Fifty years ago tomorrow, James Hood and Vivian Malone made history as the first African-Americans to successfully enroll at the University of Alabama. Though initially blocked from entry by Governor George Wallace — during his infamous “Stand in the Schoolhouse Door,” brought to an end after President Kennedy mobilized the Alabama National Guard — they were allowed to register on June 11, 1963.

Vivian Malone eventually earned a Bachelor’s degree in business management. James Hood did not complete his undergraduate degree at Alabama, but he returned for graduate school in 1997, earning a PhD in interdisciplinary studies.

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Among our Digital Collections in Acumen are a number of editions of the Crimson-White, our campus newspaper. Those discussing Hood/Malone registration include

June 9, 1963
covering preparations for the day of entry; see

• history of the case (“Tuesday Will See…”), pg 2
• “Girl ‘Quiet’; Boy ‘Congenial’ Students Say of Negroes,” pg 2
• security measures on campus (“All-Out Peace Effort”), pg 1
• curfew and “Ground Rules” for conduct, pg 1
• a note on appropriate behavior (“In Our Interest”), pg 3
• admonition to accept the court ruling (“Our Own Back”), pg 3

June 13, 1963
covering aftermath of the day of entry, including many photographs (pgs 1-2, 7-8); see especially

• “UA Can Be Model For Nation Hood Says After Peaceful Entry,” pg 1
• “No Easy Life for Troopers on UA Campus,” pg 2
• Editorials page, with letters to the editor in Vox Populi section, pg 4
• report of comments by Wallace prior to the event (“Wallace Tells North…”), pg 6

June 27, 1963
covering continued fallout; see especially

• guest editorial by James Hood, pg 4
• letters to the editor in Vox Populi section, pg 4
• “Letters to the Student Body,” pg 5

July 11, 1963
letters in response to Hood’s guest editorial in Vox Populi section, pgs 4-5

July 18, 1963
letters to the editor in Vox Populi section, pgs 4-5

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In the wake of the “Stand,” letters poured in from all over the country — and the world. Some lamented the situation, but the majority printed in the campus newspaper praised UA students for their conduct.

This excerpt from a letter in the June 27 issue is from a southerner now living in the north:

The letter is signed James F. Gould, Philadelphia, Pa.

This letter (also from June 27) is from an Auburn grad living overseas, giving an international perspective:

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If you’re looking for more on the  integration of southern universities, Acumen contains Crimson-White issues discussing

• the failed entry of Autherine Lucy at UA, 1956: Feb. 7, Feb. 14, and Feb. 21
• the failed entry of James Meredith at Ole Miss, 1962: Sept. 27 editorial in support of Meredith, pg 4; and Oct. 11 follow-up editorial addressing criticism of support, pg 4

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Finally, on the eve of the “Stand,” the C-W (9 June 1963) printed a letter from William Faulkner, the late Nobel and Pulitzer prize-winning author. It was written in 1956, in response to a former student’s inquiry during the failed entry of Autherine Lucy.

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The University of Alabama is hosting a series of events surrounding this important anniversary, culminating in a program on June 11, 5:30-7:00 p.m., at Foster Auditorium. See the website Through the Doors for program details and for more history of the Civil Rights Movement at UA.