Save Our Schools

Organization

Staff Only

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 1 Collection or Record:

Alan Wieder collection

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

Found in: Amistad Research Center / Alan Wieder collection

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Subject: Moving images X