tHE butlEr bannEr newsletter Of the butler center fOr arkansas 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- Central Arkansas Library System four-foot-by-four-foot acrylic panels pres- ing. When completed, it will highlight the 100 S. Rock St., ent a visual history of Arkansas 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 Arkansas River 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 Mississippi 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 University of Arkansas 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- Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & the new Ar- cially because of the structural and con- Culture, passed away recently. Bill was kansas 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.