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Letter from Eliza E. Fitch of Charlottesville to Governor Thomas B. Stanley, June 26, 1954

CONTENT WARNING

Materials in the Library of Virginia’s collections contain historical terms, phrases, and images that are offensive to modern readers. These include demeaning and dehumanizing references to race, ethnicity, and nationality; enslaved or free status; physical and mental ability; and gender and sexual orientation. 

Context

On May 17, 1954, after nearly two decades of legal challenges against racial segregation in public schools and higher education, the United States Supreme Court ruled in Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas that school segregation was unconstitutional. The decision paved the way for desegregation of educational institutions. Prior to Brown v. Board of Education decision, legal segregation had existed under the "separate but equal" doctrine. However, the separate educational facilities and opportunities the southern states offered to Black Americans were inferior, not equal, to those designed for white Americans. In 1956, Virginia's General Assembly adopted a policy of Massive Resistance using the law and courts to obstruct desegregation and to not comply with changes which were being made nationwide in response to Brown v. Board of Education.

Thomas B. Stanley served as governor of Virginia (1954–1958) during the turbulent first years of Massive Resistance to school desegregation. His initial reaction to the 1954 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas was moderate, but he eventually relented to pressure and backed legislation designed to maintain what supporters called “separate but equal” schools. Virginian's reactions to Brown v. Board of Education were varied—while some approved the decision enthusiastically, there were also those who bitterly opposed it.

Eliza L. Fitch, a self-described ordinary citizen of Charlottesville, wrote to Governor Stanley after he expressed his desire that public schools remain segregated. She described her hope that cooler heads would prevail and that people would accept the Supreme Court decision. She explained that she had no objection to her children attending schools with Black students and Black teachers. Her letter was one of many sent to the governor supporting the school integration.

In 1958, two white schools in Charlottesville closed rather than integrate. They reopened with a small number of Black students in 1959 after state and federal courts ruled ruled that closing the schools violated Virginia’s constitution. 

Citation: Letter from Eliza E. Fitch, Charlottesville, to Governor Thomas B. Stanley, June 26, 1954, Thomas B. Stanley Executive Papers, 1954-1958, Accession 25184, Box 110, Barcode 1057563, State Government Records Collection, Library of Virginia.

Standards

USII.1, USII.9, CE.1, VUS.1, VUS.8, VUS.13, GOVT.1, GOVT.3, GOVT.10

Suggested Questions

Preview Activity

Scan It: Scan the letter. What words of phrases stand out to you?

Post Activity

Analyze: Why did Eliza E. Fitch bring up the Army? Does it make her argument stronger?

Think About It: From your reading and study, how do you believe the experiences of a Black student in a Virginia public school were different from that of a white student?  Be specific. 

Another Perspective: If you were the governor of Virginia, how would you reply to Eliza Fitch's letter?