Erin Fehr, archivist and assistant director of the Sequoyah National Research Center at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, will present, 鈥淎merican Indians in American Baseball,鈥� at noon on Wednesday, Nov. 5.

The lecture, which is free and open to the public, will take place at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Downtown, 333 President Clinton Ave. in Little Rock, and virtually via Zoom. Drinks and cookies will be provided. Those who would like to attend should to register.

American Indians were first introduced to the sport in off-reservation boarding schools. They later turned their new skills into a profession, playing in minor leagues across the country, including Arkansas. Immediately following World War I, the popularity of baseball surged, and the Little Rock Travelers and other small baseball teams in the state began employing several American Indian ball players.

鈥淲hen I stumbled upon this story a few years ago, I was pleasantly surprised,鈥� Fehr said. 鈥淰ery few people know that American Indians played baseball in Arkansas, and some even moved on to the major leagues.鈥�

Fehr’s presentation will highlight the key roles of players like William Wano (Potawatomi) and Moses Yellow Horse (Pawnee), who helped lead the Little Rock Travelers to victory as the Southern League Champions in 1920. Fehr will also explore how World War I impacted baseball and set the stage for this new era of professional players.

Fehr, who was born and raised in the Delta region of eastern Arkansas and celebrates her Yup鈥檌k heritage, enjoys presenting on topics that challenge the stereotypes of American Indians and Alaska Natives.

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Attendees are invited to bring their home movies to share and explore, while also enjoying a curated selection of home movies from the CAHC and Butler Center collections. The event is free and open to the public, and guests can enjoy complimentary popcorn and drinks while completing a Home Movie Day bingo card for a chance to win prizes.

Guests can look forward to clips that range from early footage of the Little Rock Zoo and family trips to Devil鈥檚 Den, to childhood home movies of Arkansas Gov. Winthrop Rockefeller and ordinary moments for everyday Arkansans like parades, birthday parties,聽gardening, and camping. The collection spans from the 1910s through the 1990s, offering a rare window into Arkansas history through the eyes of everyday people.

鈥淗ome movies tell us so much about the way the world was at particular points in time from the perspective of ordinary people,鈥� said Amanda McQueen, archivist and student coordinator at CAHC. 鈥淔or a long time, history was told only through the lives of great men and women. Home movies give us insight into the everyday lives of ordinary citizens and help create a bigger, more complete picture of the past.鈥�

Started by the nonprofit Center for Home Movies, Home Movie Day celebrates home movies and amateur films. McQueen, who holds a master鈥檚 degree in Moving Image Archiving and Preservation from New York University, said the event also raises awareness about the need to preserve personal media in the face of rapidly changing technology.

鈥淭hat clip you shot today on your iPhone is a home movie,鈥� McQueen said. 鈥淭he question is: What will happen to that file in 100 years if you don鈥檛 preserve it? People in the future won鈥檛 be able to see what life was like today.鈥�

At the event, trained archivists will be on hand to help attendees view personal media in formats such as 8mm and 16mm films, Betacam tapes, VHS tapes, and MiniDVD tapes. While digitization services will not be available on-site, guests will receive information about preservation and digitization resources, including the CALS DIY Memory Lab at the Roberts Library in downtown Little Rock. The is a free, self-service space where the public can digitize photographs, VHS and Beta tapes, audio cassettes, and other media.

McQueen hopes the event will inspire Arkansans to dig out their old tapes and reels.

鈥淚f you have these films tucked away in your attic or basement, now is the time to do something to preserve them,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hese movies are important records of our cultural and community heritage, and everyone鈥檚 story matters.鈥�

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His presentation, 鈥�,鈥� traced the rise, fall, and glory days of the university鈥檚 first collegiate sports team.

鈥淭hey went from pretenders to contenders to champions,鈥� Wethington told the audience. 鈥淭his team laid the foundation for the university鈥檚 entire athletics program.鈥�

The team began in 1930, part of a nationwide boom in college football popularity during the sport鈥檚 so-called 鈥淕olden Age.鈥� Although the early years were rocky鈥攚ith four head coaches in the first season alone and a record of 7-22-5 during the initial five-year run鈥攖he team left its mark. Students even chose 鈥淭rojans鈥� as the team鈥檚 mascot, which continues today.

