1. Newspaper Coverage of the Desegregation Campaign

Like other Southern states, Texas followed the "separate but equal" doctrine that segregated public facilities, including schools. Until the fall of 1952, Del Mar College was closed to Black students.

That June, three Black students – Clifford Smoots (age 19), Jo Ann Lawson (age 16), and Willie Miller (age 17) – attempted to register for classes. They were accompanied by Dr. H. Boyd Hall, a dentist and executive secretary of the local branch of the NAACP.

Though the students were denied admission, their actions prompted the DMC Board of Regents to investigate the offerings of Coles Junior College, the area’s Black college, and compare them to Del Mar. Finding that necessary updates to Coles could cost $300,000, the board instead voted to desegregate DMC. That fall, the college admitted its first Black students.

DMC President E.L. Harvin and the Board of Regents were not openly hostile to the idea of racial integration, but they also did not take any action toward it until the student activists forced the issue. The school's decision to admit Black students notably preceded the US Supreme Court's requirement to do so (in its 1954 Brown v. Board of Education decision) by two years--making Del Mar College a national news story. It should be noted, however, that the decision was still rooted in "separate but equal" logic, as the board concluded that providing another "equal" college would be too expensive.

The articles below are from the Corpus Christi Times and the Jackson Advocate – a Black newspaper published in Jackson, Mississippi.

A) “NEGROES FAIL IN ATTEMPT TO ENTER DEL MAR,” Corpus Christi Times, June 3, 1952

Three Corpus Christi Negroes attempted, unsuccessfully, to enroll in summer classes at Del Mar College today. They were told that state segregation law barred them.

Dr. H. Boyd Hall, executive secretary of the local branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, who accompanied the applicants this morning said:

“We plan to qualify more plaintiffs today and tomorrow.”

He said if they all are denied entrance to the local junior college, “we will go before the Board of Regents at the earliest moment they will give us a hearing.”

Today’s move appeared to be the first concerted effort on the part of local Negroes to gain admittance to Del Mar College. President E.L. Harvin of the college said a Negro man attempted to enroll for a class in mechanical drawing during the recent spring semester bud did not make an issue of being denied admittance.

Seeking admittance today were:

Clifford Vernell Smoots, 19, of 301 ½ North Nineteenth, a native Corpus Christian who recently finished Solomon Coles High School with an 87.05 scholastic average; Jo Ann Lawson, 16, of 1221 Waco, also a native of the city who finished Coles with an average of 86; Willie Andrew Miller, 17, who finished Coles with an average of 94.07, according to Dr. Hall.

The attempt by the three Negro teenagers to enter Del Mar College occurred following the first night of registration for a summer class in general biology for Negroes at Solomon Coles Junior College, which operates in connection with the local Negro high school.

President Harvin said the 12-week summer school at Coles Junior College will consist of only the class in biology unless sufficient numbers of students desire other work.

“We have advertised for several years that we would offer work in any subject when as many as 10 persons enrolled,” Harvin said. “We must have financial justification for special classes.”

Twelve students enrolled last night for the biology course at Coles which will count toward a bachelor’s degree offered by any Texas college for Negroes, Harvin explained.

Coles Junior College was established in 1940 and is accredited by the State Board of Education. It is described in the book, “American Junior Colleges, 1952,” a publication of the American Council on Education. It offers two semesters of work—one from Sept. 15 to May 30, the other during the summer. It is a two-year junior college.

The Negro applicants this morning approached Del Mar registrar, Dr. A.C. Pierce. Jo Ann Lawson was the first to seek admission. She was told that Negroes were registering at Coles. She asked if music would be taught there. Pierce said not unless there is a sufficient demand for a class in music.

Asked by Pierce if she knew of others who wanted to take a music course, she said she knew a few others. H suggested they apply in a group at Coles.

Smoots next asked to be enrolled. He also was advised of the Coles class. He said he wanted to take a course in building construction or mechanical drawing.

Miller then sought admission for a course in carpentry to mechanical drawing. Told of the Coles class, he said the Negro school didn’t have facilities. Pierce said few facilities are needed for a class in mechanical drawing.

Smoots intervened to ask, “Dr. Pierce, why can’t we enroll here?”

“You know why,” Pierce replied. “It’s because of the segregation law. The same board that governs this college governs your school and must obey the law until it is changed.”

As he led the trio out of Del Mar, Dr. Hall said, “I think we live in a fair-minded community, and I believe the Board of Regents will represent and reflect [this] fair-mindedness when given all the facts. We insist that the junior college at Coles is by no stretch of the imagination equal to Del Mar College. The Constitution permits equality of education.”

Dr. Hall added, “I think the board will react as favorably in the Amarillo case (where Negroes were admitted without a suit) and more favorably than in the Cairo, Ill., case (where difficulty arose when Negroes sought to enter white schools there.)

B) “DEL MAR BOARD VOTES TO ADMIT NEGRO STUDENTS,” Corpus Chrsti Times, July 22, 1952

The Del Mar College board of regents voted unanimously last night to admit any qualified Negro resident of the Corpus Christi Junior College District to college level classes at Del Mar. This action will be effective Sept.1.

The action came as the result of an attempt of several Negro students to enroll in summer classes at Del Mar a few weeks ago. They were denied entrance.

The board then appointed a committee composed of John F. Lynch, Harvey Weil and V.G. Woolsey to make an on-the-spot survey of Coles Junior College to see if it was equal to Del Mar College.

The committee last night reported that on four points it is not equal.

State law required segregation of Negroes in public schools but the United States Supreme Court has ruled that if Negroes are segregated, equal facilities must be provided.

Providing equal facilities would cost a minimum of $300,000 the regents said. This expense was termed prohibitive.

Board members in previous meetings and at last night’s session appeared to have no objections to admitting Negroes to the school. E.L. Harvin, college president, was optimistic about the outcome.

C) “TRUSTEES OF JUNIOR COLLEGE VOTE TO ADMIT NEGROES,” Jackson Advocate, August 9, 1952

SOURCES:

“Negroes Fail in Attempt to Enter Del Mar,” Corpus Christi Times, June 3, 1952.

“Del Mar Board Votes to Admit Negro Students,” Corpus Christi Times, July 22, 1952.

“Trustees of Junior College Vote to Admit Negroes,” Jackson Advocate, August 9, 1952,

https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn79000083/1952-08-09/ed-1/seq-1/