Press/Journalists

The National Archives Marks the 50th Anniversary of Little Rock
Press Release · Thursday, May 17, 2007

Special Program and Document Display Mark Honor Civil Rights Milestone

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Washington, DC…The National Archives will commemorate the 50th anniversary of the integration of Little Rock Central High School with a special program and document display. Both are free and open to the public, and will take place at the National Archives Building in Washington, DC, which is located on the National Mall at Constitution Ave. and 7th Street, NW, and is fully accessible.

Thursday, August 23, at 6:30 p.m. - William G. McGowan Theater
Fifty Years After Little Rock: The Media and the Movement
In September 1957, nine black students walked into Little Rock’s all-white Central High School, striking a blow against segregation. As the heroic efforts of the “Little Rock Nine” helped define the civil rights era, the media played a crucial role in calling the public’s attention to the issues of the day. To commemorate the 50th anniversary of these historic events, the Newseum and the National Archives Experience present “50 Years After Little Rock: The Media and the Movement.” The evening begins with a screening of the documentary film The Press and the Civil Rights Movement, produced by Frank Bond of the Newseum. Then Bond, formerly an anchor and reporter at WUSA-TV, will moderate a panel discussion on the media’s coverage of issues relating to race, justice, and equality.

August 23–October 8, East Rotunda Gallery
Fifty Years After Little Rock: Special Featured Document Display
For several weeks in the fall of 1957, members of the 101st Airborne Division of the U.S. Army escorted nine African American teenagers to and from their school, Little Rock Central High. The Army’s daily reports from the period chronicle the verbal taunts and physical assaults the students endured as they broke through the barriers of racial segregation. A selection of those reports will be on display to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the integration of Little Rock Central High School.

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For Press information please contact the National Archives Public Affairs Staff at (202) 357-5300.

To verify the date and times of the programs, the public should call the Public Programs Line at: (202) 357-5000, or view our Calendar of Events online. To contact the National Archives, please call 1-866-272-6272 or 1-86-NARA-NARA (TDD) 301-837-0482.

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