Browse the Collection

Ollie Lee Taylor wrote a letter to express his appreciation to everyone who helped participate in the fight against discrimination in the local barbershops. He also wrote about the work that still needed to be done which included holding Danville accountable and continuing to push for change in other areas within the community

Opinion piece regarding the picketing of segregated barbershops. Also commends student Ollie Taylor’s campaign, as well as pointing out that Centre should be an example for Danville as to what integration looks like. Includes corresponding cartoon.

Centre College students dancing at the 1964 Homecoming dance, with Grammy-nominated Hank Ballard and the Midnighters performing. The 1964-65 school year was the first offical year of racial integration for the College.

Editorial cartoon celebrating the East District Federal Court order invalidating a section of Kentucky law that allowed Danville barbershops to discriminate against African American customers

Explains the next steps in the lawsuit filed against the barbers in Danville that refused to cut black hair. The article emphasizes how students were determined to find a solution to put an end to segregation, even if the case was not ruled in their favor

The article explains how the judge ordered the barbers to integrate. Centre’s Dean expressed his excitement. There appears to be a positive reaction from faculty and staff members which may represent the attitudes of the leadership at this time.

Video interview with Jim Davis, one of the first three African Americans to attend Centre College. Mr. Davis enrolled at Centre College in the fall of 1964 as the only African American male. He graduated in 1968.

Written transcription of the oral history interview with Jim Davis, one of the first three African Americans to attend Centre College. Mr. Davis enrolled at Centre College in the fall of 1964 as the only African American male. He graduated in 1968.

Video interview with Raymond Burse, who graduated from Centre College in 1973. Mr. Burse is a distinguished Rhodes Scholar, studied organic chemistry at Oxford, and attended Harvard Law School. He has been a member of the Centre College Board of Trustees and the president of Kentucky State University.

An article giving more details regarding the charges against Danville barbershops

Report on the barbershop discrimination suit of Taylor, et. al. vs. Richardson, et. al. There were barbershops in Danville that did not cut the hair of black customers. Centre students and community members brought light to the discrimination which eventually appeared in a federal court hearing.

An article about Ollie Taylor, a Centre student who led the efforts to desegregate Danville barbershops the previous spring. The Cento staff interviewed Taylor to get updates on the current situation as well interviewing other students on their opinions.