Domestic Responses

Mayor Kevin White received letters from American citizens outside of Massachusetts. These letters ranged from sympathy and admiration for the mayor to criticism. As the media continued to portray the events in Boston across the United States, letters flooded White's office offering suggestions, stories about personal experiences, and harsh criticisms.

Some common themes to recognize:

1) Justification (for/ against) through the law

2) References to Boston's history

3) North/South racial differences/ criticisms

The map below displays the letters by geographic location. Click on each point in the map to view the letters.

These four selected letters below demonstrate some of the opinions Mayor Kevin White received concerning school integration. Click on the map to see all of the letters by location or visit the Kevin White page to view them in a gallery.

Letter from Providence, Rhode Island.jpg

"To assist you in coping with the continuing regrettable problems, I would respectfully like to sugesst...to arrange to have the ministers, priests, and rabbis...escort the students on the buses."

"Some of us in the south remember when Mrs. Peabody came down from Boston to tell us how to get along with Negros, and how to integrate the schools...Perhaps you should call her instead of crying for some federal marshals."

"We have enough dictatorship now. Who has the right to tell you and I where to send our kids to school."

Letter from San Marcos, Wesalaco, Texas.jpg

"I hope the plan that I will describe will help solve the racial problem your city is now facing."

The full collection can be viewed at the Boston City Archives in West Roxbury, Massachusetts.

Credits

Caitlin Pinkham, a graduate student at the University of Massachusetts, Boston. Exhibited collections appear courtesy of Boston City Archives.