Another three additions to the Glomerata section. Start at the beginning here. For a more detailed look at some of the Gloms from this decade, try here.
The cover above is from 1955, and reflects a very much growing, changing place. Desegregation was a critical issue in the late 1950s. The first black applicant was William Bell, who applied in 1948. He was turned away, but the Supreme Court’s landmark 1954 Brown decision the writing was on the wall. University President Ralph Draughon selected some African-American students for enrollment, but the board forced him to wait until the university was sued, an unpalatable decision for modern eyes.*
A brief history from the university librarians takes over here:
Draughon was determined to let no disturbance interfere with the college’s operation or sully the reputation he had struggled to produce for it. He feared dissent from the state’s official policy of segregation would open the door to extremists on both sides and jeopardize his relationship with the state legislature. In February, 1957, while the legislature considered Auburn’s appropriation, untenured economics professor Bud Hutchinson publicly criticized a segregationist Plainsman editorial. Draughon refused to renew Hutchinson’s contract too late for him to find other academic employment, leading the American Association of University Professors to censure API.
Being officially named Auburn University was on the horizon. Winning a national championship in football happened during this era. (And how they did that in 1957 was drastically different than the 2010 version.)
* Harold Franklin was finally admitted in 1964 as a graduate student. He had to sue to do it. He lectured on his experiences on campus just a few years ago. You can find the fascinating transcript here.
