USDC, Eastern District of Virginia, Richmond Division, Civil Action Case #4274- Stephanie V. Thompson, et al vs. the County School Board of Hanover County, VA, et al
| Creator | USDC, Eastern District of Virginia, Richmond Division |
| Description | This early 1965 case was brought to trial on behalf of the students and prospective students of Hanover County. The plaintiffs filed a class action suit asking the defendants to adopt and implement a plan, which would promptly end racial segregation in the county schools. The plaintiffs also sought attorney fees. Pupil assignments had been determined by a “dual attendance area,” derived from the Virginia Pupil Placement Act, 1950. In 1963, ten black students were assigned to white schools, the following year 18, the next one 50. Six out of a total of 16 schools had no black children in attendance at all; 12 have been designated as primarily white. Additionally, the faculty had not been integrated. When the School Board failed to act on the April, 1964 request for integration by the black community, this suit came to fruition. On March 4, 1965, the Hanover County school superintendent notified the State Superintendent of Public Instruction that the school officials intended to comply with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. On June 3, the county submitted a desegregation plan to the Department of Health, Education and Welfare. Two months later, the school board adopted a revised plan, which was eventually approved by the U.S. Commissioner of Education on September 3. The plan adopted was a traditional “freedom-of-choice” one, which allowed for pupils to select the school they desired without fear of negative reproductions. Those who did not submit preferences to the county would be assigned to the school nearest their home without regard to race, ethnicity or national origin. Additionally, all racial discrimination that may have existed in the assignment of teachers or administrative personnel was to cease and be reversed. Lastly, “all services, facilities, activities and programs [including transportation] affiliated with or sponsored by the school system shall be administered without regard to race, color or national origin.” The plaintiff’s request for council fees was denied and denied again upon appeal. |
| Call number | Civil Action Case #4274 |
| Date from | 1965 |
| Date to | 1973 |
| Geographic school | Hanover County, VA |
| Size | unknown |
| Access restrictions yes/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 Public schools o School children o School integration o Segregation in education o Civil Rights Act of 1964 o Virginia. General Assembly o Virginia. Pupil Placement Board |
| Types | o Correspondence
o Legal documents o Pamphlets |