Memphis State College 'Gradual' Plan to Federal Court

Press Release
February 10, 1956

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Memphis State College 'Gradual' Plan to Federal Court preview

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  • Press Releases, Loose Pages. Memphis State College 'Gradual' Plan to Federal Court, 1956. ab4b3051-bc92-ee11-be37-00224827e97b. LDF Archives, Thurgood Marshall Institute. https://ldfrecollection.org/archives/archives-search/archives-item/3596a7cb-2dfb-4fa2-8c59-48185c969d4d/memphis-state-college-gradual-plan-to-federal-court. Accessed January 08, 2026.

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NAACP LEGAL DEFENSE AND EDUCATIONAL FUND 
107 WEST 43 STREET * NEW YORK 36, N. Y. + JUdson 6-8397 

THURGOOD MARSHALL 

sia ae pif Poss ba Cosa 
ROY WILKINS Assistant Counsel 
Secretary 

ALLAN KNIGHT CHALMERS poe MILLE 
Treasurer MEMPHIS STATE COLLEGE ; 

'GRADUAL' PLAN TO FEDERAL COURT February 10, 1956 

ROBERT L. CARTER 

CINCINNATI, 0., Feb. 9--The stalling tactics to delay the admission 

of Negro students to Memphis State College reached the federal appeals 

court here today. 

In a brief filed with the U. S, Court of Appeals seeking the imme- 

diate admission of 5 Negro students to the state-supported college, 

lawyers for the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. attacked 

a decision of the district court judge approving a gradual desegregation 

plan for the college. 

The plan provides for the mixing of classes beginning in 1955-56 

at the graduate level and ending in 1959-60 with the opening of fresh- 

man classes, 

College officials had argued that a policy of "unbridled" admission 

of Negroes "would overtax" the facilities, Attorneys for the Negro stu- 

dents, however, drew an admission from the school officials tmt 143 

out-of-state white students and 1,079 non-residents of Memphis are now 

enrolled in the college. 

The district court judge held that the college was "proceeding with 

all deliberate speed" to comply with the U. S. Supreme Court decision in 

the school segregation cases. The time provided by the gradual plan is 

“absolutely necessary" to "orderly and peacefully" integrate the school, 

the court ruled. 

Legal Defense lawyers contend that the district court judge abused 

his discretion in approving the college's plan, 

The decision of the district court judge, in approving the gradual 

plan, means that a Negro'seeking equal educational opportunities at the 

higher educational level is now in a more adverse position since the 

decision in the school segregation cases than he was when the "separate 

but equal! doctrine was in effect," the lawyers conclude. 

NAACP Legal Defense attorneys for the students are Thurgood Marshall, 

director-counsel, Robert L. Carter, assistant counsel, both of New York, 

and H, T. Lockard of Memphis. Assisting are J. F. Estes, B, L. Hooks 

and A, W, Willis, Jr. of Memphis and Z. Alexander Looby of Nashville. 

-30-

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