W.U. African American Women

 
 

 
Following the desegregation of St. Louis University in 1944, African Americans in St. Loius began to push for the desegregation of Washington University-St. Louis. 

 
 

 
This editorial from the St. Louis American, St. Louis’ black newspaper, shows the sentiments of blacks in St. Louis. This edition of the paper, June 13, 1946, included a number of stories about blacks in higher education, as well as pieces on some of the first African American graduates of Washington University-St. Louis.

Interestingly, the University had admitted African American students as early as the 1880s. Walter Moran Farmer graduated from the law school in 1889, and went on to have a successful law practice in both St. Louis and Chicago.

 
Major Administrative Characters

 

 
Chancellor Aurthur Holly Compton was in office when the process of formally desegregating the Unversity began in 1945. Chancellor Compton received his Doctorate degree in Physics from Princeton University in 1916, and went on to teach for three years at Washington University. He earned the Nobel Peace prize in 1927 during his tenure at the University of Chicago. Compton was appointed Chancellor in 1945.

 
 

 
Although the University was desegregated under Chancellor Compton, it was Chancellor Ethan A. H. Shepley who oversaw the full integration of African Americans into student life on campus. 

 
 

 
The Board of Trustees of 1952. At the time, Shepley was president of the board. This group of men were responsible for making the major decisions on when and how to desegregate the University. 

 
 

 
Dean Adele Starbird was the only Dean of Women Washington University has ever had. She occupied this position from 1931 to 1959. Dean Starbird was in favor of the admission of blacks, specifically African American women as a result of attending classes at Columbia University in New York with black classmates. 

 
Alumni/Parent and Student Responses to Desegregation

Following a joint lawsuit brought against the University in 1945 by the city of St. Louis and the local branch of the NAACP, there was a large influx of letters from alumni all over the country urging Chancellor Compton to desegregate the University. 

 
 

 

 
The University slowly opened its doors to African Americans. Schools of Medicine and Social Work in 1947, all graduate divisions and the University College in 1950, and finally the undergraduate division in 1952. There were also numerous editorials in the school newspaper, Student Life, as shown above. 

 
 
First group of African American students

 
 

 
Ms. Aquilla Tinglin was one of the first African American women to be pictured in the annual yearbook, The Hatchet. After graduating with a B.A. in Sociology in 1958, Ms. Tinglin went on to work for a Social Agency, and taught French and Music at all levels from elementary to college. 

 
 

 
 
  
** Submitted by Carmen Brooks