Historical Note
Save Our Schools was a non-profit organization incorporated on April 26, 1960, by concerned parents and citizens in New Orleans who wanted to maintain free public education during integration of the New Orleans public school system. Initial members were Mary Sand, Kit Senter, Betty Wisdom, Ann Dlugos, Peggy Murison, and Helen Mervis. The members of Save Our Schools were concerned that the public schools in New Orleans would be closed during desegregation when faced with a federal court order to desegregate. This fueled the organization's mission to address this possible crisis by various measures, such as carpools to bring parents and students to desegregated schools and support for families during times of verbal and physical intimidation. The organization also worked to encourage White New Orleans families to send their children to integrated schools following integration.
Citation:
Author: Laura J. Thomson
Abstract:
The records of Save Our Schools held at the Amistad Research Center, New Orleans, Louisiana.
Found in 3 Collections and/or Records:
Collection — Folder: 1
Identifier: 2389
Scope and Contents
This collection contains a cassette audiotape and transcription of a talk given by Liva Baker at the Amistad Research Center on October 22, 1996. The topic of Baker's talk was the recent publication of her book The Second Battle of New Orleans: The Hundred-Year Struggle to Integrate the Schools. Particular focus was given to individuals who played a role in the book: Rosa Freeman Keller, A.P. Tureaud, J. Skelly Wright, Daniel Ellis Byrd, John P. Nelson and...
Dates:
Created: 1996; Other: Date acquired: 10/26/1996
Collection — Container: 1 folder
Identifier: 329
Scope and Contents
The Save Our Schools records document the efforts by this organization, which was founded in April 1960 to maintain free public education in New Orleans during the integration of the public school system. The collection contains organizational records, as well as newspaper clippings and publications collected by SOS and its members. The bulk of the materials within the Save Our Schools collection spans the years 1957 to 1962, with correspondence dating from 1960 to 1962. The...
Dates:
Created: 1957-1963; Other: Date acquired: 11/01/1978
Collection
Identifier: 685
Scope and Contents
Collection contains newspaper clippings (November 1960-January 1979) formerly housed in three scrapbooks documentating the desegregation of William Frantz and McDonogh 19 elementary schools in New Orleans by Ruby Bridges (Frantz) and Leona Tate, Tessie Prevost, and Gail Ettiene (McDonogh). Other materials include correspondence; office records of John A. Stewart, principal of McDonogh 19 when it was integrated; hand script notes by Betty Wisdom containing her reflections on the desegregation...
Dates:
Created: 1960-1984; Other: Majority of material found in 1960-1961; Other: Date acquired: 01/01/2009
