The Greensboro Sit-Ins

To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Greensboro Sit-Ins, the Hodges Special Collections and University Archives mounted an exhibit honoring the Bennett College, North Carolina A&T, and Woman's College (now UNCG) students who participated in the protest.

A&T Poster

Bennett College Poster

Woman's College Poster

The exhibit will be on display from February 1 - March 1, 2010 in the Main Foyer of Jackson Library.

The Sit-Ins: Woman's College Perspective

To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Greensboro Sit-Ins, University Archives has created an exhibit to honor the Woman's College (now UNCG) students who participated in the sit-ins.

Woolworth

On Monday, February 1, 1960, four North Carolina A&T students initiated what would become a nationwide protest when they demanded the right to sit and be served at the Woolworth’s lunch counter on South Elm Street in downtown Greensboro.

Woman’s College students Ann Dearsley, Claudette Graves, Marilyn Lott, and Eugenia Seaman joined the protests later in the week.

Ann Dearsley

Claudette Graves

Marilyn Lott

Eugenia Seaman

The presence of three white women on Thursday, February 4th was particularly noteworthy. The three women felt that it was their “moral obligation” to join the protest in spite of possible reprisals from the gathering white crowd.

The exhibit is on display in the Jackson Library/Elliott University Center Connector from January 12 to March 15, 2010.

The Integration of Woman's College

JoAnne Smart (left) and Bettye Davis Tillman (right)

In recognition of Black History Month, University Archives has installed an exhibit honoring JoAnne Smart and Bettye Davis Tillman who were the first two African-American students to attend the Woman’s College (now UNCG).

Entering on September 13, 1956, the young women were first housed on the first floor of the west wing of Shaw Residence Hall. By the time of their graduation in 1960, there were approximately twenty African-American students attending the Woman’s College.

The parlor of Shaw Residence Hall was named in honor of these two pioneers in 1992; and in 2008, the Smart-Tillman Distinguished Professorship in the School of Music, Theatre, and Dance was created.

The exhibit will be on display in the main lobby of Jackson Library from January 12 to March 15, 2010.