Digital Collection Spotlight
In anticipation of the 60th anniversary of desegregation at the University of Georgia, the Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library partnered with the Digital Library of Georgia to digitize the William Tate Desegregation Files and the Omer Clyde Aderhold Papers. These collections are freely available to the public for research purposes in perpetuity.
William Tate (1903-1980) was the Dean of Men, University of Georgia, 1946-1971.
The materials in this collection document events surrounding the desegregation of the University of Georgia in January 1961. The clippings, legislative reports, petitions, and correspondence that comprise the collection serve as both a record of the steps involved in desegregating the University and the span of public opinion--both local and nationwide--on the events at the time. Dean Tate's role in overseeing and responding to student conduct in the aftermath of desegregation is a major topic of the collection.
This collection is available here: https://dlg.usg.edu/collection/guan_ua00-016
Omer Clyde "O.C" Aderhold (1899-1969) was president of the University of Georgia from 1950 to 1967. The collection documents the administrative business of the University of Georgia during O.C. Aderhold's tenure as president. Materials of particular interest are those documenting the desegregation of the university in January 1961 when Charlayne Hunter-Gault and Hamilton Holmes became the first two African American students to attend UGA. These files include administrative correspondence as well as letters from the public expressing support or opposition to desegregation.
This collection is available here: https://dlg.usg.edu/collection/guan_ua10-110