Gainesville in Alachua County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
Integration Pioneers
Photographed By Tim Fillmon, June 2, 2022
1. Integration Pioneers Marker
Inscription.
Integration Pioneers. . The campaign to desegregate Florida's universities began in 1949 when six African Americans were denied admission to the University of Florida and the NAACP sued. Over the next nine years the case was heard in state and federal courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court, which ruled in 1956 that Virgil Hawkins, the only remaining petitioner, was entitled to prompt admission. Hawkins withdrew his application to resolve the case and UF desegregated on September 15, 1958, by admitting George Starke to the College of Law, then located in Bryan Hall. W. George Allen was the first African American to graduate, with a law degree in 1962. African American undergraduates were first admitted in 1962 and Stephan Mickle was the first to receive a bachelor's degree, in 1965.
The campaign to desegregate Florida's universities began in 1949 when six African Americans were denied admission to the University of Florida and the NAACP sued. Over the next nine years the case was heard in state and federal courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court, which ruled in 1956 that Virgil Hawkins, the only remaining petitioner, was entitled to prompt admission. Hawkins withdrew his application to resolve the case and UF desegregated on September 15, 1958, by admitting George Starke to the College of Law, then located in Bryan Hall. W. George Allen was the first African American to graduate, with a law degree in 1962. African American undergraduates were first admitted in 1962 and Stephan Mickle was the first to receive a bachelor's degree, in 1965.
Erected 2021 by University of Florida.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Civil Rights • Education. A significant historical year for this entry is 1949.
Location. 29° 39.068′ N, 82° 20.448′ W. Marker is in Gainesville, Florida, in Alachua County. Marker can be reached from West University Avenue (Florida Route 26) 0.1 miles west of U.S. 441. Located in the courtyard of Bryan Hall. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1325 West University Avenue, Gainesville FL, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 15, 2022. It was originally submitted on June 15, 2022, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. This page has been viewed 95 times since then and 19 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on June 15, 2022, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida.
