Description

After the Supreme Court Decision of Sweatt v. Painter, Universities across the South had to figure out how to handle applications from black students. In this particular case John Hargis had applied to the University of Texas at Austin for their graduate program in Chemical Engineering. Registrar and Director of Admissions W. B. Shipp writes in his letter that Harigs's application had been cancelled and that he had been advised to attend some required classes at another university. Now (1955) Hargis has completed these courses with the required grades and has resubmitted the application. It seems that the admissions office is unsure of how to proceed and is requesting the input of the president and vice-president of the University. The reluctance to accept Hargis despite his having met all of the reqirements of admission is telling of the sentiments of the University administration towards integration. It is clear that they do not want to accept Hargis's application, but now that the University legally has too, the issue of integration become something the University can no longer ignore.

Creator

W. B. Shipp, H.Y. McCowen

Date

May 6, 1955; September 7, 1954; October 11, 1954

Coverage

UT Austin, TX; UT integration; 1954-1955; 1950s; Southern integration

Source

Dolph Briscoe Center for American History- University of Texas at Austin