Press Photos of 2 Historic Desegregation Cases -- Little Rock Central High School and University of Alabama

[African American], Desegregation

Original Photo

[African American] [Education] 2 original press photographs related to integrating Little Rock Central High School and the University of Alabama. n.d. [1957], 1965. Silver gelatin print photographs, 8 x 10”. Both images include original, typed press captions printed in image margins. Little Rock photo shows NAACP leaders including Daisy Bates reacting to positive court news. Original press caption (in part): “Negro Leaders Happy with Court Decision — Mrs. Daisy Bates, left, president of Arkansas chapter of the NAACP, and Clarence Laws, field secretary, seem to be well satisfied with the ruling handed down today by the Supreme Court in which Little Rock’s Central High School shall carry on immediate integration. The school is scheduled to open next Monday.” Bates was an important figure in integrating schools, and she hand-selected student (called the Little Rock Nine) who first integrated Central HS in 1957.

Vivian Malone (Jones) was the first Black student to graduate from University of Alabama on May 30, 1965. In the photograph, she wears graduation cap and gown and smiles confidently at the viewer. Original press caption printed along right edge of image (in part): “Vivian Malone is shown in her cap and gown that she will wear at the University of Alabama graduation May 30.” Malone was one of the first two African American students at the University in 1963. Malone earned her first bachelor’s degree at Alabama A&M, a historically black university, but the school lost its accreditation after she graduated. To get an accredited degree, Malone applied to the University of Alabama’s School of Commerce and Business Administration and won a lawsuit over the segregationist admission policies. Then-governor George Wallace turned this event into a national event when he blocked the judge’s ruling and declared his famous slogan “Segregation Now, Segregation Forever.” National Guard troops were brought in to ensure Malone could attend the University. Little Rock photo has light creases along top edge and bottom right corner, not affecting image. Both in very good condition.

Item #17132

Price: $285.00