After the team first disbanded in 1935, the junior college turned to intramural sports and offered students options like fencing, tennis, golf, swimming, rifle shooting, and boxing. However, students voiced disappointment over the lack of collegiate spirit on campus without a formal athletics program.

It wasn鈥檛 until 1947 that Little Rock Junior College President John Larson and Coach Jimmy Karam revived the program. Karam championed player scholarships, housing, and meal stipends for student-athletes and recruited players from rural Arkansas, even going so far as to build goalposts from wood to train athletes when regular football equipment was not available.

The team鈥檚 post-war comeback was extraordinary. In 1947, they earned their first winning season and played in the Coffee Bowl, winning their first bowl appearance 31-7. In 1948, they won seven games and made their second bowl appearance against South Georgia Junior College in the Junior Sugar Bowl, losing 18-7. By 1949, the Trojans were undefeated and headed to Pasadena, California, to face Santa Ana Junior College in the Junior Rose Bowl. The Trojans won 25鈥�19 in front of a national audience.

鈥淚t was a monumental occasion for our college,鈥� Wethington said. 鈥淚 think the Junior College Rose Bowl win is one of the crowning achievements of our institution鈥檚 athletics history.鈥�

The football program eventually folded after the 1955 season due to financial concerns. Yet its legacy lives on. The team鈥檚 trophies are displayed in the Bailey Alumni and Friends Center, and its influence is still felt throughout the university鈥檚 current athletics program. In 2006, the 1949 team was inducted into the Little Rock Trojan Athletic Hall of Fame.

鈥淲ithout football, I don鈥檛 know where our athletics program would be,鈥� Wethington said. 鈥淲e are Little Rock鈥檚 team, and we can be a team the city is proud of.鈥�

The event, hosted by the Central Arkansas Library System, attracted attendees including the daughter and granddaughter of Woody Johnson, who was the last head football coach from 1953 to 1955.

Wethington has been researching LRJC football history since 2022 and first presented on the topic at the Arkansas Historical Association鈥檚 annual conference in 2024. His work draws from university photograph collections in Ottenheimer Library, archived yearbooks, historical newspapers, and 鈥淭he People鈥檚 College, Little Rock Junior College and Little Rock University, 1927-1969,鈥� a 1987 book by Jim Lester chronicling the early history of 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock. He plans to publish his research in the Pulaski County Historical Review to further spotlight the university鈥檚 early sports history.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a unique bookmark in the history of the university,鈥� Wethington said. 鈥淎 hidden gem that deserves to be remembered.鈥�

You can find a recording of the .

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The talk, 鈥淐hasing Glory: The Story of Little Rock Junior College Football,鈥� will take place at noon on Wednesday, July 2, at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Downtown, 300 President Clinton Ave., Little Rock.

The program, part of the Central Arkansas Library System鈥檚 monthly Legacies & Lunch series, will explore the history of the Little Rock Junior College (LRJC) football team, the university鈥檚 first collegiate sports program. Established in 1930 and disbanded in 1955, the team had a brief but remarkable run, including multiple bowl appearances and a celebrated victory in the Junior Rose Bowl in 1949.

鈥淚 think the Junior Rose Bowl win is one of the crowning achievements of our institution鈥檚 athletics history,鈥� Wethington said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 fascinating that this team went undefeated in 1949 and beat a California team on the road. That鈥檚 what I consider our first national title. It built a lot of excitement around the football program.鈥�

Wethington began researching the LRJC football team when he started working at the CAHC in 2022 and first presented on the topic at the Arkansas Historical Association鈥檚 annual conference in 2024. His work draws from university photograph collections in Ottenheimer Library, archived yearbooks, historical newspapers, and 鈥淭he People鈥檚 College, Little Rock Junior College and Little Rock University, 1927-1969,鈥� a 1987 book by Jim Lester chronicling the early history of 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock.

鈥淢y talk will give a brief overview of the program鈥檚 history and highlight its post-World War II 鈥榞lory years,鈥欌�� Wethington said. 鈥淎rkansas is a football-oriented state, and it鈥檚 a fabulous opportunity to talk about what was going on in Arkansas football in the 1930s, 40s, and 50s. It鈥檚 one of those hidden gems in our history that few people know about. It鈥檚 a unique bookmark in the history of the university.鈥�

The team was first active from 1930 to 1935 and played home games at Little Rock Central High School鈥檚 stadium. It was revived in 1947 and began playing at War Memorial Stadium after it opened in 1948. The program saw early success, making four bowl appearances and energizing campus life. However, by 1955, it was cut, along with other athletic programs, due to concerns that sports interfered with students鈥� academic experiences.

