Charlottesville

Lane High School in Charlottesville Reopens

2/4/1959

In September 1958, Gov. J. Lindsay Almond Jr. ordered the school to close after a US District Judge decided that 10 African-American students suing for admittance should be allowed to attend high school there. Four months later in January 1959, when the Virginia Supreme Court struck down many of the Virginia General Assembly's anti-integration Massive Resistance laws, the high school reopened. African-American students began attending classes at Lane beginning the next school year in September 1959. In the clip, two students say they will attend private schools in the next school year rather than attend an integrated high school.

Anchor Script

Anchor script text: Meanwhile, in Charlottesville today...(start film) That city quietly opened two of its schools today which have been closed since last September. (show film) Charlottesville students filed into Lane High School and Venable Elementary for the first time since the 1958-59 school year. Both schools have been ordered to admit Negroes next September, so there were no colored students on hand today. There were few policemen present, and they were directing traffic. WSLS reporter Joe Moffatt discussed the situation with school superintendent, Fendall Ellis. (sound up) (((SOF:)))

Charlottesville Determined to Integrate

2/4/1959

A Charlottesville city schools official, Superintendent Fendall Ellis, explains that the city intends to desegregate Lane High School and Venable Elementary School in September 1959.