tHE butlEr bannEr newsletter Of the butler center fOr studies Volume 10, Number 4 Fall 2008

Upcoming Butler Center Arkansas Studies Institute he Arkansas Studies Events Institute (ASI) will T offer expanded Legacies & Lunch space for researchers, January 7, 2009 not only in the expanded Josie Fernandez, Hot reading room but also in Springs National Park the space available to house February 4, 2009 collections in the new Freeman McKindra, archival wing. The Institute biography consists of three buildings March 4, 2009 that span three centuries Rev. Don Campbell II, of architectural style: biography the Porbeck–Bowman Building (1882), the Geyer January 12, 2009 & Adams Building (1914), Authors Clyde A. Milner II and the new Manuscripts Repository (2008). decorative copper. The repository’s glass atrium and Carol A. O’Connor will The new building includes many native ensures the building has a lot of natural light, discuss their book As Big materials, such as Batesville sandstone and Cont. on page 2 as the West: The Pioneer Life of Granville Stuart

Cox Creative Center Butler Center Books Galleries utler Center Books expanded its good many myself, just because I was accom- 2nd Friday Art Night operation with the addition of panying him—I am humbled by the way this On the 2nd Friday of each Ted Parkhurst as manager in early unique author has touched our state: not just our month, the Cox Creative B 2008. This fall, Butler Center Books pub- laws and our history, but our individual lives.” Gallery and Showcase Cont. on page 5 Arkansas Gallery remain lished the highly anticipated autobiography open until 8 p.m. Visit A Pryor Commitment: www.butlercenter.org/art The Autobiography of or call 501-918-3090 for David Pryor, co-written more information. by Don Harrell. After the Showcase Arkansas book’s release, Senator Gallery, located on the Pryor quickly became im- second floor of the Cox mersed in promoting it. Creative Center, presents fifty juried works by the Parkhurst accompanied the Quilters Guild of Arkansas, senator across the state— on display through from Blytheville to Cam- December 20, 2008. den, from Springdale to El Dorado. Said Parkhurst, “It has turned out to be more than a bookselling adventure. Visiting cities and towns with him has become a very personal adventure. Now that I’ve Visit www.butlercenter.org seen him receive hundreds Bobby Roberts, Senator David Pryor, Skip Rutherford, David for more information. of hugs—and received a Stricklin (left to right). Cont. from Arkansas Studies Institute, p.1 spaces and a museum. The Concordia Hall reflecting off the sandstone and through the Museum, housed in the Porbeck–Bowman The Butler Banner is the quarterly three-story atrium. Building, is still in development. The mu- newsletter of the Butler Center for The interior of the building features nine- seum is named in honor of the Jewish so- Arkansas Studies ty-seven Arkansas image panels. These cial hall that was once housed in the build- Library System four-foot-by-four-foot acrylic panels pres- ing. When completed, it will highlight the 100 S. Rock St., ent a visual and its peo- diversity of Arkansas’s population and Little Rock, AR 72201 ple. The abundance of sunlight normally focus on both the struggles and victories 501.918.3056 - [email protected] experienced by Arkansans. Maps, charts, www.butlercenter.org text panels, photographs, and images of documents will present an overview of the Printed and distributed with private funds. makeup of Arkansas’s diverse population. Kathryn Heller: Editor & Designer he interior of the Behind the ASI is the Count Pulaski Way, an innovative space that will serve both building features automobiles and pedestrians. It consists of Tninety-seven Arkansas two alleys; a rebuilt portion of Rock Street that is reminiscent of early stone roads; and image panels. These four- the lower Valley Walking Map. This 200-foot-long map is a replica foot-by-four-foot acrylic of the historic trail from Fort Smith to the point where the Arkansas River meets the Volume 10, Number 4 panels present a visual River. This walking map is Lit- tle Rock’s largest piece of public art. history of Arkansas and its The ASI is a joint project of the Central Arkansas Library System and the Univer- also will be a retail space located in the people. sity of Arkansas at Little Rock (UALR). Geyer & Adams building. These partner- Archival materials from UALR’s archives ships will increase public access and awar- and special collections department will ness of these organizations as visitors can would pose a threat to the manuscripts and be available to researchers in the reading access them at one of the most desirable rare books, but the collection will be pro- room. downtown locations. tected by a series of frosted glass flanges on The ASI also will be home to the Clinton We anticipate moving in early 2009, so the west side of the building that will dif- School of Public Service’s downtown cam- watch your mail and the Butler Center web- fuse the light. pus, the Arkansas Humanities Council, and site for more information about the grand The ASI also houses four art gallery the UALR Urban Studies program. There opening. n

