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Desegregation in Austin

Five Decades of Social Change: A Timeline

This web project presents an annotated chronology of major events in the desegregation of Austin, Texas, from 1940 to 1980 as they appeared in local newspapers and other materials such as the Austin Files (AF) in the archives at the Austin History Center, Austin Public Library. The timeline is intended as a guide to key events necessary for an understanding of this extraordinary time in the city’s history.

 

 

Key
Local African American firsts Local African American firsts
University of Texas at Austin (UT) facts University of Texas at Austin (UT) facts
Local desegregation facts Local desegregation facts
Statewide desegregation facts Statewide desegregation facts
National desegregation facts National desegregation facts

Note: The Austin American-Statesman newspaper had several name changes over the five decades covered in this timeline. The variations reflect usage for that time—Austin Statesman, The Austin Statesman, The Austin-Statesman, The Austin American, The Austin American-Statesman, American Statesman, The American-Statesman, Austin American-Statesman.

overview | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | all

1960
Local desegregation facts Follow this link to Austin History Center photograph AS-60-26463-1 A delegation of leaders from the African American community that included Arthur DeWitty, Rev. B. L. McCormick, Mrs. Friendly R. Rice, and Dr. Beadie E. Conner requests that the two “For Whites Only” signs be removed from the basement of the Travis County Courthouse. [AF-Segregation-Public Schools-S1700 (2)-1960; The Austin Statesman, “Courthouse Integration Complete,” March 01, 1960]
Local desegregation facts Follow this link to Austin History Center photograph AS-60-27281-17 White and African American students from several area colleges picket businesses on Congress Avenue urging “integration of lunch counters.” [AF-Segregation-Public Schools-S1700 (2)-1960; The Dallas Morning News, “Student Pickets in Austin Ask for Integration,” April 28, 1960]
University of Texas at Austin (UT) facts African American and white University of Texas students at Austin stage three demonstrations against the segregated Texas Theater on the main campus. [AF-Segregation-Public Schools-S1700 (1)-University of Texas; The Texas Observer, “Students Demonstrate Against Texas Theater,” December 09, 1960s]
University of Texas at Austin (UT) facts The Travis County Grand Jury indicts University students John Winborn and William H. McKnight for setting off a homemade bomb outside an integrationist meeting at The University of Texas YMCA. [AF-Segregation-Public Schools-S1700 (1)-University of Texas; The American-Statesman, “Pair Indicted in Bombing,” December 04, 1960]
University of Texas at Austin (UT) facts Integrationists conduct stand-ins at the Texas and Varsity Theaters on the Drag near The University of Texas campus area. [AF-Segregation-Public Schools-S1700 (2)-1960s; The Austin American, “Stand-ins Continue on Drag,” December 14, 1960]