St. Augustine in St. Johns County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

Civil Rights Movement

St. Augustine 1951 - 1968

— Florida Memorial University A.L. Lewis Archway Plaza —

Civil Rights Movement Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Brandon D Cross

1. Civil Rights Movement Marker

Inscription.

Civil Rights Movement. St. Augustine 1951 - 1968. , The institution's faculty and students actively participated in the civil rights struggle since its early origins in Live Oak, where violence was often directed against the school. Across the country, racial tensions continued to escalate during the post World War Il era. Florida Memorial was connected to the modern civil rights movement in many ways., In December 1951, Florida memorial graduate Harry I. Moore and his wife Harriette Moore were violently murdered in an act of racial terrorism. Later on, a number of civil rights activists and organizations visited the campus, including Dr Luther King Jr. and representatives from both the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) and the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC)., By 1968, the institution, now Florida Memorial College, relocated to Miami, due in part to increased racial tensions along with other reported acts of racial violence. This site is the present day location of the college., Timeline Legend , (gold/black) Indicates historical milestones for Florida Normal and Industrial College in St. Augustine., (black) African American History Milestones , (gold/black) 1951 Flonds Normal and Industrial Memorial College Graduate Harry T. Moore, a civil rights activist with the NAACP was murdered along with his wife, Harriette Moore. , , (gold/black) 1953 A new wing was added to the Jonathan Sewell Library, and an addition to Anderson Hall was completed. , , (black) 1954 In Brown v. Board of Education, the U.S. Supreme Court declares segregation in public schools unconstitutional. , , (gold/black) 1954-55 The college football team won the Southeast Athletic Conference (SEAC) Championship. , , (black) 1955 In Brown II, the U.S. Supreme Court rules that public school desegregation must occur “with all deliberate speed.” , , (gold/black) 1956 The Florida Baptist Convention greatly increased its support to the institution. , , (gold/black) 1957 The Institution fundraising and development surpassed the $350,000 mark with significant contributions from the Florida Baptist Foundation and U.S. Steel Foundation., (black) 1957 The “Little Rock Nine” integrate Central High School in Arkansas under protection of federal troops. , , (black) 1958 The Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) is organized in Atlanta with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as its first President. , , (black) 1960 Four students from Greensboro, NC begin a sit-in at Woolworth’s Drug Store to protest a ban on serving blacks at the lunch counter. , The Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) is founded in Raleigh, NC. , John F. Kennedy is elected President of the United States. , , (gold/black) 1960 Dr. William C. Lee, a faculty member, wrote the first History of the College. , , (black) 1960-65 Florida Memorial College students actively participated in civil disobedience by challenging segregation practices in the St. Augustine business community. , , (black) 1962 James Meredith becomes the first black student to enroll at the University of Mississippi. , , (black) 1963 President John F. Kennedy is assassinated in Dallas. , , (gold/black) 1963 Official Name Change Document for changing the name from Florida Normal and Industrial Memorial College to Florida Memorial College. , , (black) 1964 The Civil Rights Act of 1964 is passed, banning discrimination in all public accommodations and by employers. , , (gold/black) 1966 Land was identified and dedicated in Northwest Miami Dade County for the relocation of the College, which would follow two years later. , , (black) 1967 Thurgood Marshall takes his seat as the first African American Supreme Court Justice. , , (black) 1968 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is assassinated in Memphis., (captions) , First Donation Day Report from 1957., Harry T. Moore (pictured in 1927 with his wife, Harriette) was an active member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). He is often considered the first martyr of the modern civil rights movement.

The institution's faculty and students actively participated in the civil rights struggle since its early origins in Live Oak, where violence was often directed against the school. Across the country, racial tensions continued to escalate during the post World War Il era. Florida Memorial was connected to the modern civil rights movement in many ways.

In December 1951, Florida memorial graduate Harry I. Moore and his wife Harriette Moore were violently murdered in an act of racial terrorism. Later on, a number of civil rights activists and organizations visited the campus, including Dr Luther King Jr. and representatives from both the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) and the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC).

By 1968, the institution, now Florida Memorial College, relocated to Miami, due in part to increased racial tensions along with other reported acts of racial violence. This site is the present day location of the college.

Timeline Legend
(gold/black) Indicates historical milestones for Florida Normal and Industrial College in St. Augustine.