Gibson is helping to create finding aids for the Butler Center manuscript collec- Student Opportunities tion and working with the BASE (Books for Arkansas Students’ Education) pro- he Butler Center is committed to works closely with Rhonda Stewart in the gram. Gibson said, “Working at the But- educating the public about Arkan- reading room. She assists patrons with ler Center for Arkansas Studies has been T sas’s history and culture. Part of questions, which helps her learn more a wonderful experience. Seeing the place its mission includes providing opportuni- about research resources and what in- Arkansas holds in national history has ties for students to get first-hand experi- formation patrons are most interested in. been invaluable.” n ence working in an archive. Judith Young and Marc Gibson are two good examples of this mission in action. Young is a graduate student at the Univer- sity of Arkansas at Little Rock (UALR) working on a master’s degree in public history. She currently serves as a gradu- ate assistant in the Bulter Center. Gibson is an undergrad student at the at Little Rock, and working on a bachelor’s degree in history with a minor in anthropology. He came to the Butler Center as a volunteer and recently joined the staff as a part-time assistant. Young is interested in geneaology and Judith Young and Marc Gibson Page 2 The Butler Banner answer to the aforementioned, oft-asked A Word from the Center question: The next Butler Banner you re- ceive will have either an announcement David Stricklin, Head of the Butler Center of the date of the ASI grand opening or pictures from that event. Make plans to The question I Harding, respectively—that when this is come and see the new ASI. I feel quite am asked most all over we’re going to have to go into confident in saying something else: You often is, “When some kind of therapy program to deal will be very proud of the Institute. is the move into with separation issues! One sad note: Bill Norman, a devoted your new build- Any big project takes time, and this one friend of the Butler Center and of the ing?” Creating has been particularly complicated, espe- History & the new Ar- cially because of the structural and con- Culture, passed away recently. Bill was Studies ceptual problems of trying to make one a banker with a passion for Arkansas his- Institute (ASI) whole out of three buildings from three tory and a particular fascination with the complex (see different centuries. New construction on ways technology could be used to share the cover story, pp. 1–2) has been a long one must blend with adaptive reuse of the the state’s history with people around the process, to say the least. I’ve been at the other two. The 1882 Porbeck–Bowman world and in every corner of Arkansas. Butler Center for almost four years, and Building turned out to be an especially We will miss him a great deal and always the basic design for the ASI was already tough one to save, but I am so pleased we remember his many acts of kindness and in place when I got here. Weekly meet- were able to do so. It will be a wonderful expressions of encouragement. ings began at about that point. We have place in which to work, and its rescue is Thank you all for your own acts of kind- spent so much time with the architects an inspiring Arkansas success story. ness and expressions of encouragement and contractors—Polk Stanley and East- I feel quite confident in giving you an as we move forward in this venture. n Forgotten: The Korean War Project his summer, the Butler Center ens of his snapshots from the war with us as launched an initiative to docu- well as newspaper clippings and other doc- T ment and preserve Arkansas’s role uments. Serving as the guinea pig for our in the Korean War. “Forgotten: The Ar- first Korean War oral history, he performed kansas Korean War Project” is an attempt admirably, and we were lucky to get some to fill the documentary void related to the fascinating insights into the war. One par- war. Often overlooked or overshadowed by ticularly interesting story revolved around events to follow, the Korean War has fallen him unwittingly giving two North Korean into a vast no-man’s-land in the American spies a ride in his Jeep. He also recounted psyche, somehow lost between the headi- the difficulty of seeing the suffering of the ness of World War II and the anguish of civilian population. Through his words, Vietnam. According to Max Hastings, one Mullings was able to offer a candid por- of the leading historians on the Korean trait of what it was like for a young Arkan- War, “United States losses in three years sas boy to be thrust into a war in a faraway were only narrowly outstripped by those place. Such interviews are a veritable gold suffered in Vietnam over more than ten.” mine of information. And most important- In addition to the personal cost, the world- ly, they are a vital and irreplaceable piece wide political ramifications of the war were Jim Mullings, 1950 of our collective history as Arkansans. huge and still linger today. Yet the war is If you are a Korean War veteran, or if one that most would rather for- In addition, we are sending out a question- you know of one, please contact us about get. Unfortunately, this has meant that the naire to all interested Korean War veterans. the project. It is our intention to see that sacrifice of our men and women in uniform Since launching the project, we have Arkansas’s Korean War veterans finally get has often been overlooked. We believe it is made contact with a number of Korean War the respect and recognition they deserve. time to change that. veterans. Our first response came from Jim Though nearly sixty years separates us The Butler Center is soliciting infor- Mullings of Claremore, . Mull- from the event, it is important for us not to mation from Arkansans who were on the ings, a Paris (Logan County) native, was lose sight of the sacrifice that these men and battlefield as well as those left home. Of a member of the Arkansas National Guard women offered for their country. Through particular emphasis is the acquisition of let- when it was mobilized for federal service. this project, we hope to make sure that they ters, photographs, diaries, and other written After arriving in Korea in January 1951, he will never be forgotten. n records of Arkansas’s Korean War veter- served as a gunner on a 155 mm self-pro- ans. Our oral history campaign will allow pelled artillery piece affectionately known Contributed by Brian Robertson, veterans to share their personal memories. as “Bulldog’s Bark.” Mullings shared doz- Butler Center Manuscripts Coordinator

