Description Rules: Describing Archives: A Content Standard 2019.0.3
Summary Information
Repository: University of Central Arkansas, Torreyson Library, Archives and Special Collections
Creator: Butler, Richard C. (Person)
Title: Richard C. Butler collection
ID: M88-02
Dates Bulk: 1957-1978
Dates Inclusive: 1957-1958
Physical Extent: 1 box (0.417 Linear feet: 1 Full Hollinger)
Language of the Material: English
Preferred Citation: (Bibliographic) Richard C. Butler collection, M88-02, University of Central Arkansas Archives and Special Collections, Conway, Arkansas.
(Footnote/Endnote info) Description of item, File or Item number, Box number, Series number, Subseries number, Richard C. Butler collection, M88-02.
Biographical Note:
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. (Butler, technically Richard Butler, Jr. referred to himself as “senior” after his father died). He attended the public schools in Little Rock, and in 1929 graduated from Little Rock Junior College – now the University of Arkansas Little Rock (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 Theater, 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 always took a major role in church, civic, and educational affairs in his community of Little Rock. He helped such Little Rock organizations as the First Methodist Church, UALR, and the Boys Club. He was also noted for his horticultural activities.
He was married to the former Miss Gertrude Remmel, who was also very active in Little Rock civic affairs. They had one son, Richard C. Butler, III.
Scope and Contents Note:
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.
Arrangement:
This collection has no series or subseries.
Administrative Information
Publication Statement: University of Central Arkansas Archives and Special Collections
UCA Archives
Torreyson Library
201 Donaghey Avenue
Conway, AR 72035
Phone: (501) 450-3418
Access Information: Please call (501) 450-3418 or email archives@uca.edu prior to your visit to ensure availability of records.
Conditions Governing Use: This collection is open for research use.
Processing Information: Donated on March 3, 1988 under direction of Tom W. Dillard. The finding aid was edited in 2025 by Allexys Lamb, with assistance from Shelbea Gentry.
Immediate Source of Acquisition: Butler, Sr., R.C. (Donor, Person)
Related Archival Material:
Erwin L. McDonald Collection: M93-07
Osro Cobb Collection: M96-11
Della Tyson Collection: M10-01
Oral Histories: Teachers of the Lost Year
Unprocessed Oral Histories: Students of the Lost Year
UCA Archives Small Manuscript Collection
UCA Archives Pamphlet Collection
Central Arkansas Library System: Desegregation of Central High School
Central Arkansas Library System: Lost Year
Central Arkansas Library System: Words That Matter–Voices of Civil Rights: The 1st Day at Central High (September 4th, 1957)
Note: The “Walking Tour” contains harmful language that is not supported or endorsed by the UCA Archives.
Controlled Access Headings:
Arkansas—Capital and capitol
Arkansas—Politics and government—1951-
Arkansas. Department of Education. Arkansas education directory
Banks and Banking
Blossom, Virgil T. (Person)
Branton, Wiley A. (Person)
Butler, Gertrude Remmel (Person)
Butler, Sr., Richard C. (Person)
Butler, Jr., Richard C. (Person)
Commercial National Bank
Courts
Educational law and legislation—Arkansas
Educational law and legislation—United States—History
Education—Arkansas
Faubus, Orval (Person)
Federal-state controversies
Governors—United States
Horticulture
House, A.F. (Person)
House, Holmes, Butler, and Jewell Law Firm
Kinark Corporation
Kin-Ark Oil Corporation
Law firms—United States
Lawyer
Little Rock Central High School National Historical Site (Little Rock, Ark.)
People’s Savings and Loan Association
Rockefeller, Nelson (Person)
Rockefeller, Winthrop (Person)
School boards
School board members
School buildings—Law and legislation—United States
School integration—Arkansas—Little Rock—History—20th century
Collection Inventory
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 January-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 November- December 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 September 1, 1958 – September 15, 1958
- File 20 – 1957 Little Rock School Integration Crisis Litigation Public Comments September 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 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