Oral History

The Brown v. Topeka Board of Education Oral History Collection, 1991-1996, is located at Kansas State Historical Society (Topeka), Brown Foundation for Educational Excellence, Equity, & Research (collection is located at Kansas Collection at University of Kansas, Lawrence), and Washburn University Law Library (Topeka).  The collection includes 115 audiotapes of transcripts and audio tapes of interviews, conducted by Jean Van Delinder and Ralph Crowder between 1991 and 1996, of individuals involved with Belton v. Gebhart (Delaware); Bolling, et. al. v. Sharpe (District of Columbia); Brown, et. al. v. Board of Education of Topeka, et. al. (Kansas); Briggs v. Elliott (South Carolina); and Davis, et. al. v. Prince Edward County Board of Supervisors (Virginia).

This collection provides a look at the background surrounding the landmark Supreme Court case Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka from those who, in one way or another, were involved with the cases before they reached the Supreme Court, or who were involved in or affected by the ruling in some way (i.e., victims, plaintiff, and beneficiaries). Those interviewed included: former students, community leaders and activists, attorneys, judges, and others affected by the outcome of the case. This collection also contains information on the following topics: segregation, discrimination, the Topeka school system, history of Topeka’s African American community, Atchison Topeka Santa Fe Railroad, U.S. military, and World War II.

For a complete list of interviews and dates, click here.

For more information about the collection and restrictions on usage, contact info@brownfoundationks.org.