Letter from John W. Nason, Swarthmore College, October 1951
Title
Letter from John W. Nason, Swarthmore College, October 1951
Creator
Nason, John W.
Date Created
1951-10-01
Subject
College Integration
Description
A letter from John W. Nason, President of Swarthmore College, in response to Walter A. Groves' inquiry into racial policy at Swarthmore. At that time Swarthmore had never had a black faculty member, but did have a small number of black students in attendance.
Relation
CC_2_3_A_Box2_069
Identifier
CC_2_3_A_Box2_070
Text
SWARTHMORE COLLEGE
SWARTHMORE, PA.
PRESIDENT’S OFFICE
1 October 1951
Dear President Groves:
Swarthmore College has never had a Negro faculty member, although I seriously considered a candidate last spring. If he had been the best qualified person among the various candidates, I think we would have appointed him. For a number of years we have accepted Negro students. Most Negro candidates for admission are not well enough prepared to justify acceptance, and so far the number in residence at any one time has been small, (2 to 4 or 5).
The Board of Managers of Swarthmore College has never made any statements specifically relating to Negro students. I enclose a Statement of Purpose and Policy which was adopted two or three years ago by the Board and Faculty of the college. Near the end you will find a statement on our policy respecting admissions. This is the only official statement of the college.
In the nature of the case you face a much more difficult situation than we do, I am not sure that our experience or practice Is of much use to you. However, I wish you all possible success in finding the right solution for your situation.
Yours sincerely.
John W. Nason
President Walter A. Groves
Centre College of Kentucky
Danville, Kentucky
SWARTHMORE, PA.
PRESIDENT’S OFFICE
1 October 1951
Dear President Groves:
Swarthmore College has never had a Negro faculty member, although I seriously considered a candidate last spring. If he had been the best qualified person among the various candidates, I think we would have appointed him. For a number of years we have accepted Negro students. Most Negro candidates for admission are not well enough prepared to justify acceptance, and so far the number in residence at any one time has been small, (2 to 4 or 5).
The Board of Managers of Swarthmore College has never made any statements specifically relating to Negro students. I enclose a Statement of Purpose and Policy which was adopted two or three years ago by the Board and Faculty of the college. Near the end you will find a statement on our policy respecting admissions. This is the only official statement of the college.
In the nature of the case you face a much more difficult situation than we do, I am not sure that our experience or practice Is of much use to you. However, I wish you all possible success in finding the right solution for your situation.
Yours sincerely.
John W. Nason
President Walter A. Groves
Centre College of Kentucky
Danville, Kentucky
Original Format
Paper
8.5x11in. letter
From
Nason, John W.
To
Groves, Walter A.
Institution
Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, Pennsylvania
Collection
Citation
Nason, John W. , “Letter from John W. Nason, Swarthmore College, October 1951,” Paving the Way: The Work of Walter A. Groves at Centre College, accessed May 5, 2024, https://pavingtheway.omeka.net/items/show/18.