USDC, Eastern District of Virginia, Richmond Division, Civil Action Case # 3536: United States v. County School Board of Prince George County, et al.
| Creator | USDC, Eastern District of Virginia, Richmond Division |
| Description | In 1962, the Department of Defense recognized the matter of desegregating educational facilities and family housing on military bases, in particular Fort Lee, Virginia. Fourteen years prior to the case President Harry Truman issued Executive Order 9981 stating that the highest standards of democracy were to be maintained in the armed forces; equality of treatment and opportunity were to be implemented immediately. Coincidentally, African-American servicemen and their children did not receive the equal rights guaranteed under Truman’s Order. As a result, the case was brought before the Eastern District court of Richmond, pitting the Department of Defense against the School board; specifically the Pupil Placement Board of Petersburg and St. George County. During the trial the prosecution showed the court that not only were the defendants blatantly refusing accommodation for minority students but the Board had a policy in effect that prevented minority children from receiving the same rights during the application process. Citing Truman’s Order, the 14th Amendment and the fact that they honorably served their country during war time, the servicemen won the case. All schools on military bases were to be desegregated without delay. This case led to a 1963 directive written by Secretary of State McNamara that stated the immediate elimination of discrimination in family housing. |
| Call number | Civil Action Case # 3536 |
| Date from | 1962 |
| Date to | 1963 |
| Geographic school | Prince George County, VA |
| Size | unknown |
| Access restrictions yes/no | no |
| Access restrictions | |
| Part Of larger collection yes/no | |
| Larger collection title | |
| URL | |
| Repository | NARA Mid-Atlantic Region |
| Repository address | 14700 Townsend Road, Philadelphia, PA 19154-1096 |
| Repository contact name | David Weber |
| Repository contact title | Director, Records Management Program |
| Repository contact email | philadelphia.reference@nara.gov |
| Repository contact phone | (215) 305-2000 |
| DoveRegion | (outside of Virginia) |
| Subjects | o African American students
o African Americans–Civil rights o African Americans–Segregation o Public schools o School children o School integration o Segregation in education o Virginia. Pupil Placement Board o African American soldiers o District courts–Virginia o Executive orders–United States o Truman, Harry S, 1884-1972 o United States. Department of Defense o Children of military personnel |
| Types | o Government papers
o Legal documents |