Created by graduate students in the History and American Studies departments at UMass Boston, this site showcases letters, photographs, legal documents, artifacts, and interviews that explore de facto segregation in Boston and the federally-mandated desegregation of Boston public schools. Students unearthed materials from various collections in separate Boston archives, selected a representative sampling, and presented them here, together, in new collaborative context.
Featured Item
Letter from a Third Grade Student to Mayor Kevin H. White
The issue of school desegregation attracted a lot of attention and concern. Third grade students from the Miller School in Holliston, MA, sent…
Featured Collection
Louise Day Hicks papers, 1971-1975.
The papers of Louise Day Hicks, 1971-1975 (1974-1975, bulk), are located in the Boston City Archives. See the finding aid for more information about…
Featured Exhibit
Back to Square One: Racial Imbalance in the Boston Public Schools
racial: ra·cial│\ˈrā-shəl\ │adj. (1862) 1: of, relating to, or based on a race 2: existing or occurring between races imbalance: im·bal·ance │\(ˌ)im-ˈba-lən(t)s\│n. (ca. 1890) lack of...
Recently Added Items
Minutes from the Boston School Committee from June 28, 1974
After Kathleen Sullivan's initial vote against the appeal, the Boston School Committee votes unanimously to appeal Judge Garrity's ruling. Sullivan…
William Hallissey "Billy" Sullivan Jr. with Governor Dukakis and Mayor Flynn
Billy Sullivan, owner of the NFL Patriots, with Mayor Flynn and Governor Dukakis.
Minutes from the Boston School Committee from February 28, 1975
Minutes from the Boston School Committee regarding the the motion to strike Robert Dentler's testimony from the desegregation hearings.
Minutes from the Boston School Committee from September 10, 1975
Minutes from the Boston School Committee regarding Superintendent Marion Fahey's nominations to the School Department.
Minutes from the Boston School Committee from January 23, 1975
Minutes from the Boston School Committee regarding the amended December 16, 1974 desegregation plan. This plan would be submitted to Garrity on…