The Butler Banner Page 3 the encyclopedia of Arkansas history & culture

Nathania Senior Editor’s Column Sawyer

hat darn dar we use today, de Soto entered Arkan- University of Georgia, proposed a differ- de Soto. sas on June 28th. ent route based on newer archaeological No man But, the most maddening problem is the discoveries and translations of the records T variety of information that exists about de of the journey. I believe there are at least has ever given me so much trouble! Soto’s route through Arkansas. Congress three different routes that historians have For those of put forth for de Soto’s journey you who slept through Arkansas, which makes through your it easier to understand why so Arkansas His- many places in the state claim tory class: Her- that “de Soto slept here.” We’ve nando de Soto joked about making a t-shirt with became the first the map included with this column European to set foot in what is now Ar- as a fundraiser for the EOA! kansas when he crossed the Mississippi And, don’t even get me started River on June 18, 1541. We know this be- about the wild pigs! cause de Soto and some of his men left The fact is, we will never know with written accounts of their travels through absolute certainty the “truth” about Arkan- Arkansas. Sounds simple enough doesn’t sas’s early history. The record is amended it? But, no… and corrected as new discoveries are made, First, it was his name: Is it Hernando but there are no absolutes. DeSoto, Hernando De Soto or Hernando The same could be said about our knowl- de Soto. Then there was the whole cal- edge of the Native Americans who lived endar thing. When is June 18th not June in Arkansas. Separating folklore from fact 18th? The answer is: after Pope Gregory can be a tricky business. This subject came XIII decided to introduce a new calendar. commissioned the first detailed study of de up recently in an email exchange with one Yep. In 1582, we switched from the Ju- Soto’s route in 1936, and that study became of our editorial board members, State Ar- lian calendar to the Gregorian calendar, the accepted version of history. In 1997, cheologist Ann Early. She was concerned which means that, according to the calen- Charles Hudson, an anthropologist at the Continued on page 5

Guy Explorations of Arkansas History Lancaster

hy did Arkansas secede from faction held the majority, and one in May through non-slave states with their slaves, the Union? That’s a question we 1861, at which all but one delegate voted and 6) “They have degraded American citi- W had to field for a patron the oth- for secession. Our fact checker found that zens by placing them upon an equality with er day. Of course, such a question is fraught the records of the second convention re- negroes at the ballot box.” with significance for those who insist that ferred back to a resolution from the March Was slavery the main reason Arkan- the Confederate states did not secede sole- 1861 session spelling out six reasons for sas left the Union? According to the se- ly to protect the institution of slavery, but secession: 1) the Republican Party was cession convention itself—yes, it was. all our patron wanted to know was if any solely a Northern party and hostile to slav- Whether slavery was the reason so many statement of reason for secession was is- ery, 2) Northerners refused to offer protec- non-slaveholding Southerners chose to sued either by the secession convention tion to the slave property of Southerners, take up arms is a different question, but that removed Arkansas from the Union or 3) Republicans declared that Congress had as far as Arkansas’s leaders go, they were by Governor Henry Massie Rector. the power to limit slavery, 4) Northerners certainly intent upon preserving their Arkansas held two secession conventions: disregarded fugitive slave laws, 5) North- “peculiar institution” and denying their one in March 1861, at which a pro-Union erners denied Southerners the right to move slaves freedom and liberty. n