鈥淚t鈥檚 especially interesting because athletics are now considered a key part of the student experience,鈥� Wethington said.

Wethington hopes his presentation will entertain and spark more interest in 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 early history and athletic programs. He plans to publish his research in the Pulaski County Historical Review.

Legacies & Lunch is free and open to the public. Guests can attend in person at the new location, 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Downtown, or virtually via Zoom. Drinks and cookies will be provided; guests are welcome to bring their own lunch. Registration is through CALS.

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The CAHC was awarded the Outstanding Achievement in Preservation Education Award on Jan. 31 at the annual Arkansas Preservation Awards dinner at the Robinson Center in Little Rock.

The award celebrates significant contributions to historic preservation in Arkansas through educational initiatives. It was presented in honor of the , an effort launched in October following six years of collaborative work by more than 50 individuals.

鈥溙切腣log传媒 Little Rock’s Mapping Little Rock History Digital Humanities Project is enhancing our knowledge of the capital city’s growth and development using a wide variety of media types from multiple sources, all geolocated on maps to make it easier for people to understand our history in time and space,鈥� said Rachel Patton, executive director of Preserve Arkansas. 鈥淚 am a map nerd, so I was thrilled to see the collection organized in this way! And every teacher should know about the lesson plans – what a valuable teaching tool for educators and our next generation of Arkansas historians!鈥�

The annual awards are organized by Preserve Arkansas, a nonprofit dedicated to protecting and rehabilitating historic places that hold cultural and historical significance across the state.

鈥淲e are very grateful to Preserve Arkansas for this award, which highlights the impact and quality of the project,鈥� said Dr. Jess Porter, director of the Center for Arkansas History and Culture. 鈥淭his project reflects the dedication of an amazing team at the center, along with private partners who brought this vision to life. There鈥檚 nothing else like it in Little Rock. It鈥檚 one of the best resources for learning about the city鈥檚 history.鈥�

Funded by two National Endowment for the Humanities grants totaling more than $375,000, the Mapping Little Rock History Project provides an immersive platform to explore the city鈥檚 historical growth and transformation.

The interactive website offers access to a vast collection of historical documents, photographs, maps, and multimedia content from 1880 to 2014. It is a valuable resource for students, educators, historians, urban planners, architects, engineers, and community members seeking to understand Little Rock鈥檚 evolution better.

鈥淭his project is versatile and accessible,鈥� Porter said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 useful for everyone鈥攆rom students writing a master鈥檚 thesis and teachers designing classroom assignments to architects researching original building plans and community members exploring local history. The project has improved accessibility to countless records, as everything is now available online. Any Little Rocker, Arkansan, or history enthusiast anywhere can read documents like the 1975 board minutes from the Little Rock School District, along with thousands of other historic records.鈥�

The project was made possible through partnerships with several organizations. Key collaborators include Few, the Arkansas Economic Development Institute, and the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock CRUX Lab, which helped develop the website. Archival materials were contributed by the City of Little Rock, the Central Arkansas Library System Butler Center for Arkansas Studies, and the Central High School National Historic Site.

鈥淭his recognition reflects the hard work of many individuals and organizations passionate about preserving and sharing Little Rock鈥檚 rich history,鈥� Porter said. 鈥淲e are excited to see how this resource continues to educate and inspire.鈥�

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Nearly 40 people participated in the event, held on the first floor of Ottenheimer Library, which provided refreshments. Participants made personalized cards for their friends and loved ones while also creating messages of encouragement for teens supported by Immerse Arkansas, a nonprofit established in 2008 as a response to the needs and obstacles of kids aging out of foster care.

鈥淲e are out here with a card-making station where students can make Valentine鈥檚 Day cards and also raise awareness that people can sign up for a CALS library card, and that our events are free,鈥� said Megan Trout, an adult programmer with Fletcher Library. 鈥淲e like to take the opportunity to get out and hang out with people in the community.鈥�

The event drew students looking to create something special for their loved ones. Lillian Scott, a counseling student at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, made a card for her sister鈥檚 birthday, which falls on Valentine鈥檚 Day.

