These photographs capture the controversial desegregation of Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1957. Nine black students who attempted to enter the school encountered a mob of 1,000 angry whites demonstrating in protest. Several weeks later, under armed federal escort, they were able to attend the school.

Major funding for this project is provided by the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Supported in part by a grant from the Open Society Institute.

Grade range: 6-12.

The Civil Rights Digital Library received support from a National Leadership Grant for Libraries awarded to the University of Georgia by the Institute of Museum and Library Services for the aggregation and enhancement of partner metadata.

The Teachers' Domain Civil Rights Collection is a collaborative production of WGBH Education Productions, the WGBH Media Library, and WGBH Interactive, in partnership with the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute and Washington University in St. Louis.

Girls escorted and nine escorted ©AP/Wide World Photos. Students seated on couch courtesy of the WGBH Digital Image Gallery. All other images ©Corbis.

Forms part of: Teacher's Domain Civil Right Special Collection.

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