Spring Semester 1959 Enrollment Intent
In the fall of 1958, Governor J.P. Coleman hears of Kennard’s intent to enroll at Mississippi Southern College for the spring 1959 semester and informs the Mississippi State Sovereignty Commission. Investigator Zack J. Van Landingham begins his investigation into Kennard; concurrently, Kennard publishes his first of three letters to the editor at the Hattiesburg American. After meeting personally with Coleman, Kennard is dissuaded from enrolling.
This is a colored photograph of the sign for Southern Mississippi in the 1900’s. This was before we were renamed so notice the name is Mississippi Southern College. Notice on the bottom of the sign it says, “Mississippi Historical Commission 1954”. This gives us the time that the sign was made, but not the year the photo was taken.
Title: Mississippi Southern College Sign Jeff Balfour Collection
Publisher: The University of Southern Miss
Citation: N/A, “Mississippi Southern College Sign Jeff Balfour Collection,” Clyde Kennard: A Forgotten Hero.
From the University of Southern Mississippi Digital Collections University of Southern Mississippi Photographs Collection. Black-and-white photograph of an aerial view of campus. The view is from the northeast, with the football stadium in the center. [Photograph is thought to date after Field House construction (1956-1957?) but is certain to be before Roberts Stadium was built in the mid-1970s. Presence of "Mississippi Southern College Stadium" sign above the east dormitory is uncertain.]
Title: Photograph of Aerial View of Campus; ca. 1958-1974
Publisher: University Libraries at The University of Southern Mississippi. (electronic version)
Rights: IN COPYRIGHT; http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/
Citation: Unknown, “Photograph of Aerial View of Campus; ca. 1958-1974,” Clyde Kennard: A Forgotten Hero.
From the University of Southern Mississippi Digital Collections University of Southern Mississippi Photographs Collection. Photograph of Scott Hall, a dormitory on the University of Southern Mississippi campus, under construction in 1958-1959.
Title: Dormitories: Scott Hall Construction; 1958-1959
Publisher: University Libraries at The University of Southern Mississippi. (electronic version)
Rights: IN COPYRIGHT; http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/
Citation: Unknown, “Dormitories: Scott Hall Construction; 1958-1959,” Clyde Kennard: A Forgotten Hero.
Image above
“Kennard, Clyde, 1927-1963; United States. Army.” From Google Books Jet Magazine Digitized Collection. Photograph of Clyde Kennard in uniform from Jet Magazine Vol. 23, no. 4 article "Negro Sent to Prison instead of College: Cancer-Stricken Miss. Prisoner" by Larry Still. Issue was published January 24, 1963.
Publisher: Johnson Publishing Company; Google Books. (digitized version)
Rights: IN COPYRIGHT; http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/.
Citation: Unknown, “Clyde Kennard Photograph; date unknown,” Clyde Kennard: A Forgotten Hero.
Hardy Street in the 1950s.
Title: Hardy Street (ca. 1950s)
Citation: “Hardy Street (ca. 1950s),” Clyde Kennard: A Forgotten Hero.
Main Street in the 1950s.
Title: Hattiesburg Main Street (ca. 1950s)
Citation: “Hattiesburg Main Street (ca. 1950s),” Clyde Kennard: A Forgotten Hero.
From the University of Southern Mississippi Digital Collections Johnston (Erle E., Jr.) Papers. Black-and-white photograph of Governor James P. Coleman. Coleman is in a dark-colored suit and tie with a light-colored button-down. He is facing the camera with his right arm and left hand resting on a table in front of him.
Title: Photograph of Governor James P. Coleman; 1956
Publisher: University Libraries at The University of Southern Mississippi. (electronic version)
Rights: COPYRIGHT UNDETERMINED; http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/UND/1.0/
Citation: Unknown, “Photograph of Governor James P. Coleman; 1956,” Clyde Kennard: A Forgotten Hero.
From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Mississippi State Sovereignty Commission Collection. Detailed report on Clyde Kennard's background, activities, and his attempt to desegregate the University of Southern Mississippi.
Title: Investigation Report from Zack J. Van Landingham to Governor J. P. Coleman, Attorney General Joe T. Patterson, and the Mississippi State Sovereignty Commission; December 17, 1958
Publisher: Mississippi Department of Archives and History. (electronic version)
Rights: NO COPYRIGHT - UNITED STATES; http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-US/1.0/
Link to text version of report
Citation: Van Landingham, Zack J., “Investigation Report from Zack J. VanLandingham to Governor J. P. Coleman, Attorney General Joe T. Patterson, and the Mississippi State Sovereignty Commission; December 17, 1958,” Clyde Kennard: A Forgotten Hero.
