Segregation, Intolerance, and Integration

Mary Louise Pope (left) and Patricia Ann Hurt (right) graduated from Allegany High School in 1956 and were among the first black students to graduate from Allegany High School following the integration of the public schools in September 1955. Both were in the General course of studies and as portrayed in this photograph, were members of the All-Maryland Chorus.

These are the graduation photographs of the three students who were the first to graduate from an Allegany County high school following integration. This was in May 1956 at Fort Hill High School which was the first among the schools to hold its commencement. The notations appeared next to their photographs in the school yearbook.

Harold Eugene Hilton was enrolled in the Vocational curriculum, a member of the Hi-Y, Town Meeting, and considered to be a "neat dresser", "friendly", and have a "wonderful personality".

In May 1956, Fort Hill High School of Cumberland held the first commencement exercise in Allegany County with participating African-American students following integration. Judy Leath, Harold Hilton and William Peck were among the first of this group of students graduating from Fort Hill. Prior to school integration, Judy, Harold and William had attended Carver High School.

As a result of the 1954 Brown versus Board of Education Supreme Court decision which forbade "separate but equal" education, the Allegany County Board of Education on July 12, 1955 stated that the county schools would begin the process of integration.

No Integration Violence In Md.

Schools in five more counties and Baltimore City opened for business yesterday, leaving 13 counties in the state still to begin sessions.

And, as throughout Tuesday, there was no serious threat of violence as many schools admitted Negro children.

Passive resistance was observed in two localities. One the Eastern Shore, about 50 white children were taken out of elementary schools at Easton and Oxford because six Negroes were admitted at Easton and two at Oxford.

Clinton [Tennessee] Intimidation Campaign Indicated

CLINTON, Tenn., Sept. 5 — Segregationists in militia-quieted Clinton were accused today of threatening to dynamite homes of white children attending racially mixed classes—but more pupil# came to school.

U S. Hands-Off Integration Advised By Ike

Should Step In Only If Law Breaks Down

WASHINGTON, Sept. 5

President Eisenhower urged today that school integration problems be solved without violence and said federal authorities should intervene only if local officials cannot keep order.

The solution, he added, will take time.

The President told his news conference the federal government should not move into an area “until states show their inability or their refusal to grapple with this question properly, which they haven't yet."

Integration To Get Underway in Eight Of Maryland's Counties

By Robert McHugh
The Cumberland Evening Times
September 2, 1955

At least eight of Maryland's 23 counties break with an age-old southern tradition next week and begin admitting Negro and white children to the same public schools.

In most instances, the historic step is being taken on a small scale with insignificant numbers of Negro children affected.

Wanted: Experienced colored second cook. Apply Manager, Algonquin Hotel.

Patriotic Order Sons of America

The advertisement seen here was placed in the business ad section of the 1929 “Alligewi,” the Allegany High School of Cumberland, Maryland yearbook by Washington Camp No. 62, Patriotic Order Sons of America. The Patriotic Order was reaching out to high school graduates to join this organization as long as they were a “white male person” and “born on the soil or under the jurisdiction of the United States.” Additional membership criteria of the Order, which are several, are identified in the depicted advertisement.