Richard C. Butler was born in Little Rock, Arkansas on January 1, 1910. He is the son of Mr. R.C. Butler, Sr. a prominent real estate agent, and Mrs. Edna Clok Butler. He attended the public schools in Little Rock, and in 1929 graduated from Little Rock Junior College – now UALR. In 1931, he graduated from the University of Arkansas Law School, and in 1933 was admitted to the bar. In 1981, Hendrix College awarded an honorary doctorate to Mr. Butler, and UALR followed suit in 1986. During World War II he served with the Army Air Corps in the China-Burma-India Theatre, eventually being promoted to Major.
Mr. Butler practiced law from 1933 to 1963 mainly as a partner in the House, Holmes, Butler, and Jewell law firm. In 1957, he served as special counsel for the Little Rock School Board during the controversial Little Rock School Integration Crisis. Upon his retirement from the law firm, he went on to a career in banking, serving as Chairman, and eventually senior chairman of Commercial National Bank until his retirement in 1981. He then served five years as chairman of People’s Savings and Loan Association. Throughout his career, Mr. Butler has always taken a major role in church, civic, and educational affairs in his community of Little Rock. He has helped such Little Rock organizations as the First Methodist Church, UALR, and the Boys Club. He is also noted for his horticultural activities.
He is married to the former Miss Gertrude Remmel, who is also very active in Little Rock civic affairs. They have one son, Richard C. Butler, Jr.
The bulk of the papers consist of printed materials and correspondence relating to the 1957 Little Rock School Integration Crisis Litigation. The collection contains some personal and business papers, and a few photographs. Only a few papers are dated prior to 1957 and after 1958.
NOTE: When requesting material, please specify collection number [M88-02], series number, box number, and file number.
Box 1
File 1 – Biographical and General Data
File 2 – Correspondence 1958 ‑ 1969
File 3 – Correspondence 1970-1984 and undated
File 4 – Service and Religious Organizations 1957-1971
File 5 – Service and Religious Organizations 1972-1981 and undated
File 6 – Horticultural Activities
File 7 – General Business Methods
File 8 – Rock Island Railroad Board, 1966
File 9 – Turnpike Proposal
File 10- Kinark Corp. Materials
File 11- 1957 Little Rock School Integration Crisis Litigation, 1956
File 12- 1957 Little Rock School Integration Crisis Litigation, 1957
File 13- 1957 Little Rock School Integration Crisis Litigation, Jan.-May 1958
File 14- 1957 Little Rock School Integration Crisis Litigation, June-July 1958
File 15- 1957 Little Rock School Integration Crisis Litigation, August 1958
File 16- 1957 Little Rock School Integration Crisis Litigation, September 1958
File 17- 1957 Little Rock School Integration Crisis Litigation, Nov.-Dec. 1958 and undated
File 18- 1957 Little Rock School Integration Crisis Litigation – Public Comments, May-August 1958
File 19- 1957 Little Rock School Integration Crisis Litigation – Public Comments, Sept. 1-15,1958
File 20- 1957 Little Rock School Integration Crisis Litigation – Public Comments, Sept. 16, 1958-1959
File 21- 1957 Little Rock School Integration Crisis Litigation – Newspaper Clippings, 1956-1958
File 22- 1957 Little Rock School Integration Crisis Litigation – Race Relations Materials
File 23- Photographs
Envelope 1 – Richard C. Butler, Jr. c.1967
Envelope 2 – Richard C. Butler, Jr. c.1967
Envelope 3 – Richard C. Butler, Jr. and Sr. c.1967
Envelope 4 – Richard C. Butler, Sr. c. 1969
Envelope 5 – Richard C. Butler, Sr. c. 1969
Envelope 6 – Unknown Person c.1970
Envelope 7 – Richard C. Butler, Sr. c. 1974
Envelope 8 – Richard C. Butler, Sr. c 1974
Envelope 9 – Richard C. Butler, Sr. c 1974
Envelope 10- Richard C. Butler, Sr. c 1974
Envelope 11- Richard C. Butler, Sr. c 1978
Envelope 12- Richard C. Butler, Sr. c 1958
Envelope 13- The Commercial National Bank c 1964
Envelope 14- The winners circle on race game, “The Little Rock Chambers of Commerce Purse”
Envelope 15- Formal Party L to R Herbert V. Peochnon, James H. Penick, Richard Butler and Bus Ottenbeciner (Names are difficult to read)
Envelope 16- Richard Butler 1970
Envelope 17- Richard Butler 1970
Envelope 18- November Board Meeting 1972
Envelope 19- Newbon and Winthrop Rockefeller
Envelope 20- Formal Party with Governor Bumper, Mr. Walter, Mr. Oliphant and Mr. Cook
Envelope 21- Publicity Photo from the group “The Bigwoods”, 1972
Envelope 22- Richard Butler Sr., Aqrian Williamson, E. Tucker, Bean Higgins, Ed Geers at the Heifer project International, 1977
End of Box 1
End of Collection