-
University of Arkansas School of Law
University of Arkansas School of Law is intergrated. -
Little Rock Public Library
Little Rock Public Library approves integrating its facilities. -
Brown V. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional in Brown V. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas. -
Little Rock School Board comply with Supreme Court.
The Little Rock School Board issues a policy statment saying that they will comply with the Supereme Court's decision when the Court outlines the mehtod to be followed and the time to be allowed. -
School adopts Virgil Blossom's Plan
The School Board votes unanimously to adopt Superindentent Virgil Blossom's plan of gradual integration which would start sometime in Septhember of 1957. Beginning with high school levels and spreading down to lower grades over the next six years. Blossom was named "Man of Year" by the Arkansas Democrats for his work and involvement on school desegregation. -
Little Rock Schools turn down 27 students.
Twenty-seven African-American students attempt to register in all-white Little Rock schools, but are turned down. -
NAACP files suit for 33 kids denied admittance.
The NAACP files suit on behalf of 33 African-American children denied admittance to four white schools. -
Federal Judge John E. Miller dismissed NAACP suit.
Federal Judge John E. Miller dismisses NAACP suit, decalring the Little Rock School Board had acted in "utmost good faith" in its integration plan. -
Fall 1956
The city's public buses are quietly desegregated without issue. -
Spring 1957
517 Afircan-American students who lived in the Central High district and were eligible to attend Central in the fall. Eighty expressed an interest in doing so. Following interviews with the Superintendent and staff, 17 are selected for the first year of integration at Central. Eight of those later decided to remain at all-black Horace Mann High School. -
The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals upholds Judge Miller's dismissal.
The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals in St.Louis upholds Judeg Miller's dismissal. -
Arkansas National Guard
Governor Orval Faubus calls out the Arkansas National Guard to surround Little Rock Central High School to preserve the peace and avert violence that may be caused by extremists who came to Little Rock "in caravans" -
The Nine attempted to enter Central High
The nine African-American students attempt to enter Central High but are turned away by the National Guard. Elizabeth Eckford and eight other African-American students (known as the Little Rock Nine) made an unsuccessful attempt to enter Little Rock Central High School, which has been segregated. With the complicity of the National Guard, an angry mob of about 400 surrounded the school. -
Little Rock Police take over
The Governor remove the Gardsmen and the Little Rock Police Department takes over. -
Little Rock Nine enters school through side door.
As a crowd of 1,000 gather around the front of the school, the nine students go inside through a side door. A white student takes them to the principal's office where they are to recieve tjeir class assignments. When the mob leanrs the students are inside, it becomes unruly and the police begin to fear thhat they may not be able to maintain control of crowd. -
Eisenhower sends a thousand members of the 101st Airborne Division to Little Rock
Little Rock Mayor Woodrow Mann sends President Eisenhower a telegram asking for federal troops to maintain order and complete the integration process. The President announces he is sending 1,000 members of the 101st Airborne Division to Little Rock. -
Army troops escort the nine into Central High
Under escort by the Army troops, the nine students are escorted back into the Central High School building as well as to each class. -
Minni Jean Brown dumps a bowl of chili on white student
After being repeadetly taunted by white male students, Minnijean Brown, one of the famous Nine, dumps a bowl of chili on one of the male students taunting her in the cafeteria. She was suspended for six days. -
Minni suspended for the rest of the school year
Following additional altercations with white students, Minnijean Brown is suspended by the Board of Education for the remainder of the school year. She transferred to New Lincoln High School in New York City. -
Ernest Green graduates Central High
Ernest Green becomes the first black student to graduate from Central Highas he joins 600 senior classmates in commencement ceremonies at Quigley Stadium. Federal troops and the city police are on hand but the event goes perfectly. -
Little Rock school desegregation issue.
The U.S. Supreme Court announces a special session to discuss the Little Rock school desegregation issue. -
Little Rock's three high schools get shut down.
The Supreme Court rules that Little Rock must continue with its integration plan. The School Board announces the opening of the city's high schools on September 15. GovernorFaubus orders Little Rock's three high schools closed. -
Federal Court declares closing of schools unconstitutional.
Federal Court declared the state's school-closing law unconstitutional. The new school board announced that it would be repoening its doors for the high schools in the fall. -
Civil Rights Act of 1964
President Lyndon B. Johnson signes the Civil Rights Act of 1964. -
Fall 1972
All grades in Little Rock public schools are finally integrated. -
Little Rock Nine return after 30 years.
Thirty years after first entering Central High, the Little Rock Nine returned as a group for the first time. They were met by Lottie Shackelford, Little Rock's second black mayor. Central High cheerleaders along with other students both black and white couldn't help but to applaud.