鈥淭hey offer access to creative materials, and I like the fact that you have all these great items to use on your cards,鈥� Scott said.

Others took the opportunity to celebrate friendships and enjoy a creative break from their studies. Madison Giles, a freshman biology major, crafted Valentines for her little sister, boyfriend, and close friend. She convinced her friend Jahzeel Lopez, a freshman radiology major, to join in the fun.

鈥淚鈥檓 making Valentines for my friend because I asked her to be my friend Valentine,鈥� Lopez said, noting that Feb. 13 is also known as Galentine鈥檚 Day, a holiday that celebrates women鈥檚 friendship. 鈥淚 also like making things and like arts and crafts. I love to do this as a hobby.鈥�

Beyond personal messages, the event had a larger purpose. Students created extra cards to donate to Immerse Arkansas.

鈥淎ny extra Valentines we have we will take to Immerse Arkansas,鈥� said Chloe Kilcrease, a community resource specialist at CALS. 鈥淭he big population I work with as a community resource specialist is the unsheltered population. I thought it would be fun to give some extra love to the youth by bringing them Valentines.鈥�

Scott was among those who made a card for young people at Immerse Arkansas, recognizing the impact of small acts of kindness.

鈥淚 think it鈥檚 always important to help out others who don鈥檛 have access to everything,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 think they will appreciate the little things like a Valentine鈥檚 Day card.鈥�

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Drawing upon her expertise in information curation, Jenna Eastwood, assistant professor and teaching and learning librarian, has compiled a wealth of online resources, ranging from scientific articles and educational videos to interactive websites, providing accessible avenues for individuals to delve into the science and wonder of solar eclipses.

鈥淚 focused on open-access resources so almost all of these resources should be accessible to anyone, regardless of if they are on campus,鈥� Eastwood said. 鈥淭here are scholarly articles about eclipses as well as medical websites about how to safely view the solar eclipse. There is also a documentary about a photographer who chases solar eclipses around the world. I covered many different areas because solar eclipses are so impactful.鈥�

The variety of topics on the list include resources about the history of solar eclipses, an eclipse鈥檚 impact on animals, art, astronomy, and resources for K-12 students and teachers. Some of the resources that Eastwood thinks people will find the most interesting include:

• Encyclopedia of Arkansas articles detailing the history of
• 鈥溾�� 鈥� A documentary about Geoff Sims, a professional photographer and astronomer who has captured eclipses on many continents

Eastwood will also be on hand during 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 solar eclipse celebration on April 8 to give people advice on how to find great resources and information about solar eclipses.

鈥淚 would encourage people to see what kind of information they can find on the solar eclipse,鈥� Eastwood said. 鈥淚t really does impact so much of the world that there is a lot of interesting information and research that has been done with solar eclipses.鈥�

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Maria 鈥淢ayca鈥� Alvarez is graduating this semester with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in world languages with a concentration in Spanish and a passion for helping students prepare and succeed in college.

鈥淕raduating feels like reaching the summit of a challenging mountain climb,鈥� Alvarez said. 鈥淲hen I started, there were moments of doubt, akin to the vertigo experienced when contemplating how long the journey to graduation would be. Now, I can express gratitude for not giving up and successfully reaching this milestone.鈥�

A native of Vigo, Spain, Alvarez moved to Arkansas in 2003 with her family. She started college at the University of Arkansas-Pulaski Technical College and transferred to 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock in 2021. Along the way, she has gained valuable experience through an internship with the Central Arkansas Library System.

鈥淭his experience has been excellent, primarily focused on programs celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month,鈥� Alvarez said. 鈥淭his opportunity has allowed me to gain a deeper understanding of the library system and discover the diverse range of activities they offer.鈥�

鈥淪panish majors at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock complete internships to help prepare them for the workplace,鈥� said Dr. Edma Delgado-Sol贸rzano, assistant professor of Spanish. 鈥淢ayca completed her internship with Hispanic Community Liaison Mar铆a Aguilar with the Central Arkansas Library System. She learned how to plan and deliver public programs and how to improve community outreach projects.鈥�

She credits two people for their significant roles in helping her complete her college education.

