Dallas Fashion Project

Items

• Civil Rights Act of 1957
  Attorney General authored the act to establish a bipartisan commission to investigate incidents in which citizens were deprived of their right to vote. However the act allowed states to continue literary tests and other prerequisites. It also did not address the desegregation of public schools. The act was so weak that Congress later passed the Civil Rights Act of 1960.
• The Dallas Morning News, “Mob Mills at School To Wait for Negroes”
  This article gives the account of how the morning of the August 30th, the first day that the mob assembled, played out. This supports our narrative that the coverage in Dallas is more detailed and focused on violence.
• Fort Worth Star-Telegram, “Mansfield School Plea Up For Hearing Today”
  This article supports our narrative that Forth Worth was reporting on the case of Mansfield before that crisis had occurred. Reportage focused on the court hearings as well as the protest going on within Mansfield.
• Fort Worth Star-Telegram September 1, 1956 coverage of Mansfield desegregation crisis
  The Fort Worth Star-Telegram's coverage of the Mansfield mob on September 1, 1956 included several other stories related to the desegregation crisis. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) sent telegrams to the U.S. Attorney General asking for protection for the African American children wanting to enroll at Mansfield High School. Gubernatorial candidate W. Lee O'Daniel used the mob scene in Mansfield as a campaign stop, and an Associated Press reporter covering the events was stopped by two men in a vehicle wanting to "make sure you weren't some instigator from out of state."
• San Antonio Register, "Tennesseans, Texans Stage Anti-Integration Outbreak”
  This can be used to support our argument that black newspapers were more focused with putting Mansfield into a larger context by including it in an article about the actions in Clinton.
• Heman Sweatt attends class
  Heman Sweatt became the first African American student to attend the University of Texas in 1950. His case, Sweatt v. Painter, brought early legal success to the NAACP in Texas after the Supreme Court declared the "separate but equal" doctrine UT tried to enforce did not give black law students the same educational opportunities as whites. However, this success was short-lived. Years later, the NAACP would battle the courts again over the desegregation of primary and secondary schools.
• Ku Klux Klan march in Texas
  A parade of Klansmen march through the streets of Beaumont, Texas, in 1922. Because of increased Klan activity around the state, many chapters of the NAACP closed their doors in fear of retribution or harm.
• Dallas Morning News, "Bayonets Won't Solve It"
  An opinion piece by Lynn Landrum indicated a need for a “friendlier way” in dealing with the school integration issue. The article noted the crowd response to integration was in reaction to being “pushed around” by the Supreme Court. Segregated schools existed in Mansfield. African American high school students attended I.M. Terrell in Fort Worth. Various improvement requests for the Mansfield Colored School were denied by the school board. As a result the NAACP filed a class action suit the year prior for admittance of all African American students in Mansfield. A federal court ordered desegregation on August 27, 1956, which led to protestors gathering on school grounds on Thursday, August 30 and Friday, August 31.
• Press Memorandum Allan Shivers 1956-10-30
  The two press memorandums from Allan Shivers discusses the presentation of an autographed portrait of President Eisenhower. In addition the second press memorandum displays disappointment that Eisenhower had to cancel a speech in Dallas and praises the President's accomplishments.
• Portrait of A. Maceo Smith
  As a leader in the NAACP, Dallas native A. Maceo Smith helped to form the Texas State Conference of Branches in 1937. This alliance between Texas chapters helped the organization revitalize in the during and after World War II.
• Mansfield students enter high school under the shadow of an effigy.
  An effigy hangs above the entrance to Mansfield High School as students file in the building on August 30, 1956. The effigy was hung as a protest to integration efforts in Mansfield. The effigy remained for several days.
• Press Memorandum Allan Shivers 1956-08-31 Part I
  A press memorandum from Allan Shivers that discusses receiving a telegram from L. Clifford Davis. The memorandum states that the Governor's Office has not received any request for assistance from the Tarrant County sheriff. In addition the memorandum states that Shivers is "not inclined" to move state officers at the call of affiliates to the NAACP.
• Press Memorandum Allan Shivers 1956-08-31 Part II
  The Governor’s orders sending the Texas Rangers to Mansfield High School to keep the peace on August 31, 1956. The presence of Texas Rangers would ensure the failure of integration in Mansfield. Rather than enforce court orders on integration, Governor Shivers justified his actions as ensuring peace in Mansfield and allowing time for a possible appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court in staying integration orders.