Page 4 The Butler Banner Cont. from Butler Center Books, p.1 edge about and appreciation of the his- Cont. from de Soto, p.4 Pryor’s career is unparalleled. His po- tory and culture of Arkansas. about the proliferation of popular culture litical life includes service in the Arkan- Other recent and upcoming Butler information and local legends about tribes sas House of Representatives, as gov- Center Books titles include: that contradict current scientific under- ernor of Arkansas, in the U.S. House of • Big Hat Law: Arkansas and Its standings. Ann says that many of these sto- Representatives, and in the U.S. Senate. State Police–1935-2000, by Mi- ries first appeared during Victorian times He is currently chairman of Arkansas’s chael Lindsey when communities felt the need to create Democratic Party. • A Life on the Black River in Ar- positive, heroic histories for themselves. Pryor’s autobiography provides its kansas: The Memoir of a Farmer, For the EOA’s purposes, we’re trying readers with a candid account of his Rural Entrepreneur, and Banker, to strike a balance by including the local- time serving the state and reveals his by Ewell R. Coleman with Mary tradition stories as well as noting when the passion for the residents of Arkansas. It Frances Hodges tales contradict current research and under- is available now at River Market Books • The Good Ground of Central High: standing. This is a perfect example of how & Gifts and other local bookstores, and Little Rock Central High School we rely on the expertise of our editorial you can also order it from our distributor, and Legendary Coach Wilson Mat- board and how lucky we are to have people with all kinds of specialized knowledge on the University of Arkansas Press, at thews, by George M. Cate our board. n www.uapress.com. • Ready, Booted, and Spurred: Ar- Butler Center Books is a project of the kansas in the U.S.-Mexican War, Butler Center for Arkansas Studies and edited by William A. Frazier and The Encyclopedia the Central Arkansas Library System. Mark K. Christ of Arkansas This publishing program was made pos- • Pfeiffer Country: The Tenant Farms History & Culture sible by a gift from John G. and Dora and Business Activities of Paul “DeDe” Ragsdale. Butler Center Books Pfeiffer in Clay County, Arkansas, www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net publishes volumes that increase knowl- 1902–1954, by Sherry Laymon. n

The New 2009 The Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture Calendars Are Here! Enjoy 13 historic photos plus hundreds of dates from Arkansas’s history Please clip and send payment to: Encyclopedia of Arkansas Central Arkansas Library System • 100 Rock St. • Little Rock, AR 72201 2009 Calendar

Calendars are only $10 each, plus a total of $2 shipping and handling for entire order. I would like to order ______calendar(s). Enclosed is my payment of $ ______. Please make checks payable to: Encyclopedia of Arkansas Each month features a Send my calendar(s) to: fascinating photograph Name: ______from Arkansas’s diverse Address: ______and unique history. ______Order now! City ______State ______Zip ______Phone: ( )______

The Butler Banner Page 5 Seven Ways to Help the Butler Center You can make a gift to the Butler Center by sending a check to the address below or using your credit card on the secure link on our website: www.cals.org/information/donation.html. Check the activity or project you’d like to support, or check Other/general to support our overall efforts. Thanks!

______AV/AR—our new audio/visual database that makes interviews and other material available at no cost on our website ______BASE—placing free books about Arkansas in our public schools, especially those with high percentages of low-income students ______Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture—our free, authoritative research tool visited by more than 5,000 people a day ______Home Movie Day—our program to make digital copies of Arkansas-related amateur home movies available ______Legacies & Lunch—our popular monthly lecture series on Arkansas history and culture ______Lesson plans and other curricular materials—for Arkansas history teachers and students ______Other/general—helping the Butler Center in its collection and outreach efforts

Send your tax-deductible contribution to: Butler Center for Arkansas Studies 100 S. Rock Street Little Rock, AR 72201

... Butler Center Events in the Spotlight

flash David Stricklin, head of the Butler Center, and Senator David Pryor, after the first copies of the senator’s autobiography were delivered to Butler Center Books.

