The Integration Crisis at the University of Georgia

This exhibit examines the federal court-ordered integration of the University of Georgia, which took place in January of 1961. This process followed the University's refusal to admit two African American students, Charlayne Hunter and Hamilton Holmes. The chain of events that followed this historical decision entailed violence, hate speech and ultimately an immense threat to the safety of Hunter and Holmes, as a riot broke out on Myers Quad in protest of Hunter's presence at the university. Thus, the events that took place from 11 January 1961 and those that followed at the University of Georgia became known as the Integration Crisis.

This exhibit further discusses reactions to the process of integration in examining the media, the student body, the administration of the University of Georgia, and the individual perspectives of Charlayne Hunter and Hamilton Holmes. Through these various approaches, this exhibit holistically details the events that took place as well as the historical and current implications of the turbulent process of integration at the University of Georgia.