• Press Memorandum Allan Shivers 1956-01-27
  A press memorandum from Allan Shivers discussing a letter sent to Virginia Governor Stanley and his interest in "interposition." The memorandum states that Shivers appointed a fifteen-member committee to study the issue from a "legal and educational standpoint."
• Official Statement Allan Shivers 1955-09-18
  Shivers’ endorsement of President Eisenhower for reelection in 1956. Eisenhower’s support for the Texas tidelands claim, along with his stance on separation of powers and states’ rights, ensured Shivers’ endorsement in 1952 and 1956.
• Official Memorandum Allan Shivers 1956-09-27
  An official memorandum from Allan Shivers designating October 13, 1956 as "Ike Day," in celebration of President Dwight Eisenhower. The memorandum compliments Eisenhower's achievements and praises him for being the only Texas who has served as chief executive. In addition the memorandum urges Texans to participate in this tribute to Eisenhower.
• Official Statement Allan Shivers 1952-10-22
  Shivers’ support for Eisenhower demonstrated his desire to place political issues before party loyalty. Supporting a Republican for president was controversial, but helped reaffirm Shivers’ stance on conservative principles and states’ rights.
• Clint Murchison to Allan Shivers 1952-10-07
  A letter from Clint Murchison to Allan Shivers confirming that 600,000 copies of The Daily Texan were sent to "every rural route box in Texas." The newspaper highlights the support Texans have for Dwight Eisenhower and indicates a strong movement by Shivers to aid in Eisenhower's election.
• Mamie Eisenhower to Allan Shivers 1956-10-06
  A letter from President Eisenhower's wife, Mamie, to Shivers thanking him for telegrams sent to the President. She states that President Eisenhower is poor health but "feeling stronger."
• Robert Hayes to Allan Shivers 1956-09-04
  A letter from a Texas citizen to Allan Shivers commending him on his actions in Mansfield, TX. In addition the letter discusses rumors that Shivers will be leaving public office to accept the position of president of a "big Houston bank."
• Dwight Eisenhower to Allan Shivers 1953-07-21
  Dwight D. Eisenhower responds to Allan Shivers concerns on the Supreme Court case (Brown v. Board of Education). Eisenhower assures Shivers that his concerns have been acknowledged.
• KXAS News Script: "Mansfield School Opens"
  A mob formed outside Mansfield high school for a third time on September 4th, the first day of school and the last day of registration. Texas Rangers were on the scene to make sure no violence erupted. Superintendent Huffman followed Shivers order to transfer out any Negro student who tried to register. On this day two notable persons arrived to make right the situation at Mansfield. A man named “Jesus Christ” asks permission to take down the effigy hanging from the flagpole but receives no help and vows to come back with a ladder but never returns. A second man named Reverend D. W. Clark shows up calling for the mod to disperse. Reverend Clark is escorted away by a Texas Ranger. The mob leaves quietly when it is certain that no Negro will register. The school board continues to fight for a delay of court order but Mansfield does not integrate.
• KXAS News Script: "New Racial Strife in Fort Worth"
  20 miles North of Mansfield another incident involving integration occurred. Lloyd G. Austin and his family moved into an all white neighborhood and this action was met with mob violence. The White Citizens Council of the area meets to discuss what action must be taken in the case of Austin. A mob forms around Austin house and stones and soda bottles are thrown causing windows to breaks. Austin proceeds to fire a shot at a nearby car in defense. Police later show up and the crowd begins to leave.
• KXAS News Script: "Mansfield"
  After the display of mob violence U.S. Supreme Court Justin Minton grants Mansfield high school the opportunity to delay the court order issued by Estes. This delay would allow the Mansfield school board to lawfully refrain from opening the high schools doors to Negros. Another effigy is mentioned. This effigy was hung above the front doors of the high school and becomes the third figure to appear in protest.
• KXAS News Script: "Mansfield Continues To Defy Court Order"
  For the second day in a row a mob formed outside Mansfield High School to keep Negro students from registering. On this day Governor Allan Shivers sent Texas Rangers to the town to keep peace but not to intimidate any of the Mansfield citizens. Assistant District Attorney Grady Hight is escorted from the scene when a heated verbal exchange breaks out but Hight walks away uninjured. Also on this day a camera is broken but no other altercations occur. Three Negro students attempted to enroll via telegram but are denied because they must appear in person to register. Attorney for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) announces that no Negro students will register so long as there is a threat of mob violence.