Dr. Davis Heads New Legal Defense Department to Aid Southern Teachers

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

ARTHUR B. SPINGARN THURGOOD MARSHALL 
President Director and Counsel 

WALTER WHITE ROBERT L. CARTER 
Secretary Assistant Counsel 

ALLAN KNIGHT CHALMERS ARNOLD DE MILLE 
Treasurer Press Relations 

DR. DAVIS HEANS 
TOA 

TENT 
December 17, 195) SOUTHERN 

NEW YORi, Dec. 17.--The creation of a new department of iAACP 

Legal Defense and Hducational Fund to protect Negro teachers, princi- 

pals and school superintendents involved in the transition from 

segregated to non-segregated schools, was announced here today by 

Thurgood Marshall, director-counsel of Legal Defense. 

Ir. John‘). ‘avis, internationally known educator and former 

president of ‘lest Virginia State College, will heac the new department, 

Im announcing the creation of the new department anc the appoint- 

ment of Dr. Davis as its director, Mr. Marshall said the Board of 

Directors, in setting up this department, made it clear that the 

entire resources of this organization stands ready to protect Negro 

principals and teachers from racial segregation, 

"pr, Davis was chosen because of the complete respect he enjoys 

from all stembers of the teaching profession as an uncompromising cham- 

pion of the right of public school teachers and principals to engage 

in their profession without discrimination because of race or color. 

He will work directly with organized teachers groups, P.T.A.'s and 

other established sroups. 

Dr. Davis will have the responsibility of developing an educa- 

tional prosram to advise Negro teachers, principals and school 

superintendents of their rights, employment status during the process 

of desegregation, Marshall disclosed. 

"This department--Department to protect Negro teachers and prin- 

cipals from racial discrimination--will attempt to pinpoint or focal- 

a ize the problesus of teachers and others involved in a desegreration 

program so as to eliminate any fear Negro teachers mi t have regard= 

ing the possible loss of their jobs and to avoid any friction that 

night arise in the process of Cesegregation,” he declared, 



Dr, Mavis, who was president of West Virginia State College from 

1919 to 1953, will work directly with local school authorities, teach- 

ers and the people involved in desegregation programs to find solutions 

to whatever problems that might arise from any aspect of the int 

tion program, Marshall pointed out, 

"We have no intention of allowing Negro teachers to become the 

victims of school officials and others who are determined to violate 

the law of the land," Legal Defense head stated. "We will co every- 

thing within our power to protect them." 

op and carrying out his program. Dr. 

an assistant, Daniel 3. Byrd of New Orleans, and a legal consultant, 

Elwood H. Chisolm of Legal Defense staff. They will work out of Legal 

Defense headquarters at 107 West 3rd Street, New York. 

Dr. Davis! experience in the field of education extends over h3 

years as teacher and educator, Now 66, he taught at Morehouse College, 

Atlanta, from 1911 to 1915, was its registrar from 191) to 1917 when 

he became executive secretary of the Twelfth Street YMCA in washington, 

St 
mn, C, He took over the presidency of “est Virginia State College in 

1919 and remained until last year when he retired as the oldest colle 

president in point of service in the United States, 

The holder of eight degrees, Dr. Vavis was a member of Hoover 

Commission in Community Rehabilitation which involved the orientation 

of the Negro soldier in his own community in the South after World War 

I. He was a member of the National Education Association, which has a 

ission membership of 1,000,000 and chairman of its National Defense Cor 

for three years, which job was to safeguard the rights, privileges and 

interest of teachers across the country. 

On dune 11, 1%3, he received an honorary degree from Harvard 

University and at which time he was cited as "Dean of American college 

presidents, and educator whose life has exemplified devotion to 

cemocracy." 

months ago, Dr. Davis served as 

director of U. S. Foreign Operations Administration: in Liberia, a 

joint point-four program between the two countries. 

The new department will go into effect the first of the year. 

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