Items

• Telegram from Lyndon B. Johnson to Fred C. Cole, June 2, 1964

  In this telegram from President Lyndon B. Johnson to Fred C. Cole, Johnson asks Cole to be a part of the Citizens Committee for Community Relations and Cole replies affirmatively. This committee was formed out of the 1964 Civil Rights Act.
• Series of Letters from Deans of Southern Law Schools

  In this series of letters, Washington and Lee Trustees and President Gaines correspond with Deans of other Southern Law Schools. Their goal is to align a group of schools to protest the Association of American Law Schools' policy on desegregation of admissions.
• Personal and Confidential Letter from Francis P. Gaines to James R. Caskie and Homer A. Holt (Februrary 28, 1956)

  In this letter, Washington and Lee President Francis P. Gaines writes to trustees James R. Caskie and Homer A. Holt about the possibility of black law students attending a convention at Washington and Lee. Caskie and Holt's responses are included.
• Memorandum from Frank A. Parsons to Fred C. Cole: Sequence of Developments in the Handling of the Admissions Announcement by the Press

  This memorandum outlines the process through which the story of the admissions decision went from an article in the Ring-Tum Phi to national news.
• Letter from the National Student Council of the YMCA to Francis P. Gaines (May 18, 1954)

  This letter is a follow-up to an April 13, 1954 letter from National Student Council of the YMCA secretary L. Maynard Catchings.�
• Letter from the National Student Council of the YMCA to Francis P. Gaines (April 13, 1954)

  This letter from YMCA secretary L. Maynard Catchings invites Washington and Lee President Gaines to call upon the services of the YMCA in desegregating the University. Gaines replies, stating that he will get in touch if assistance is desired.
• Letter from Roscoe B. Stephenson to Francis P. Gaines questioning John Chavis's connection to Washington and Lee (June 23, 1954)

  In this letter from Roscoe B. Stephenson to Washington and Lee President Francis P. Gaines, Stephenson asks Gaines to ascertain whether John Chavis was ever connected to Washington and Lee. Gaines's response is included.
• Letter from Rosalyn D. Thompson to John D. Wilson (June 3, 1986)

  In this letter, Washington and Lee Student Rosalyn D. Thompson asks President John D. Wilson for increased efforts in making the University better for Black students. Wilson responds in detail.
• Letter from Peter Lee to Christopher T. Chenery

  This letter from one Washington and Lee alumnus to trustee Christopher T. Chenery expresses concern in the institution's lack of integration.
• Letter from P. W. Turner to Francis P. Gaines (March 25, 1943)

  In this letter from P. W. Turner to President Francis P. Gaines, Turner asks about the presence of Black students at Washington and Lee.
• Letter from Mrs. E.M. Owen to the Board of Trustees (November 30, 1961)

  In this handwritten letter, a Mrs. E. M. Owen writes the Board of Trustees expressing her disdain at the possibility of Martin Luther King, Jr. speaking at Washington and Lee. She also urges the Trustees to examine the faculty and weed out the communists.
• Letter from J.D. Farrar to President Huntley (October 2, 1969)

  This letter from J.D. Farrar to President Robert Huntley outlines Washington and Lee's increased efforts to recruit Black students.
• Letter from J. Thompson Brown to Fred C. Cole (August 24, 1966)

  This letter from� J. Thompson Brown, chaplain of the Episcopalian church, applauds W&L's admission of two black students. Cole's reply is included.
• Letter from J. Morrison Hutcheson to Francis P. Gaines (March 18, 1954)

  This letter from Trustee J. Morrison Hutcheson to President Francis P. Gaines expresses Hutcheson's sentiment on desegregation.
• Letter from Homer A. Holt to Fred C. Cole (July 6, 1964)

  In this letter from Trustee Homer A. Holt to President Fred C. Cole, Holt agrees with Cole's acceptance of a position on Lyndon B. Johnson's Citizens' Committee for Community Relations.
• Letter from Homer A. Holt to Fred C. Cole (August 17, 1964)

  In this letter, trustee Homer A. Holt provides guidance on clarifying the admissions decision to President Fred C. Cole.
• Letter from George Mercke, Jr. and Charles D. Mercke to J. Morrison Hutcheson (July 7, 1964)

  This letter from two Washington and Lee Alumni (George and Charles Mercke) to Trustee Hutcheson expresses the alumni's disbelief at Washington and Lee considering integration.
• Letter from Fred C. Cole to J. Morrison Hutcheson (October 8, 1964)

  This letter from President Fred C. Cole to Trustee J. Morrison Hutcheson asks Morrison to approve a statement on the admissions policy for student Ring-Tum Phi reporters.
• Letter from Fred C. Cole to J. Morrison Hutcheson (October 21, 1964)

  In this letter, President Fred C. Cole asks Trustee J. Morrison Hutcheson to provide an interview explaining the admissions decision to the Ring-Tum Phi.
• Letter from Francis P. Gaines to James R. Caskie (February 10, 1943)

  In this letter from President Francis P. Gaines to Trustee James R. Caskie, Gaines and Caskie discuss the public's perception of the possibility of Black students being present on Washington and Lee's campus through the U.S. Army School.
• Letter from David F. Cavers to Francis P. Gaines (Februrary 4, 1955)

  In this letter, David F. Cavers (who is Chairman of the Special Committee on Racial Discriminination of the Association of American Law Schools) writes to Washington and Lee University President Francis P. Gaines, asking him to comply with the Association's recent action against racial discrimination.
• Letter from Clifton A. Woodrum to Francis P. Gaines (February 16, 1943)

  In this letter from U.S. Congressman and W&L Law Alumnus Clifton A. Woodrum to President Francis P. Gaines, Woodrum asks Gaines about three Black students sent to the Officers Training Corp at Washington and Lee.
• Letter from Barrett C. Shelton to Francis P. Gaines (March 17, 1943)

  In this letter with enclosed clipping from the Southern Watchman, Publisher Barrett C. Shelton asks President Francis P. Gaines about Black W&L graduates. Gaines responds.
• In Lee's Spirit

  This editorial in the November 11th, 1964 Washington Post describes Washington and Lee's desegregation as being something Lee would have wanted, providing a look at the rhetoric of the time.
• Headline for Admissions Story: "The Matter of Admissions....." (Draft)

  In this draft for an article for The Alumni Magazine, Frank Parsons provides a complete account of the discussions which led up to the Board of Trustees' Reaffirmation of Faculty Authority over Admissions Standards. This reaffirmation essentially desegregated Washington and Lee.