Letter of Support for Dean William Tate

In this letter addressed to Dean of Men, William "Bill" Tate, a woman named Pat Eakins expresses her respect for the Dean, as well as her expectation that he should pass on another letter she wrote to Charlayne Hunter, further expressing support. Within the letter, Eakins urges Tate to share an attached letter of support and encouragement with Ms. Charlayne Hunter, though both letters were found with William Tate's belongings, suggesting that the letter addressed to Hunter was never delivered by Tate. This letter, specifically this page, exhibits one way in which the public eye turned to the Dean as the leader of the initiative of integration.

This letter of support was an anomaly within the box of letters addressed to William Tate regarding this issue that was found in the Special Collections Library. Most of the letters were hate speech, threats, or just angry opinions regarding the integration of the University,  all pointed towards Tate’s leadership. This letter addresses not only Tate, but Charlayne Hunter as well, which makes it even more unique. 

Hunter went on to have a successful career in journalism, and was even awarded the Peabody award for Excellence in Broadcast Journalism, as seen in the Special Libraries collection, "Charlayne Hunter-Gault Papers".

Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies, Charlayne Hunter-Gault Papers, Special Collections Libraries