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Student strike against school conditions
Black students walk out of their high school to protest the educational conditions in their county's black schools. Afterwards, they gain the support of NAACP lawyers from Richmond. -
Petition with U.S. District Court
Attorneys file a petition with the United States District Court
of Eastern Virginia, requesting a non-discrimination policy in the schools, and identify the school board and superintendent as defendants. Governor Almond files a notice of intervention, turning the case in favor of the defendants. -
U.S. District Court rules for equalization
Although it does not strike down the existing system of segregation in VA schools, the U.S. District Court does rule that the segregated schools must be made equal in quality. -
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Robert R. Moton High School opens
The county finishes constructing a new Moton High School for $948,162 in an attempt to fulfill the Southern doctrine of "separate but equal." However, the school is still low on textbooks and other supplies, making it insufficient for staving off desegregation effort (Moreland 5). -
Brown v. Board of Education
The U.S. Supreme Court rules that segregated schools--and the doctrine of "separate but equal"--are unconstitutional, and orders schools to desegregate "wih all deliberate speed." Prince Edward County is one of five southern locales named in Brown. -
Gray Commission report submitted
The Gray Commission recommends that the State of Virginia 1) allow public funds to be used as tuition grants for students who wish to attend private schools, 2) adopt a pupil assignment plan, and 3) amend an attendance law so that no child is required to attend an integrated school. (Muse 15) -
VA General Assembly declares "Massive Resistance"
Virginia adopts the policy of "interposition," meaning that it can "interpose its sovereignty" (Muse 20) between the federal government and the citizens of Virginia. Senator Byrd declares the strategy of "massive resistance": a series of laws intended to prevent integration in Virginia's schools. -
Section 141 of the VA Constitution amended
Delegates vote to amend Section 141 of the Virginia Constitution, thereby allowing public funds to be used as grants for students wishing to attend private schools. In the state of Virginia, the vote is 304,154 in favor and ~145,000 against (Muse 19); in Prince Edward, it is 2835 in favor and 350 against (Moreland 9). -
Davis v. County School Board
Judge Sterling Hutcheson rules that there is no fixed dealine for desegregation in Prince Edward County, as "it would be unwise to attempt to force a change of the system until the entire situation can be considered and adjustments gradually brought about." However, he also notes that the outcome of closing all of the county's schools would be disastrous. -
U.S. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling
The U.S. Circuit Court overrules Judge Hutcheson, stating that he is "in error" for not setting a deadline for segregation (Muse 60). -
Judge Hutcheson grants 7-year delay
Judge Hutcheson grants Prince Edward County a 7-year delay to desegregate its schools, reasoning that this will give the county 10 years after the original Brown ruling. He gives the court power to either extend or shorten the date of compliance. The plaintiffs' attorneys appeal the ruling to the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals (Moreland 11). -
James v. Almond
Concerning a case in Norfolk, Virginia, a three-judge federal district court rules that if a state supports a public school system, the closing of any individual school in that state is a violation of the Fourteenth Amendment, which guarantees people equal treatment under the law (Muse 125). -
Harrison vs. Day
The state court of appeals rules that the massive resistance legislation allowing public funds to be used for tuition grants is a violation of the Virginia state constitution. -
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Prince Edward School Foundation begins preparations
In the wake of the Circuit Court's decision, the Prince Edward School Foundation begins preparing the operation of white private schools. -
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School budget approved; public schools closed
Sometime in June, the county board of supervisors meets. It rejects an adequate budget for the 1959-1960 school year, and instead only approves enough to "maintain closed school facilities and to pay school indebtedness." This seals the fate of Prince Edward County's public schools, which are closed due to a lack of funding. -
Prince Edward School Foundation classes begin
The Prince Edward School Foundation for all-white private schools starts its classes. Present are 1,475 of the 1,562 white students who previously attended public school, before the school closings occurred. (Moreland 12). -
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County school board members resign
Sometime in April, five of six county school board members resign, expressing doubts that the private schools can be consistently funded (Moreland 13). -
Judge Oren Lewis delivers ruling
The successor of Judge Hutcheson rules that the matter of public schools being closed should be determined by VA courts, but also rules that getting student grants from public funds and taxes is unlawful (Moreland 13). -
Griffin v. Board of Supervisors (1)
The Virginia Court of Appeals rules that county authorities are not required to appropriate funds for public schools. -
Allen v. County School Board of Prince Edward County
The U.S. District Court rules that closing the public schools in Prince Edward is a violation of the Fourteenth Amendment. The defendants are given until September 7 of that year to reopen the public schools. -
Student strike in Farmville
About 60 black students gather to protest against the closing of the public schools in Prince Edward County (Moreland 15-16). -
Griffin v. Board of Supervisors (2)
The U.S. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals overrules the District Court, claiming that the Fourteenth Amendment has not been violated, because both races were affected equally by the closing of all public schools (Moreland 15). -
Prince Edward Free School Association schools open
The Prince Edward Free School Association starts classes for anyone regardless of race; over 1,500 children are enrolled, four of them white (Moreland 16). -
County School Board v. Griffin (3)
The Virginia Supreme Court rules that the state constitution does not require the state/county to operate public schools. Link text -
Griffin v. County School Board (4)
The Supreme Court rules that, without question, Virginia's closing of its public schools and use of public funds for private school vouchers is unconstitutional.