Time Capsule

Published: April 9, 2011

Click on a headline below to read stories from Arkansas Catholic's special 33-part series on history mined from the first 100 years of Arkansas Catholic and its predecessors.

Bishop Anthony B. Taylor chosen for Catholics in Arkansas: 2008-2010
The Diocese of Little Rock gained a new shepherd during 2008 when Father Anthony B. Taylor of Oklahoma City was named bishop for the state.

Bishop Sartain leaves Arkansas; Catholics mourn a pope: 2004-2007
Arkansas Catholics mourned the loss of a pope and their bishop, while extending a welcome to hurricane refugees.

Clergy sexual abuse scandal emerges as top story in 2002: 2001-2003
The biggest story of 2002 was the clergy sexual abuse scandal.

Bishop retires after 27 years, new leader comes from Memphis: 1998-2000
The Diocese of Little Rock experienced more transitions in 1998 to 2000.

Catholic population grows as Hispanics come to Arkansas: 1995-1997
The Diocese of Little Rock continued to embrace diversity and spirituality in 1995-1997 by serving refugees, the burgeoning Hispanic population and the growing number of Catholics in the state.

Diocese of Little Rock celebrates sesquicentennial in 1993: 1992-1994
The Diocese of Little Rock passed a milestone in its history as it turned 150 in 1993, and it looked to stop the growing number of Hispanics leaving the Church.

Arkansans work on outreach to minorities in the Church: 1989-1991
The growing diversity of Arkansas Catholics posed challenges in bringing Catholics together for worship in 1989-1991 and how to prevent discrimination in the state.

Newspaper changes from The Guardian to Arkansas Catholic: 1986-1988
Arkansas Catholics worked on spirituality, life and social justice issues in their parishes in a time that also saw the debut of Arkansas Catholic.

Peace and justice promoted, led by Father Joseph Biltz: 1983-1985
Peace and justice issues came to the forefront in 1983 to 1985.

Mother Teresa comes to Little Rock, first deacons serve: 1980-1982
Cuban refugees living at Fort Chaffee, the visit of Mother Teresa, the diocese’s first diaconate ordination and the growth of Little Rock Scripture Study were highlights from the early 1980s.

In 1978 world surprised with death of two popes, election of Pole: 1977-1979
Pro-life issues continued to be highlighted on the pages of The Guardian in 1977 and 1978.

Diocese of Little Rock welcomes refugees and supports life: 1974-1976
Arkansas Catholics opened their hearts to Vietnamese refugees at Fort Chaffee, imitating the pope's call for peace through supporting life.

Bishop McDonald comes to lead Arkansas, protect unborn: 1971-1973
The tragedy of abortion took center stage during 1971-1973, while Arkansas Catholics received a new leader to guide them.

Arkansas adapts to new Mass, other changes, prays for peace: 1968-1970
Peace, violence, birth control, abortion and a changing society were news of the day for Arkansas Catholics between 1968 and 1970.

Second Vatican Council closes; Bishop Fletcher explains documents: 1965-1967
The focus of the world on modernity took center stage in the 1965-1967 issues of The Guardian with closing of the Second Vatican Council and Pope Paul VI's call for peace and morality.

Vatican Council II draws weekly reports from Bishop Fletcher: 1962-1964
The Second Vatican Council captivated top coverage before it convened in 1962 and throughout the three sessions held during 1962-64.

Guardian offers spiritual, practical solutions to race relations: 1959-1961
Following the 1957 crisis at Central High School in Little Rock, race relations continued to be a topic of articles and editorials in The Guardian.

1957 editorial blames 'scare headlines' for Central High crisis:1956-58
Articles on school issues became more prominent in The Guardian in 1956 to 1958.

The Guardian expands, St. Vincent moves in: 1953-1955
As The Guardian began to take on a more modern appearance in the 1950s, changes included more photos and investment in a new press to double the number of pages that could be printed each week.

1950 Holy Year brings Bishop Fletcher, four million to Rome: 1950-1952
Bishop Fletcher and 17 Arkansans made a pilgrimage to Rome in June and July 1950 for the Holy Year.

First Arkansan installed as bishop, a testament to diocesan growth: 1947-1949
Bishop Albert Louis Fletcher was installed as the bishop of Little Rock on Feb. 11, 1947, four months following the death of longtime bishop John B. Morris.

Longest-serving bishop dies at age 80; Arkansan appointed: 1944-1946
The death of Bishop John B. Morris and the appointment of Arkansas' first native-born bishop were momentous events reported from 1944-1946 in The Guardian.

U.S. is drawn into war as diocese prepares for its centennial: 1941-1943
The years of 1941-1943 saw war coverage dominate The Guardian with first the European war and then Japan's attack on America.

First Arkansan ordained a bishop while Europe goes to war: 1938-1940
Catholics in Arkansas during 1938-1940 continued to grow their communities and work among their Protestant neighbors, all the while Europe again careened into war.

Communism, Nazi oppression top news reports: 1935-1937
Arkansans saw a growing church and less discrimination in 1935-1937, but The Guardian continued to report that overseas trouble was brewing for Catholics and the Church.

Birth control, Hitler were popular newspaper topics: 1932-1934
Marriage, divorce and birth control were common subjects of stories in The Guardian in 1932 to 1934.

Era of Pope Pius XI as 'prisoner in the Vatican' ends in 1929: 1929-1931
One of the most important events in the history of the Vatican and Italy occurred on Feb. 11, 1929.

News focused on growing persecution of Catholics in Mexico: 1926-1928
Each issue of The Guardian in 1926 to 1928 followed in detail the religious persecution in Mexico.

Early career of Father Fletcher reported: 1923-1925
In the 1920s The Guardian, the weekly newspaper under the leadership of Father George McDermott, was challenging to read by today's standards.

Prohibition, parochial schools often mentioned: 1920-1922
With the end of the war, The Guardian entered into a celebratory and more hopeful time, continuing to publish an eight-page broadsheet paper weekly with editor-in-chief Father Augustine Stocker, OSB., who continued to serve as Subiaco prior.

The Guardian joyfully proclaims peace in issues of 1919: 1917-1919
The Guardian ushered in the years of 1917-1919 still publishing eight broadsheet pages a week under the editorial guidance of Subiaco prior Father Augustine Stocker, OSB.

Pope's death, war commentary fill pages of The Guardian: 1914-1916
The Southern Guardian continued as a weekly eight-page broadsheet newspaper during the years of 1914-1916 under the supervision of Father Augustine Stocker, OSB, who worked out of Subiaco Abbey in Logan County.

Pastors fight anti-Catholicism in a Protestant state: 1911-1913
The Southern Guardian debuted as an eight-page broadsheet newspaper on Saturday, March 25, 1911, under the leadership of editor Msgr. J.M. Lucey.

These stories were published beginning April 9, 2011.

On March 25, 2011,the Arkansas Catholic celebrated A century of faith in news. Thanks to donors in Arkansas Catholic's Guardian Angels campaign, the entire year of issues from 1911 was preserved in time for the anniversary. As donations come in, additional years are being scanned and indexed. Click here to see searchable digital archives of The Guardian for 1911-1926 and 1945.