Brown versus Board of Education

Title:
Brown versus Board of Education
Years:
1954
Description:
The U.S. Supreme Court's ruling in Brown v. Board of Education was a watershed event in the history of the United States. The landmark ruling had it roots in Topeka, Kansas, in 1951 when, Oliver Brown, an African American minister and welder, called upon the local branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) for legal assistance after the city's school board refused to enroll his daughter in an all-white school. The class action lawsuit, filed by Brown and nearly twenty others, ended in the U.S. District Court's ruling in favor of the Board of Education. Undaunted, Thurgood Marshall, chief council for the NAACP, appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court to hear Brown v. Board of Education, as well as four similar cases challenging the segregation of public schools in Virginia, South Carolina, Delaware and Washington, D.C. Proceedings for the cases began on December 9, 1952. After several delays and a rehearing in December of 1953, the Supreme Court finally reached a unanimous decision on May 17, 1954, when it ruled that the segregation of public school systems was unconstitutional. The decision, however, failed to address any means for enforcement or provide timetables for states to integrate their schools. In 1955, the Supreme Court issued an additional edict, which instructed states to begin the process of desegregation "with all deliberate speed."
Archival Collections And Reference Resources:

66 items in 16 collections (expand all)

Interview with Eric Tachau and Mary Tachau, November 11, 1989

Creator:
Tachau, Eric, 1924-2002
Date of Original:
1989-11-11
Collection:
Anne Braden Oral History Project
Contributing Institution:
University of Kentucky

Brown I and Brown II

Creator:
Library of Congress
Virginia. Dept. of Historic Resources
Richmond Times-Dispatch
Date of Original:
2004
Collection:
Civil Rights Movement in Virginia : An Exhibition on Display February 7 - June 19, 2004
Contributing Institution:
Virginia Historical Society

Brown v. Topeka Board of Education

Creator:
Warren, Earl, 1891-1974
Date of Original:
1954
Collection:
Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History: The Collection
Contributing Institution:
Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History

Oral history interview with Abraham Peeler

Creator:
Peeler, Abraham, 1904-1991
Date of Original:
1988-10-05
Collection:
Greensboro Voices: Voicing Observations in Civil Rights and Equality struggles
Contributing Institution:
Greensboro Public Library (Greensboro, N.C.)

Oral history interview with Angeline and S. C. Smith (Part 1)

Creator:
Smith, Angeline D.
Date of Original:
1989-09-28
Collection:
Greensboro Voices: Voicing Observations in Civil Rights and Equality struggles
Contributing Institution:
Greensboro Public Library (Greensboro, N.C.)

Oral history interview with David Helberg

Creator:
Helberg, David T., 1917-2006
Date of Original:
1989-04-12
Collection:
Greensboro Voices: Voicing Observations in Civil Rights and Equality struggles
Contributing Institution:
Greensboro Public Library (Greensboro, N.C.)

Oral history interview with Howard Holderness

Creator:
Holderness, Howard, 1902-1992
Date of Original:
1982-08-13
Collection:
Greensboro Voices: Voicing Observations in Civil Rights and Equality struggles
Contributing Institution:
Greensboro Public Library (Greensboro, N.C.)

Oral history interview with John R. Foster

Creator:
Foster, John R., 1911-1981
Date of Original:
1978-07-26
Collection:
Greensboro Voices: Voicing Observations in Civil Rights and Equality struggles
Contributing Institution:
Greensboro Public Library (Greensboro, N.C.)

Oral history interview with Owen Lewis (Part 1)

Creator:
Lewis, Owen D., 1925-2007
Date of Original:
1988-11-21
Collection:
Greensboro Voices: Voicing Observations in Civil Rights and Equality struggles
Contributing Institution:
Greensboro Public Library (Greensboro, N.C.)

