American Historical Ephemera and Photography, Featuring African Americana

Addressed to Mr. Eli Walker of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. On "State of Arkansas / Office of the Governor / Little Rock" letterhead. 1p, 8 1/2 x 1 1 in. (creasing at folds and corner staple, light wear).

Faubus responds to Walker's inquiry about the status of "Negro Student[s]" at Little Rock School, writing: "Please be advised that the 9 Negro children are still attending Central High School, and approximately 425 former Arkansas National Guardsmen are still under federal jurisdiction. It is my considered judgement that President Eisenhower would like to forget all about the Little Rock affair, and I doubt if there will ever be a recurrence of this particular situation." A handwritten note in Faubus's hand appears below the signature, and reads "One student is suspended from school attendance at this time for dumping her food tray on a white by student's head."

[With:] Typed letter from Mr. Eli Walker to Governor Orval Faubus, attached by staple in left corner to the Governor's reply. N.p., 25 December 1957. 1p, 8 1/2 x 11 in. (creasing at folds).

"The Little Rock Nine" were a group of nine African American students enrolled in the all-white Little Rock Central High School in 1957 following the historic U.S. Supreme Court decision Brown v. Board of Education. Governor Orval Faubus opposed desegregation, and initially prevented the Black students from entering the segregated school by calling out the Arkansas National Guard on 4 September 1957 to prevent their entrance. In response, President Dwight D. Eisenhower issued an Executive Order federalizing the Arkansas National Guard and ordering the soldiers to protect the students and support the integration.