From Archive to Novel: Bringing 1930s Arkansas to Life

Legacies & Lunch December 2026

Stephanie Saunders will discuss the historical research behind her novel Covered Buttons, set in the Arkansas Ozarks in 1939, bringing the intimate experiences of Arkansas women into a coming-of-age story about imagining a different future.

Stephanie Saunders will discuss the historical research behind her novel Covered Buttons, set in the Arkansas Ozarks in 1939. After the Great Depression, Hilda Cornish and other Little Rock women and community leaders worked to expand access to birth control amid poverty and restrictive social expectations. Drawing on historian Dr. Marianne Leung’s scholarship, historical newspapers, and firsthand letters from women seeking care, Saunders will explore how these sources shaped her portrayal of motherhood, friendship, and women’s empowerment. She will discuss the process of weaving archival research into fiction, bringing the intimate experiences of Arkansas women into a coming-of-age story about imagining a different future.

We are excited to offer a lunch including a sandwich, chips, a cookie, and a drink to in-person attendees in 2026, courtesy of the CALS Foundation. Meals are limited and will be offered on a first-come first-served basis. We cannot accommodate dietary restrictions or allergies, and registration does not guarantee lunch will be available. Registration is not required, but is recommended to help us in planning and event promotion.   

Stephanie Saunders is Associate Professor of Spanish and Director of Honors Fellows at Lyon College. She holds a Ph.D. in Hispanic Studies and is the author of Fashion, Gender and Agency in Latin American and Spanish Literature (2021) and co-editor of The New Latin American Fashion Reader (2025). Her scholarly work, published internationally, focuses on gender, identity and cultural expression—perspectives that inform her fiction. Her debut historical novel, Covered Buttons, was selected as a 2026 Arkansas Gem 2026 by the Arkansas Center for the Book at the Arkansas State Library.

About and Attendee Information 

Legacies and Lunch is a free monthly program of the CALS Butler Center for Arkansas Studies, focusing on Arkansas-related topics. This is a hybrid program offering participants the opportunity to attend either in person or virtually via Zoom. To participate in person, join us at the Darragh Center on the 5th floor of the CALS Main Library (with elevator access). Parking is available in the surface lot (accessible from 2nd St.) and the CALS parking deck (accessible from Rock Street). Parking will be validated. To participate virtually, register for the webinar using the button above.

ASL interpretation will be provided for this program. For any questions about the program please call 501.320.5726 or email Danielle Afsordeh.

This program will be live-streamed to YouTube, and the recording will be available immediately following the event.

Legacies & Lunch is a free monthly program of CALS Butler Center for Arkansas Studies about Arkansas-related topics.

Past Legacies & Lunch Events