Roy V. Harris (1895-1985)

Creator:
Huff, Christopher Allen
Date of Original:
2007-06-28
Collection:
New Georgia Encyclopedia
Contributing Institution:
New Georgia Encyclopedia (Project)

"Segregation Research Report" prepared by law clerks

Date of Original:
1954
Collection:
Papers of Justice Tom C. Clark: Civil Liberties and Civil Rights Cases of the U.S. Supreme Court
Contributing Institution:
Tarlton Law Library

Docket sheet for Brown case

Date of Original:
1954
Collection:
Papers of Justice Tom C. Clark: Civil Liberties and Civil Rights Cases of the U.S. Supreme Court
Contributing Institution:
Tarlton Law Library

Draft of per curium opinion concerning State of Kansas' failure to defend

Date of Original:
1954
Collection:
Papers of Justice Tom C. Clark: Civil Liberties and Civil Rights Cases of the U.S. Supreme Court
Contributing Institution:
Tarlton Law Library

Justice Clark's handwritten notes from oral argument

Creator:
Clark, Tom C. (Tom Campbell), 1899-1977
Date of Original:
1954
Collection:
Papers of Justice Tom C. Clark: Civil Liberties and Civil Rights Cases of the U.S. Supreme Court
Contributing Institution:
Tarlton Law Library

Law clerk's recommendations for segregation decree

Date of Original:
1954
Collection:
Papers of Justice Tom C. Clark: Civil Liberties and Civil Rights Cases of the U.S. Supreme Court
Contributing Institution:
Tarlton Law Library

Memorandum from Justice Frankfurter regarding "The Segregation Cases"

Creator:
Frankfurter, Felix, 1882-1965
Date of Original:
1954
Collection:
Papers of Justice Tom C. Clark: Civil Liberties and Civil Rights Cases of the U.S. Supreme Court
Contributing Institution:
Tarlton Law Library
See All 9 Items

Judgement in the Supreme Court Decision for Brown et al. v. Board of Education of Topeka et al.

Creator:
United States. Supreme Court
Date of Original:
1955-05-31
Collection:
Records of the Supreme Court of the United States 1772 – 2007
Contributing Institution:
United States. National Archives and Records Administration

No. 1, October Term 1954: Oliver Brown et al. v. Board of Education of Topeka, Shawnee County, Kansas, et al.

Creator:
United States. Supreme Court
Date of Original:
1954
Collection:
Records of the Supreme Court of the United States 1772 – 2007
Contributing Institution:
United States. National Archives and Records Administration

No. 2, October Term 1954: Harry Briggs, Jr., et al. v. R. W. Elliot et al.

Creator:
United States. Supreme Court
Date of Original:
1954
Collection:
Records of the Supreme Court of the United States 1772 – 2007
Contributing Institution:
United States. National Archives and Records Administration

Opinion

Creator:
United States. Supreme Court
Date of Original:
1954-05-17
Collection:
Records of the Supreme Court of the United States 1772 – 2007
Contributing Institution:
United States. National Archives and Records Administration

Order for Appearance of Thurgood Marshall, Who Argued the Case for School Desegregation [Brown v. Board of Education]

Creator:
United States. Supreme Court
Date of Original:
1951-12-03
Collection:
Records of the Supreme Court of the United States 1772 – 2007
Contributing Institution:
United States. National Archives and Records Administration

Flyer, 1958 Mar. 9, (St. Albans, N.Y.), All Are Welcome..., St. Albans Community A.M.E. Church

Creator:
St. Albans Community A.M.E. Church (New York, N.Y.)
Date of Original:
1958-03-09
Collection:
Rev. Joseph A. DeLaine Papers ca. 1918-2000
Contributing Institution:
South Caroliniana Library

Letter, 1961 Dec. 11, (Columbia, S.C.), John H. McCray, to Joseph A. DeLaine, Sr., (Hollis, Long Island, N.Y.)

Creator:
McCray, John Henry, 1910-1987
Date of Original:
1961-12-11
Collection:
Rev. Joseph A. DeLaine Papers ca. 1918-2000
Contributing Institution:
South Caroliniana Library

Letter, 1971 Jan. 31, (New York, N.Y.), Robert Gottlieb, To Whom it May Concern

Creator:
Gottlieb, Robert, 1931-
Date of Original:
1971-01-13
Collection:
Rev. Joseph A. DeLaine Papers ca. 1918-2000
Contributing Institution:
South Caroliniana Library

Letter, 1971 Nov. 3, (Ridgefield, C.T.), Richard Kluger, to Joseph A. DeLaine, Sr., (Charlotte, N.C.)

Creator:
Kluger, Richard
Date of Original:
1971-11-03
Collection:
Rev. Joseph A. DeLaine Papers ca. 1918-2000
Contributing Institution:
South Caroliniana Library

Letter, 1971 Nov. 8, (Charlotte, N.C.), Joseph A. DeLaine, Sr., to Richard Kluger, [Ridgefield, C.T.]

