Divinity School Integration Petition
Title:
Divinity School Integration Petition
Description:
The Divinity School was the first part of Duke to advocate for integration. In their 1948 petition, they argue for the admission of Black students to their school, wanting to give Black Christians the same chance at preparing for ministry and stating that other seminaries in the South have already started to integrate. The 1948 petition and another in 1956 were given to the Board of Trustees and President A. Hollis Edens, but failed to sway either. The graduate and professional schools desegregated in 1961, with the undergraduate schools following shortly after in 1962. Ruben Lee Speakes was the first Black student enrolled in the Divinity School in 1961.
Rights:
CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 DEED
Date:
1948
Citation:
A. Hollis Edens records, Box 21, Duke University Divinity School Petitions, Duke University Archives, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University.
Alternative Text:
Two page typed integration from the Divinity schools. Includes handwritten signatures.
Keywords:
Desegregation; Black History; Divinity School
Display Date:
1948
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