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Little Rock Senior High School opens its doors for the first time
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Paul Laurence Dunbar High School opens
Paul Laurence Dunbar High School is the school for African America students only, The school cost $400,000 of which the Rosenwald Foundation donated $67,500 and 30,000 came from the Rockefeller General Education Fund. -
The SCOTUS rules racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional
The United States Supreme Court rules racial segregation in public school is unconstitutional in Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka. Five days later, the Little Rock School Board issues a policy statement saying it will comply with the Supreme Court's decision. -
The Little Rock School Board adopts
The Little Rock School Board adopts the Blossom Plan of gradual integration beginning with the high school level, and the lower grades during the next six years. -
Judge John E. Miller dismisses the NAACP suit
Federal Judge John E. Miller dismisses the NAACP suit, declaring that the Little Rock School Board has acted in “utmost good faith” in setting up its plan of gradual integration. In April, the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals upholds Judge Miller’s dismissal. The federal district court retained jurisdiction over the case, however, making the School Board’s implementation of the Blossom Plan a court mandate. -
Public Meeting held by The Mother's League of Central High School
The segregationist Mother’s League of Central High School holds its first public meeting. They file a motion seeking a temporary injunction against school integration. Two days later, Pulaski Chancellor Murray Reed grants the injunction on the grounds that integration could lead to violence. Federal Judge Ronald Davies nullifies the injunction and orders the School Board to proceed with its desegregation plan. -
Orders from the Governor
Governor Orval Faubus orders the Arkansas National Guard to prohibit African American students from entering Central High School and announces his plans in a televised speech. -
The Mother's League holds a "Sunrise Service"
The Mother’s League holds a “sunrise service” at Central High attended by members of the Citizen’s Council, parents and students. On September 20, Federal Judge Ronald Davies rules that Faubus has not used the troops to preserve law and order and orders them removed. Faubus removes the Guardsmen and the Little Rock Police Department moves in. -
An angry mob of whites gather
An angry mob of over 1,000 whites gathers in front of Central High School, while nine African American students are escorted inside. The Little Rock police remove the nine children for their safety. President Eisenhower calls the rioting “disgraceful” and ordered federal troops into Little Rock. -
The National Guard is placed under federal orders
1200 members of the 101st Airborne Division, the “Screaming Eagles” of Fort Campbell, Kentucky, roll into Little Rock. The Arkansas National Guard is placed under federal orders. -
The Little Rock Nine
Under troop escort, the “Little Rock Nine” are escorted back into Central High School for their first full day of classes. -
Senior Ernest Green graduates from Central High School
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Citzens vote 19,470 to 7,561 against integration and the schools remain closed
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Little Rock public high schools reopen
Little Rock public high schools reopen, nearly a month early. Segregationists rally at the State Capitol where Faubus advises them that it was a “dark” day, but they should not give up the struggle. They then march to Central High School were the police and fire departments break up the mob. Twenty-one people are arrested.