Sandage
Take an alphabetical tour of Arkansas with Big Bear and his Critter Crew: Rabbit, Squirrel, and Raccoon. Winner of the 2005 Arkansiana Award for Juvenile Literature presented by the Arkansas State Library Association.

March 12 to May 29, 2010 Arkansas Studies Institute Galleries, Main Gallery
Paper Trails: Drawings by David Bailin — An exhibit of large-scale, realistic charcoal drawings on paper.

Join us for the opening of this exhibit at 2nd Friday Art Night, March 12, 2010 from 5 - 8 p.m.

March 18, 2010, 6:30 p.m. — Book discussion and signing, Main Library, Darragh Center
Except for All the Snakes, I Just Love It Out Here: The News from Stone County, Arkansas, Where One Life is Put Down Straight Up by L. Lee Cowan is a humorous autobiography detailing one woman's transition from the big city to a new life deep in the Ozark Mountains. Join us for a book discussion and reading, with a book signing to follow. This book will be available for purchase at the event.

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.

April 13, 6:00 p.m.- 8:00 p.m. — Butler Center Books event - Baxter County Library, 424 W. 7th Street, Mountain Home, Arkansas
David Pryor, former U.S. Senator, will speak at the Baxter County Library on his memoir, A Pryor Commitment: The Autobiography of David Pryor with Don Harrell. Pryor will be available to sign copies of his book at the event; A Pryor Commitment, which was published by Butler Center Books, will be available for purchase.
For more information, call the Baxter County Library at 870-425-3598 or visit www.baxlib.org.

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.

African American Cemetery Preservation

The Butler Center's Legacies & Lunch series will host Tamela Tenpenny-Lewis, co-founder and president of Preserving African American Cemeteries Inc.(PAAC), as she presents "Preserving the Black Family through Oral History, Death Records, Obituaries, and Tombstone Inscriptions." on Wednesday, February 3, 2010, noon to 1 p.m. in the Darragh Center at the Main Library (100 S. Rock St.). Read more »

posted January 25, 2010

War on the Homefront

The Butler Center's Legacies & Lunch series will host Encyclopedia of Arkansas staff member Steven Teske as he discusses the ways Arkansans contributed to the national effort in both the Spanish-American War and World War I on Wednesday, January 6, 2010, noon to 1 p.m. in the Darragh Center at the Main Library (100 S. Rock St.). Read more »

posted January 1, 2010

Two of Arkansas's Oldest Structures to be Restored

The Butler Center's Legacies & Lunch program will present Project REACH (Restoring Early Arkansas Culture and History), a project of Black River Technical College on November 4, from noon to 1pm at the Main Library in the Darragh Center (100 S. Rock St.). Read more »

posted October 22, 2009

Author Billy D. Higgins Appearing with Baseball Legend Hal Smith

The Butler Center's Legacies & Lunch lecture series presents Billy D. Higgins, author of The Barling Darling: Hal Smith in American Baseball. Higgins, accompanied by baseball legend Hal Smith, will discuss Smith's career on October 7, from noon to 1pm at the Main Library in the Darragh Center (100 S. Rock St.). Read more »

posted October 1, 2009

Materials on the 40th Anniversary of the Women's Emergency Committee Donated to the Butler Center

The Central Arkansas Library System (CALS) and its Butler Center for Arkansas Studies have received a donation of materials related to three momentous occasions in Arkansas history: the 40th anniversary of the Women's Emergency Committee (WEC), the 40th anniversary of the desegregation of Little Rock Central High School and the 50th anniversary of the desegregation of Little Rock Central High School. The collection was given by Skip Rutherford, Dean of the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service and his son Blake Rutherford, Director of Public Communications at Stone Ward, a Little Rock advertising agency. The donated materials include sets of planning notes and publicity materials from the three events. Read more »

posted October 1, 2009

The Butler Center Discusses Arkansas black baseball teams and their contributions to society and the civil rights movement

Join us at the Butler Center's Legacies & Lunch, Monday, August 3, when Bob Kendrick of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City discusses the history of Arkansas black baseball teams, the national leagues, and their contributions to society and the civil rights movement. Read more »