Meredith at Ole Miss Chronology
1961
January 20
Meredith completes original application.
February 4
Ole Miss Registrar sends telegram to Meredith saying that his application was received too late for
consideration.
May 25
Ole Miss Registrar formally rejects Meredith’s application.
May 31
NAACP and Meredith take case to court.
1962
January 24
Trial begins in Federal District Court of Judge Sidney C. Mize.
February 3
Judge Mize finds that Meredith has failed to prove that the University had a policy of denying admission
to Negro applicants.
About June 11
Criminal charges instituted against Meredith in Hinds County for false voter registration application,
based on the claim that Meredith had registered as a resident of Hinds County when he was, in fact, a
resident of Attala County
June 13
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit rejects charge as “frivolous” and prohibits the criminal
proceeding against Meredith.
June 25
Fifth Circuit Court finds that Meredith has been rejected solely because of race; Mize decision reversed.
July 18 - August
Legal maneuverings with the Fifth Circuit Court’s orders “stayed” by Judge B.F. Cameron, a dedicated
segregationist who was a member of the Court but did not sit on the case, and the other justices on the
Court issuing orders “vacating” Cameron’s stays.
August 31
Justice Dept. submits memo to Supreme Court (first Kennedy Administration action in case) asking
Supreme Court Justice Hugo Black to set aside Cameron’s stays.
September 5
Instructions given to James McShane, Chief U.S. Marshal, to start organizing marshals for possible action
in Mississippi.
September 10
Justice Black sets aside stays and orders Meredith admitted.
September 13
Judge Mize issues injunction to University of Mississippi not to block Meredith’s admission.
Governor Barnett on statewide TV states “We will not surrender to the evil and illegal forces of tyranny.”
September 15
Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy calls Barnett to work out details of Meredith’s admission.
September 18
Mississippi Legislature gives Barnett vote of confidence.
September 20
Meredith tried in absentia for false voter registration, convicted and sentenced to one year and $100.
Charge involves “moral turpitude.”
The Mississippi legislature passes a bill prohibiting enrollment at any institution of higher learning of
students who have been convicted of criminal charges involving moral turpitude.
Justice Department works with Tom Watkins, attorney and friend of the Governor, to have Meredith’s
arrest warrant rescinded.
Mississippi Board of Trustees for Ole Miss gives Barnett full powers as Registrar.
Meredith makes a first attempt to register at Ole Miss campus in Oxford. Gov. Barnett personally blocks
his way.
Federal District Court orders Mississippi Board of Trustees and university’s top three officials to appear
at a contempt hearing.
September 24
Court of Appeals says that the Board and officials are in contempt, but withholds judgment when they
agree to register Meredith.
September 25
Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals issues a restraining order against Gov. Barnett telling him not to interfere
with Meredith’s registration.
Barnett blocks Meredith’s entry to College Board office in second attempt to register. Court of Appeals
orders Barnett to show cause on September 28 why he should not be held in contempt.
September 26
Lt. Governor Paul B. Johnson prevents Meredith from enrolling; Fifth Circuit Appeals Court orders
Johnson to appear at contempt hearing September 29.
September 27
Morning - Barnett proposes face-saving plan to RFK (through Tom Watkins)--if marshals draw guns on
Barnett, he will set aside.
Early evening – Barnett reports to RFK that he can’t handle crowd. Show is called off; Meredith convoy
turned back to Memphis.
September 28
Barnett found guilty of civil contempt and ordered by Court of Appeals to clear himself or face arrest and
fine of $10,000 per day.
September 29
JFK issues proclamation calling on government and people of Mississippi to “cease and desist” all their
obstructing actions and to “disperse and retire peaceably forthwith.” Court of Appeals declares Lt.
Governor Johnson in contempt and orders fine of $5,000 a day unless he obeys the Court’s desegregation
orders.
Afternoon – several phone calls between JFK and Barnett to arrange for Meredith’s registration.
September 30
After Midnight – JFK federalizes the Mississippi National Guard. U.S. Army troops dispatched to
Memphis by JFK to stand in reserve in the event needed.
8:45 AM - Barnett calls RFK urging him to postpone Meredith’s arrival. Kennedy refuses, threatens to
expose Barnett’s broken promise on secret registration of Meredith during JFK’s TV broadcast scheduled
for evening. Barnett says to fly Meredith in this afternoon and say nothing about deal (two more phone
calls over next couple of hours confirm the arrangements). Barnett states that Mississippi Highway patrol
will cooperate.
1-4 PM: Justice Department officials and federal marshals arrive on campus.
4:26 PM – Marshals line up in front of and on north side of Lyceum on curb. Groups of state police in
street. Crowd small. McShane in command.
4:33 PM - Deputy Attorney General Katzenbach tells McShane to bring in rest of marshals from airport
and to take some men to Baxter Hall to secure it.
5:30 PM – Crowd of about 400 people in front of Lyceum. No major disturbance.
6:05PM – Meredith lands at airport.
6:15 PM – Convoy with Meredith enter campus.
6:30 PM – Meredith at Baxter Hall.
Shortly after 7:00 PM – Large crowd begins to surge close to Lyceum and start throwing rocks.
7:34 PM – FBI advises that Mississippi Highway Patrol pulling out. Only a few remain.
7:40 PM – Mississippi State Senator Yarborough, at Lyceum, is told by Barnett not to let Mississippi
Highway Patrol leave campus.
7:40 PM - Senator Yarborough attempts to calm crowd. A number of Highway Patrolmen reappear.
7:45 PM - 7:58 PM - Marshals hit by bricks, bottles, lead pipe. Tear gas fired by marshals.
8:00 PM – JFK in nation-wide TV broadcast says laws must be obeyed and peace preserved.
Between 8 and 9 PM – Paul Guihard, French journalist, killed.
8:58 PM - Marshals running out of tear gas.
9:02 PM – Highway Patrol pull out.
9:23 PM - A marshal shot through leg.
9:42 PM – State trooper badly hurt.
9:45 PM – JFK calls Barnett – asks to get Highway Patrol back on job.
9:50 PM – Katzenbach calls local National Guard on behalf of JFK and tells them to go to Oxford.
10:00 PM - Katzenbach tells JFK he will need to bring in troops. Gunfire spreading.
Around 11 PM – Ray Hunter killed.
10:10 AM - Only 67 local National Guardsmen available.
10:13 AM – U.S. Army regulars, ordered earlier to Oxford, flying from Memphis, are not yet airborne
October 1
2:17 AM – Soldiers finally arrive at Lyceum.
7:55 AM – Doar escorts Meredith to Lyceum Hall to register. Registration completed by 9 AM.
*Note that times are approximate.