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August 27, 1959

MEMORANDUM

TO: Governor J. P. Coleman

FROM: Zack J. Van Landingham

SUBJECT: Clyde Kennard

You will recall the attempt made to enter Mississippi Southern College, Hattiesburg, Mississippi, by Clyde Kennard, a negro, the first part of this year.

Dr. W. D. McCain, President, Mississippi Southern College, informed me confidentially on August 27, 1959, that on the previous afternoon about 3:00 p.m. he had received a telephone call from Clyde Kennard requesting an application to enter Mississippi Southern College.

Dr. McCain requested that this matter be kept strictly confidential and not talked around, but he wanted to Sovereignty Commission to know of Kennard’s request for an application.

Registration day at Mississippi Southern College is September 15, 1959.

It is my intention to get in touch with Professor White at Itta Bena, Professor Burger at Hattiesburg, and possibly other negroes and have them go and talk to Kennard for the purpose of dissuading him of his intention to apply for admission to Mississippi Southern College.

[stamp of STATE SOVEREIGNTY COMMISSION with date of JAN 29 1960 with lines for INDEXED, SERIALIZED, and FILED, initialed by [?]]

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