Browse the Collection

A photograph of attendees of the 1982 Black Ball, a formal dance put on by the Student Assocation for Black Unity at Washington and Lee University, resting at decorated tables set up in Evans Hall. Couples are having conversations and a drink table is visible in the far background.

A photograph of attendees of the 1982 Black Ball, a formal dance put on by the Student Assocation for Black Unity at Washington and Lee University, resting at decorated tables set up in Evans Hall.

A candid photograph taken during the 1982 Black Ball, put on by the Student Association for Black Unity, of several men laughing and talking.

This copy of a letter from trustee Homer A. Holt to T. Justin Moore was sent to Washington and Lee President Francis P. Gaines. In the letter, Holt explains that Gaines is getting in contact with other southern schools to battle the admissions policy of the Association of American Law Schools. Acknowledgement from Gaines' secretary is included.

This correspondence documents President Fred C. Cole asking members of the Board of Trustees to approve a reply to a letter.

Trustee Homer A. Holt forwarded correspondence from Hutcheson and Morrison on the topic of integration to President Fred C. Cole.

This draft of an article for the Alumni Magazine explains the Board of Trustees' movement towards integration. This draft differs from (and is more revealing than) the version published in the Fall 1964 edition of the Alumni Magazine.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

In this letter, trustee Homer A. Holt provides guidance on clarifying the admissions decision to President Fred C. Cole.

This letter from Trustee J. Morrison Hutcheson to President Francis P. Gaines expresses Hutcheson's sentiment on desegregation.

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.

A photograph of the main performer for the 1981 Black Ball at Washington and Lee University taken from the back of the stage.

A photograph of the performers at the 1977 Black Ball in Evans Hall at Washington and Lee University. The trumpet player and saxophone player are playing their instruments.

A photograph of the performers at the 1977 Black Ball in Evans Hall at Washington and Lee University. The trumpet player and saxophone player are dancing and pointing at the crowd while the lead singer is singing into the microphone.

A photograph of the performers at the 1982 Black Ball, a formal dance put on by the Student Assocation for Black Unity at Washington and Lee University. The guitarist is playing while being held up by several band mates.

A photograph of the performers at the 1982 Black Ball, a formal dance put on by the Student Assocation for Black Unity at Washington and Lee University. The members of the horn section are playing their instruments, joined on stage by the drummer, a guitarist, and another band member.

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.