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Color corrected by Pat Cagney.
Desegregation of Central High School by “Little Rock Nine,” Arkansas
Color corrected by Pat Cagney.
Color corrected by Pat Cagney.

Desegregation of Central High School by “Little Rock Nine,” Arkansas

Artist Ernest C. Withers (American, 1922-2007)
Date1957, printed 1996
MediumGelatin silver print
DimensionsOverall, Image: 15 × 18 7/8 in. (38.1 × 47.9 cm)
Overall: 16 × 19 7/8 in. (40.6 × 50.5 cm)
Overall, Mat: 22 × 26 1/8 in. (55.9 × 66.4 cm)
ClassificationsCivil Rights Movement
Credit LinePurchase in memory of Alice R. and Sol B. Frank, and the Art Purchase Fund
Object number97.21.5
Terms
  • African-American Artist
  • Civil Rights
  • Little Rock, Ar
  • Cars
  • School
  • People
  • Girls
  • Boys
  • Men
  • Military
  • Black
  • White
On View
Not on view
DescriptionThe "Little Rock Nine's" first day of school. A group of girls getting out of a car to go into school.

Label TextErnest C. Withers American, 1922−2007 Desegregation of Central High School by “Little Rock Nine,” Arkansas, 1957 Gelatin silver print (photograph), printed 1996 Angry white demonstrators turned out to block the court-ordered integration of Little Rock’s largest high school in the fall of 1957. In response, President Dwight Eisenhower sent soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division to protect the black students, known as the “Little Rock Nine.” Here one of the federal troops holds open a car door for Elizabeth Eckford, while Carlotta Walls, Melba Patillo, and Minnie Jean Brown prepare to approach the threatening crowd outside the school’s front doors. Museum purchase, in memory of Alice R. and Sol B. Frank 97.21.5
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