Annual Genealogy Workshop

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Share Your Experiences and Photos of the March 31 Tornados

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The 1927 Flood

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Vanished: Documenting a Forgotten Era of Little Rock’s Built Environment

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DIY Memory Lab Now Open

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Lost West Ninth Street

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COMMUNITY HISTORY PROJECTS

Community History

Looking north on Main Street from 4th Street

Mapping Downtown Little Rock

Using images from our collection, we have constructed an architectural tour of downtown Little Rock.

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Community History

Arkansas Traveler Project

The Arkansas Traveler Project is a collection of interactive narratives that examine various topics of Arkansas history. The project uses a mapping tool to provide context and illustrate spatial relationships.

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Community History

Wood frame houses with car parked in driveway

Lost West Ninth Street

For many decades, Little Rock’s West Ninth Street was the heart of the city’s African American community. “The Line,” as the street was sometimes known, was home to businesses, churches, fraternal groups, and a host of other entities.

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Art @ Roberts Library

Recent Blog Posts

Blog

Art Still Abounds at CALS

With the Main Library now closed for renovations, the CALS art program has had to get, well, creative!

With the closing of the Galleries & Bookstore at Library Square to make way for “Mini Main,” there have been questions about how the library system will display art and care for the works of art it owns.

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Blog

The Whole Story: What an Encyclopedia Can and Cannot Capture

Recently, I went to the memorial service for Grif Stockley, a well-known Arkansas lawyer, writer, and historian who died in January in Virginia, where he had been living to be close to his daughter. As we all told stories about the experiences we had had with Grif, it occurred to me that no biography,

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Blog

Children of History

Moments in history sometimes stand out because of the audaciousness of the action. Looking beyond the moment to examine the root reveals fascinating facts, placing that moment in a new context.

One such moment is the Central High Desegregation Crisis that was spotlighted around the world in 1957–58. The pioneering Black teens were highlighted in news programming as they attempted to attend the supposedly desegregated Little Rock Central High.

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Art Exhibitions

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 Galleries & Bookstore at Library Square.

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Archival Collections

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.

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Genealogy

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.

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CALS Bobby L. Roberts Library of Arkansas History & Art (including Mini-Main Library, 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:  

Mini-Main Library ~ Monday through Saturday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m

2nd Floor Research Room (Butler Center/UA Little Rock Center for Arkansas History and Culture)

    • Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

    • Saturday 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.

DIY Memory Lab & Recording Room (by appointment only)

Masks are recommended for those who have not been fully vaccinated. If you are feeling unwell or experiencing COVID-related symptoms, please use our online digital resources. (as of March 1, 2022)