501-918-3025
calsfoundation@cals.org
calsfoundation@cals.org
Community History Projects
Mapping Downtown Little Rock
Arkansas Traveler
Lost West 9th Street
Recent Blog Posts
When Fact Checkers Attack
On September 3, 2025, a man named Vernon Patton was attacked by a black bear in Franklin County, an attack that ultimately proved fatal. An Arkansas Times article on the subject speculated that this attack “may be the state’s first since before the Civil War.” This was based upon a statement made by Keith Stephens,
Banned in Arkansas: A History of Censorship and Resistance
In Arkansas, the battle over books has deep roots. Long before recent headlines about banned titles and library protests, communities across the state were already wrestling with who makes decisions about what content citizens can access.
From comics to LGBTQ+ literature, the fight over books in Arkansas has reflected broader struggles over race,
Behind-the-Scenes at CALS, in Three* Pictures
As part of the grand reopening of the reimagined CALS Main Library on October 4, 2025, the CALS Butler Center for Arkansas Studies will be unveiling a temporary display on the history of the Central Arkansas Library System in the lobby of the CALS Roberts Library. This display will expand on the content of a permanent timeline that will soon adorn a wall on the first floor of Main.
Art on Exhibit at CALS
The CALS Art Exhibitions highlight art by Arkansas artists and showcase exhibitions that promote Arkansas history and culture. The CALS Permanent Collection is displayed in our branches and rotating exhibitions are featured in the Underground Gallery at CALS Roberts Library.
Archival Collections
The CALS Butler Center for Arkansas Studies archival collection offers unique glimpses into the state’s history through documents and photographs. Many of the collections depict the daily life in Central Arkansas by preserving the cultural, political, literary, military, and environmental history of Pulaski and Perry Counties.
Genealogy Help & Resources
Whether you have been on your family history journey for years or are just beginning, the CALS Roberts Library offers resources for genealogists and researchers at all skill levels.
CALS Bobby L. Roberts Library of Arkansas History & Art, including the Underground Gallery, CALS Butler Center for Arkansas Studies, UA Little Rock Center for Arkansas History and Culture, and DIY Memory Lab, is open to the public the following days and times:
2nd Floor Research Room (Butler Center/UA Little Rock Center for Arkansas History and Culture) & Underground Gallery
-
-
CLOSED MONDAYS
-
Tuesday through Friday 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
-
Saturday 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM
-