鈥淪andra Carmona Jobe stands out,鈥� Alvarez said. 鈥淪he opened the door to higher education for me, providing the encouragement I needed when I doubted myself. Additionally, Professor Edma Delgado-Sol贸rzano has been a mentor during my time at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, offering guidance and encouragement that has played a significant role in my journey to graduation.鈥�

Alvarez also had the unique experience of attending 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock at the same time as her youngest son, Alejandro Alvarez-Barreiro, who will graduate next year with bachelor鈥檚 degrees in mechanical engineering technology and world languages-Spanish, just like his mom. Alvarez-Barreiro is a music minor who plays percussion instruments, and Alvarez said her favorite times at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock have been watching her son play in university concerts.

鈥淚t鈥檚 been a joy to witness the talent and dedication showcased in these performances and to share those experiences with my son,鈥� she said.

Helping Students Find the Path to College

When her oldest son entered high school in 2015 and started thinking about college, Alvarez realized that she has little knowledge about the higher education system in the U.S.

鈥淭his led me to do research and connect with other women facing similar concerns about their children鈥檚 educational futures,鈥� Alvarez said. 鈥淲e started meeting together to share information, and we thought that information would be helpful for other families. The first time we had a community meeting was in January 2018. It was a cold, rainy night, and more than 100 people showed up that day. We realized that people needed help, and that is when Mam谩s Unidas started.鈥�

Alvarez is a co-founder and president of Mam谩s Unidas (United Moms for Education) Little Rock, a nonprofit organization which provides first-generation Latino students and their families guidance on attaining post-secondary education through workshops, career counseling, college entrance exam preparation, and career fairs.

糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock faculty and staff have been a great support to Mam谩s Unidas over the years, Alvarez said. Professors have collaborated with the organization to provide math and writing workshops and college exam preparation classes.

Since 2020, Alvarez also worked as a part-time project assistant for the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock TRIO programs, where she helped provide comprehensive support to high school students and adults seeking higher education opportunities. After graduation, she will work full-time for TRIO continuing her work of expanding the educational opportunities for first-generation and non-traditional students.

鈥淚 am eager to contribute to their educational journeys and help them achieve their goals,鈥� she said.

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糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Downtown, located at 333 President Clinton Ave., will be open from 5-8 p.m. Dec. 8.

The event, held in partnership with the Central Arkansas Library System, will feature photos with Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus, cookies provided by Dempsey Bakery, hot cocoa, coloring with the Arkansas Humanities Council鈥檚 mascot Hugh Manatee, and caroling by members of the Wilbur D. Mills University Studies Choir beginning at 6 p.m.

Other locations participating in Second Friday Art Night include: Downtown Little Rock Partnership, Bella Vita Jewelry, Old State House Museum, Historic Arkansas Museum, Nexus Coffee & Creative, and Sergio Valdivia Art as well as Central Arkansas Library System through the Bookstore at Library Square and the Galleries at Library Square.

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The exhibition, 鈥淪usan Chambers: Through the Garden,鈥� will run Sept. 11 through Oct. 6. The exhibition, which is free and open to the public, will be on display in the Focus Gallery in the Windgate Center of Art and Design. A reception will be held from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 14, in the Windgate Center.

Chambers has become well known for her bold, colorful paintings featuring garden scenes.

“The garden is the place that I go to create,鈥� Chambers said in her artist statement. 鈥淭he garden is the subject matter that I have explored for many years, and it is also a metaphor that continues to nurture my personal vision.”

Chambers earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree in art from Rhodes College in 1974 and a Master of Fine Arts in painting from the University of Georgia at Athens in 1979. Her professional experiences in the arts have included residencies for the Arkansas Arts Council and adjunct positions at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, University of Central Arkansas, and Hendrix College.

Having been exhibited nationally and regionally, Chambers鈥� work is in public and corporate collections including Carillon Importers (Absolut), Central Arkansas Library System, University of Arkansas Medical System, Southeast Arkansas Arts and Science Center, and Systematics. She and her husband George live in the Quapaw Quarter historic district, where we operate Chambers Studio.

The 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Art Galleries in the Windgate Center are open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. 鈥� 1 p.m. Saturday, and 2-5 p.m. Sunday.

For more information, contact Nathan Larson, interim art gallery director and curator, at 501-916-5104 or nglarson@ualr.edu.

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