(black) African American History Milestones
(gold/black) 1951 Flonds Normal and Industrial Memorial College Graduate Harry T. Moore, a civil rights activist with the NAACP was murdered along with his wife, Harriette Moore.

(gold/black) 1953 A new wing was added to the Jonathan Sewell Library, and an addition to Anderson Hall was completed.

(black) 1954 In Brown v. Board of Education, the U.S. Supreme Court declares segregation in public schools unconstitutional.

(gold/black) 1954-55 The college football team won the Southeast Athletic Conference (SEAC) Championship.

(black) 1955 In Brown II, the U.S. Supreme Court rules that public school desegregation must occur “with all deliberate speed.”

(gold/black) 1956 The Florida Baptist Convention greatly increased its support to the institution.

(gold/black) 1957 The Institution fundraising and development surpassed the $350,000 mark with significant contributions from the Florida Baptist Foundation and U.S. Steel Foundation.

(black) 1957 The “Little Rock Nine” integrate Central High School in Arkansas under protection of federal troops.

(black) 1958 The Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) is organized in Atlanta with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as its first President.

(black) 1960 Four students from Greensboro, NC begin a sit-in at Woolworth’s Drug Store to protest a ban on serving blacks at the lunch counter.
The Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) is founded in Raleigh, NC.
John F. Kennedy is elected President of the United States.

(gold/black) 1960 Dr. William C. Lee, a faculty member, wrote the first History of the College.

(black) 1960-65 Florida Memorial College students actively participated in civil disobedience by challenging segregation practices in the St. Augustine business community.

(black) 1962 James Meredith becomes the first black student to enroll at the University of Mississippi.

(black) 1963 President John F. Kennedy is assassinated in Dallas.

(gold/black) 1963 Official Name Change Document for changing the name from Florida Normal and Industrial Memorial College to Florida Memorial College.

(black) 1964 The Civil Rights Act of 1964 is passed, banning discrimination in all public accommodations and by employers.

(gold/black) 1966 Land was identified and dedicated in Northwest Miami Dade County for the relocation of the College, which would follow two years later.

(black) 1967 Thurgood Marshall takes his seat as the first African American Supreme Court Justice.

(black) 1968 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is assassinated in Memphis.

(captions)
First Donation Day Report from 1957.

Harry T. Moore (pictured in 1927 with his wife, Harriette) was an active member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). He is often considered the first martyr of the modern civil rights movement.

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Memorial University.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Civil Rights • Education. A significant historical year for this entry is 1951.

Location. 29° 53.254′ N, 81° 21.255′ W. Marker is in St. Augustine, Florida, in St. Johns County. It can be reached from the intersection of North Holmes Boulevard and West King Stree, on the right when traveling south. The Marker is located within Florida Memorial University A.L. Lewis Archway Plaza. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 10 North Holmes Boulevard, Saint Augustine FL 32084, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in First Coast

and in Greater Jacksonville.

It is also in the American South.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within

Photographed by Brandon D Cross

2. Civil Rights Movement Marker

walking distance of this marker: Merger-Expansion Years (here, next to this marker); College Years (here, next to this marker); University Years (a few steps from this marker); Formative Years (a few steps from this marker); Florida Memorial University (a few steps from this marker); Our Native Son Lieutenant General Ronald L. Bailey (a few steps from this marker); St. Johns Railway (within shouting distance of this marker); 1074 West King Street (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in St. Augustine.

Also see . . .
1. Martin Luther King Jr.’s stop in St. Augustine hastened passage of Civil Rights Act of 1964. (Submitted on January 9, 2025, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)
2. Florida Memorial College. (Submitted on January 9, 2025, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)
3. The History of Florida Memorial University. (Submitted on January 9, 2025, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)

Martin Luther King Jr. in St. Augustine, 1964 image. Click for full size.

Public Domain

3. Martin Luther King Jr. in St. Augustine, 1964

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. arrested in St. Augustine, Fl, 1964 image. Click for full size.

Public Domain

4. Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. arrested in St. Augustine, Fl, 1964

Martin Luther King Jr. and Ralph Abernathy In St. Augustine image. Click for full size.

Florida State Library and Archives of Florida

5. Martin Luther King Jr. and Ralph Abernathy In St. Augustine

Credits. This page was last revised on January 11, 2025. It was originally submitted on January 9, 2025, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. This page has been viewed 255 times since then and 17 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on January 9, 2025, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.