1960s Timeline

Oct. 1, 1962 - The University of Mississippi campus was under military occupation today as James H. Meredith, its first Negro student,...

Oct. 1, 1962 - Governor Ross. R. Barnett (pictured) of Mississippi was finding scant sympathy among his colleagues of the Southern...

Oct. 1, 1962 - Aside from the U.S. marshals, the chief targets of the rioters at the University of Mississippi last night and early this...

Oct. 1, 1962 - At the University of Mississippi at Oxford this morning, a small detachment of Mississippi National Guardsmen went to the...

Oct. 1, 1962 - James H. Meredith, a 29-year-old Negro, was admitted last night to the University of Mississippi campus in Oxford and was...

Sept. 30, 1962 - At midnight last night, President Kennedy committed the full weight of the Federal Government to end Mississippi’s...

Sept. 29, 1962 - Hundreds of U.S. Army troops and about 500 U.S marshals are in the huge Memphis Naval Air station tonight. The...

Sept. 28, 1962 - Dr. Martin Luther King, apostle of nonviolence, was punched twice in the face today by a self-styled member of the...

Sept. 27, 1962 - The Justice Department abandoned tonight a fourth attempt to register James H. Meredith, a Negro, at the University of...

Sept. 27, 1962 - Alabama Governor John Patterson (pictured) told President Kennedy today that if Federal troops or marshals were sent to...

Sept. 26, 1962 - Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy reiterated tonight that the Federal Government would do “whatever is necessary” to...

Sept. 26, 1962 - Chief U.S. Marshal James P. McShane (third from right) and Mississippi Lieut. Gov. Paul B. Johnson (with fedora)...

Sept. 25, 1962 - Mr. President teamed with “Mr. President” tonight to provide theatergoers with one of the most exciting opening nights...

Sept. 25, 1962 - The Federal Government is prepared to send troops into Mississippi to enforce Federal court orders to admit a Negro,...

Sept. 25, 1962 - Gov. Ross R. Barnett of Mississippi was cited for contempt of court tonight, less than five hours after he barred James...

Sept. 25, 1962 - Gov. Ross R. Barnett (right), in open defiance of a Federal Court order, prevented James H. Meredith (left), a...

Sept. 25, 1962 - Jackie Robinson (pictured examining a burned church in Sasser, Ga. earlier this month) criticized Northern Negroes today...

Sept. 22, 1962 - Americans gathered today at the foot of the statue of Abraham Lincoln in Washington to mark the centennial of his...

Sept. 20, 1962 - Governor Ross R. Barnett (top) denied James H. Meredith (bottom), a 29-year-old Negro, admission to the University of...

Sept. 19, 1962 - Dr. Martin Luther King arrived in New York City today to address five church rallies on the fight for civil rights. Dr....