Race, Politics, and Memory: A Documentary History of the Little Rock School Crisis

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Books are always collaborative ventures that rely on the assistance of numerous people, and this one is no exception. We would like to begin by thanking Larry Malley, Julie Watkins, Shay Hopper, Michael W. Bieker, and Thomas Lavoie at the University of Arkansas Press. Their enthusiasm for and support of this project inspired us throughout the writing and research. We would be remiss if we failed to thank Larry and Maggie Malley for their warm hospitality during our trip to Fayetteville, Arkansas, in the summer of 2006. Anne Prichard and Tom W. Dillard at the University of Arkansas Libraries Special Collections helped us in innumerable ways throughout the process, and we are grateful for their knowledge of their fine repository . Jillian Barrett, Amanda Paige, and Tony Shephard guided us through the special collections at the University of Arkansas, Little Rock. Jeff Bridgers at the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division dedicated numerous hours to helping us locate and download photographs from that vast collection. His good humor and support are much appreciated . Laura Miller, the chief of interpretation at the Central High School National Historic Site, was particularly helpful as we were selecting the documents, and during the final stages she offered us her keen editorial eye. The staff at the Arkansas History Commission and Kim Coryat and Kelly Henderson at the William J. Clinton Presidential Library and Museum also deserve recognition for their assistance. Herb Pankratz at the Dwight D. Eisenhower Library in Abilene, Kansas, identified a variety of documents that helped shape our understanding of this important moment in American history. His guidance proved invaluable. Michael Hussey at the National Archives helped locate several obscure State Department documents, and we are grateful for his efficiency and good humor. Dr. Roy G. Brooks, superintendent of schools of the Little Rock School District, kindly agreed to an interview in the summer of 2006 and helped us locate the Little Rock School Board minutes from 1955. We are particularly grateful for his insights. Dr. R. W. Ross consented to a phone interview about his time at Central High, and we are delighted to be able to include an editorial he sent to the Arkansas Gazette. 1LEWIS_pages_i-110.qxd 7/20/07 10:57 AM Page ix There are numerous individuals who helped us secure permissions to use many of the documents included in this volume, and they include Frank Fellone (Arkansas Gazette), Ann Walding-Phillips (Library Link, Omaha World-Herald), Spirit Trickey (Central High School National Historic Site), Scott Whiteley Carter (City of Little Rock), Tom Branigar (Dwight D. Eisenhower Library), Katie Laning (press secretary for U.S. Senator Blanche L. Lincoln), Vicky Wells (University of North Carolina Press), Linda Stafford (Birmingham News), Ayana Haaruun (Chicago Defender), Whitney Krahn (Columbia University Library). Marie Stanton took on the seemingly endless task of converting many of the documents into an electronic format. Her diligence and hard work made our job all the easier. Tony Lewis also helped with some of the last-minute additions. Zoila Torres of SoliDesign helped touchup and format the cartoons and photographs used in this volume. Stacy Braukman once again proved to be a fine copyeditor, helping with the introduction and the items included in the appendixes. We would also like to thank Betty Lewis, wife and mother, who spurred us on with her constant question, “When will you be finished?” We love you. x Acknowledgments 1LEWIS_pages_i-110.qxd 7/20/07 10:57 AM Page x ...