Letter from Chester B. Hall (Alumnus), October 1948
Title
Letter from Chester B. Hall (Alumnus), October 1948
Creator
Hall, Chester B.
Date Created
1948-10-07
Subject
College Integration
Description
A letter from alumnus Chester B. Hall, class of 1933. Hall had become aware of the publicity surrounding the applicants from Africa and wrote to Walter A. Groves in support. Hall relayed a story from his own experience of discrimination against a black colleague, encouraged Centre was potentially moving towards admitting black students.
Identifier
CC_2_3_A_Box2_015
Text
CHESTER B. HALL
Agency Supervisor
1518 Starks Building
Louisville 2, Kentucky
President's Club
THE MUTUAL BENEFIT
LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
October 7, 1948
Dr. Walter A. Groves
President of Centre College
Danville, Kentucky
Dear Dr. Groves:
I am sorry to say that I am not in a position to comment on activities, methods, policies, etc., at Centre, I have been out of contact and could not possibly be of much help without a "refresher course".
I regret the recent publicity in the press with reference to the three applicants from Africa. It appears to me the college should have known the answer before the question was put to the state authorities. Unless the college was prepared to fight the case, no purpose was served in making the story available to the press.
I recall, as president of The Pitkin Club, I invited Dr. Bates (an educator of high repute - and a negro) to lunch with the Club and talk to the members on Race Relations.
Because of pressure from the higher command, the invitation to lunch had to be withdrawn.
Can it be possible that today. Centre would really admit a Negro? If this is so, I would say Centre is making progress.
Best Wishes,
Ches. Hall '33
Chester B. Hall
CBH:HMc
Agency Supervisor
1518 Starks Building
Louisville 2, Kentucky
President's Club
THE MUTUAL BENEFIT
LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
October 7, 1948
Dr. Walter A. Groves
President of Centre College
Danville, Kentucky
Dear Dr. Groves:
I am sorry to say that I am not in a position to comment on activities, methods, policies, etc., at Centre, I have been out of contact and could not possibly be of much help without a "refresher course".
I regret the recent publicity in the press with reference to the three applicants from Africa. It appears to me the college should have known the answer before the question was put to the state authorities. Unless the college was prepared to fight the case, no purpose was served in making the story available to the press.
I recall, as president of The Pitkin Club, I invited Dr. Bates (an educator of high repute - and a negro) to lunch with the Club and talk to the members on Race Relations.
Because of pressure from the higher command, the invitation to lunch had to be withdrawn.
Can it be possible that today. Centre would really admit a Negro? If this is so, I would say Centre is making progress.
Best Wishes,
Ches. Hall '33
Chester B. Hall
CBH:HMc
Original Format
Paper
8.5x11 in. letter
Citation
Hall, Chester B., “Letter from Chester B. Hall (Alumnus), October 1948,” Paving the Way: The Work of Walter A. Groves at Centre College, accessed April 29, 2024, https://pavingtheway.omeka.net/items/show/15.