Ginger Beebe, at the Cox Creative Gallery signing copies of the annual Artist Calendar

Mosaic Templars group from Barbados, posing with some members of the Butler Center staff

Al Bell, speaker at the October Legacies & Lunch

Page 6 The Butler Banner BuTLER CENTER dONORS Gifts of Materials for Fall 2008 Mary Carroll Hancock, Georgia Susan Turner Purvis Betty Hunter Sorenson Adams Ray Hanley John G. Ragsdale, Jr. Cassandra Anthony Lawrence Harper Ruth Remmel Bob Bailey Martha Harriman Bob L. Reynolds Terri Bailey Lonenetta Hemingway Mattie Mae Rice Dean Banks Audrey Henry River Market Books & Gifts Martha Barber Jack E. Hill Bobby L. Roberts Tiffany Filhiol Bazile, Oklahoma Mary Frances Hodges Amanda Saar Jerry Blackburn Philip James Nathania Sawyer Kay P. Bland Dr. Lauvern Jeffries Bill Shumaker Boyd W. Blythe Jajuan Johnson Carrie Snodgrass Brandon Burlsworth Foundation Philip Jones Paul D. Snodgrass, James Bolt, Bob Knapp H. K. Stewart Julie Cabe Guy Lancaster David Stricklin Mary Louise Cantwell Michael Lindsey Virginia Thorndike and Irving Spitzberg, Crata Castleberry Nancy Lowe Maryland Martha Caulk Lynn R. Malbrough Patricia Pumphrey Tlapak, M. L. Caulk Holly Mathisen Virginia Wallis Doug Clark Jeanne McDaniel Steve Warnock Barbara Clark-Lawrence Jim McDaniel, Texas Linda Ingalls Wright, Florida Robin Coleman Carolyn Melton Susan Webber Wright Sarah Coles Betty Meyer Suzanne Williams Ron Copeland Reita Miller Mary Wohleb Redia Dickerson Susan Miller Fann Woodward John R. Eldridge Archie Moore Sarah Ziegenbein Jan Emberton Ron Moseley Donations Cass L. Filhiol, Oklahoma Will Nipper, Bowmanstone Press In honor of Peyton and Betty Brewer Rice: Kimberly Filhiol, Oklahoma Malu Norris Mr. and Mrs. Grimsley Graham Thomas Kelly Gilder Raleigh Petersen Maxwell J. Lyons II Mary Goodman John E. Pike Park and Betty Moore Randy Grable Mike Polston In memory of Bill Norman: Rhonda Vanlue Gray Eugene Porter David Stricklin Logan Hampton Sharon Priest CALS Hosts the Annual Arkansas Literary Festival he Central Arkansas Library Sys- all, the festival is free to the public. The joy. Featuring a variety of vendors and con- tem (CALS) is hosting the sixth Arkansas Literacy Councils did a terrific cessions, the downtown festival takes place T annual Arkansas Literary Festival, job hosting the festival for the past five in multiple venues including the Main Li- a celebration of the written word, April years. We’re hoping the Central Arkansas brary campus, River Market Books & Gifts, 16–19, 2009. Brad Mooy joined CALS as Library System can build on that foun- the Arkansas Studies Institute, and Historic the festival coordinator this summer. He dation and reach even more readers and Arkansas Museum. Events are FREE to the said, “We’re fashioning an exciting fes- writers in 2009.” public. Butler Center staff members are tival full of stimulating authors and fun Prominent authors from across the United heavily involved in the festival. activities for all ages. Our memorable States read from their own works, discuss For more information contact 501-918- roster of events includes sessions with relevant themes, and sign books. Work- 3098, email [email protected], or visit dynamic writers from , North shops allow participants to refine writing www.arkansasliteraryfestival.org. n Carolina, California, , Colo- skills. Storytelling activities and reading Contributed by Brad Mooy, Arkansas rado, Texas, Arkansas, and more. Best of programs are scheduled for families to en- Literary Festival Coordinator

The Butler Banner Page 7 Images from Our Collection

ntil the advent of rail- roads in Arkansas dur- U ing the , steamboats were the primary means of transporting people and goods in and out of the state. The first steamboat reached Little Rock in 1821, and others were soon operating on the state’s various waterways, such as the White, Black, Ouachita, Little Red, Fourche La Fave, St. Fran- cis, and Buffalo rivers, as well as . Both sides in the Civil War used steamboats in Arkansas for the rapid trans- port of soldiers and war materiel; Union gunboats were also used in the capture of St. Charles and . However, by the 1890s, made river navigation by such large boats by diesel-powered towboats pushing railroads were providing the services difficult if not impossible. Today, many barges; the only remaining steamboat is once the purview of steamboats, and Arkansas rivers are still used for the the Arkansas Queen, a tourist passenger

railroad bridges across major waterways transportation of cargo, but that is done boat docked in North Little Rock. n

Little Rock, AR 72201 AR Rock, Little

100 S Rock Street Rock S 100

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LITTLE ROCK, AR ROCK, LITTLE

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