From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Mississippi State Sovereignty Commission Collection. Two clippings of January 6, 1959 newspaper articles regarding Clyde Kennard dropping his attempt to enroll at Mississippi Southern College for spring 1959, scanned onto the same page. The article on the left is from the Greenwood Morning Star titled "Tells College Pres. He Will Not Try To Enter Southern" and reports that Kennard informed MSC President, Dr. W. D. McCain, that he will not try to enroll for spring 1959 even though a month prior Kennard said he would file a suit against MSC and obtain help from the NAACP. The article on the right is from the Hattiesburg American titled "NEGRO REPORTS GOOD ADVICE ON COLLEGE PLANS" and states that Kennard was no longer attempting to enroll at MSC for spring 1959, at the advice of people from the community.
Title: Newspaper Articles "Tells College Pres. He Will Not Try to Enter Southern" and "Negro Reports Good Advice on College Plans"; January 6, 1959
Publisher: Mississippi Department of Archives and History. (electronic version)
Rights: NO COPYRIGHT - UNITED STATES; http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-US/1.0/
Link to text version of both articles
Citation: Unknown, "Tells College Pres. He Will Not Try to Enter Southern; January 6, 1959," Clyde Kennard: A Forgotten Hero.
Citation: Unknown, Negro Reports Good Advice on College Plans; January 6, 1959,” Clyde Kennard: A Forgotten Hero.
From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Mississippi State Sovereignty Commission Collection. Article describing that Clyde Kennard intends to file a court suit against Mississippi Southern College to gain admittance. The article briefly explains that Kennard intends to attempt to enroll for the winter quarter, and that he was denied on a previous application based on his lack of required recommendations. Kennard had asked for that requirement to be waived or for MSC to allow him to submit names from the institutes of higher learning he previously attended.
Title: "Negro May Sue If Southern Bars Him"; December 14, 1958
Publisher: Mississippi Department of Archives and History. (electronic version)
Rights: NO COPYRIGHT - UNITED STATES; http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-US/1.0/
Link to text version of article
Citation: Unknown, "Negro May Sue If Southern Bars Him"; December 14, 1958,” Clyde Kennard: A Forgotten Hero.
From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Mississippi State Sovereignty Commission Collection. Memo regarding a State Sovereignty Commission meeting that occurred on November 20, 1958 with Governor J. P. Coleman regarding Clyde Kennard. States that Coleman received information that Kennard intended to apply to Mississippi Southern College for the spring 1959 semester. Coleman also recommended further investigation into Kennard's previous application to MSC, information about his attendance at other colleges and universities, specifically if he left in good standing. Coleman believes Kennard was unable to previously obtain recommendations from alumni but that the Supreme Court would invalidate that application requirement. Also includes Coleman's request for the investigation to be completed before spring registration so proper actions may be planned, as well as potential leads.
Title: Memo from Zack J. VanLandingham to Mississippi State Sovereignty Commission Director; November 24, 1958
Publisher: Mississippi Department of Archives and History. (electronic version)
Rights: NO COPYRIGHT - UNITED STATES; http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-US/1.0/
Citation: Van Landingham, Zack J., “Memo from Zack J. VanLandingham to Mississippi State Sovereignty Commission Director; November 24, 1958,” Clyde Kennard: A Forgotten Hero.
From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Mississippi State Sovereignty Commission Collection. Brief report on Medgar Wiley Evers from a confidential informant, including birth-date, U.S. Army serial number, mother's name, physical description, selective service information given when he registered for the military during WWII and in 1948, and his employer in 1943. Also states plans of where to find further information, including his former employer and Alcorn A&M College.
Title: Memorandum from Zack J. Van Landingham to Mississippi State Sovereignty Commission; January 5, 1959
Publisher: Mississippi Department of Archives and History. (electronic version)
Rights: NO COPYRIGHT - UNITED STATES; http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-US/1.0/
Citation: Van Landingham, Zack J., “Memorandum from Zack J. Van Landingham to Mississippi State Sovereignty Commission; January 5, 1959,” Clyde Kennard: A Forgotten Hero.
From the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Mississippi State Sovereignty Commission Collection. Clyde Kennard writes his opinions on the issues of segregation and integration to the editor of the Hattiesburg American newspaper. He points out the issues of segregation, such as that a number of public spaces are inherently integrated, such as public office or hospitals. He calls for people to be judged based on merit than race and for integration in every institution.
Title: Letter to the Editor "Mixing"; December 6, 1958
Publisher: Mississippi Department of Archives and History. (electronic version)
Rights: NO COPYRIGHT - UNITED STATES; http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-US/1.0/
Link to text version of Kennard's letter to the editor
Citation: Kennard, Clyde, “Letter to the Editor "Mixing"; December 6, 1958,” Clyde Kennard: A Forgotten Hero.