Creator:
De Laine, Joseph A. (Joseph Armstrong), 1898-1974
Date of Original:
1971-11-08
Collection:
Rev. Joseph A. DeLaine Papers ca. 1918-2000
Contributing Institution:
South Caroliniana Library

Letter, 1974 Apr. 3, (Charlotte, N.C.), Joseph A. DeLaine, Sr., to Anna Franks

Creator:
De Laine, Joseph A. (Joseph Armstrong), 1898-1974
Date of Original:
1974-04-03
Collection:
Rev. Joseph A. DeLaine Papers ca. 1918-2000
Contributing Institution:
South Caroliniana Library
See All 14 Items

Address on Declaration of Constitutional Principles Regarding the Supreme Court Segregation Decision

Creator:
Thurmond, Strom, 1902-2003
Date of Original:
1956-03-12
Collection:
Strom Thurmond Collection, Mss 100
Contributing Institution:
South Carolina Digital Library

Declaration of constitutional principles

Creator:
Thurmond, Strom, 1902-2003
Date of Original:
1956-03-12
Collection:
Strom Thurmond Collection, Mss 100
Contributing Institution:
South Carolina Digital Library

Introducing Bill Regarding Exceptions to Appellate Jurisdiction of United States Supreme Court and Court of Appeals

Creator:
Thurmond, Strom, 1902-2003
Date of Original:
1955-02-09
Collection:
Strom Thurmond Collection, Mss 100
Contributing Institution:
South Carolina Digital Library

Introduction of James O. Eastland at meeting of state Citizens' Councils

Creator:
Thurmond, Strom, 1902-2003
Date of Original:
1956-01-26
Collection:
Strom Thurmond Collection, Mss 100
Contributing Institution:
South Carolina Digital Library

Radio broadcast on segregation

Creator:
Thurmond, Strom, 1902-2003
Date of Original:
1956-01-10
Collection:
Strom Thurmond Collection, Mss 100
Contributing Institution:
South Carolina Digital Library

Statement against Supreme Court segregation decision

Creator:
Thurmond, Strom, 1902-2003
Date of Original:
1956-03-12
Collection:
Strom Thurmond Collection, Mss 100
Contributing Institution:
South Carolina Digital Library
See All 11 Items

Earl Warren to members of the Court, May 7, 1954

Creator:
Warren, Earl, 1891-1974
Date of Original:
1954-05-07
Collection:
With an Even Hand: Brown vs. Board at Fifty
Contributing Institution:
Library of Congress

Felix Frankfurter to Earl Warren, May 17, 1954

Creator:
Frankfurter, Felix, 1882-1965
Date of Original:
1954-05-17
Collection:
With an Even Hand: Brown vs. Board at Fifty
Contributing Institution:
Library of Congress

George E. C. Hayes, Thurgood Marshall, and James M. Nabrit congratulating each other

Date of Original:
1954-05-17
Collection:
With an Even Hand: Brown vs. Board at Fifty
Contributing Institution:
Library of Congress

Harold H. Burton to Earl Warren, May 17, 1954

Creator:
Burton, Harold H. (Harold Hitz), 1888-1964
Date of Original:
1954-05-17
Collection:
With an Even Hand: Brown vs. Board at Fifty
Contributing Institution:
Library of Congress

The Russell Daily News (Russell, Kansas), Monday, May 17, 1954

Date of Original:
1954-05-17
Collection:
With an Even Hand: Brown vs. Board at Fifty
Contributing Institution:
Library of Congress

Time magazine, September 19, 1955. Cover

Date of Original:
1955-09-19
Collection:
With an Even Hand: Brown vs. Board at Fifty
Contributing Institution:
Library of Congress
See All 8 Items
Educator Resources:

7 items in 6 collections (expand all)

2 Facts about the Freedom Day School Withdrawal, 1964 May 18

Creator:
Congress of Racial Equality. Milwaukee Chapter
Date of Original:
1964-05-18
Collection:
March on Milwaukee: Civil Rights History Project
Contributing Institution:
Wisconsin Historical Society

Thurgood Marshall Before the Court

Creator:
Smith, Stephen
Date of Original:
2004-05
Collection:
Thurgood Marshall Before the Court
Contributing Institution:
American Public Media

Touring a time: Little Rock Central High School 1957 crisis

Creator:
AETN (Television station : Conway, Ark.)
Date of Original:
2005
Collection:
Touring a time: Little Rock Central High School 1957 crisis
Contributing Institution:
AETN (Television station : Conway, Ark.)