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WSB-TV newsfilm clip of Georgia Institute of Technology president Dr. Ed Harrison speaking to reporters about the school's integration and Ford Greene, Ralph Long, Jr., and Lawrence Williams, the school's first African American students, arriving on the campus in Atlanta, Georgia, 1961 September 18

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@ Walter J. Brown Media Archives and Peabody Awards Collection

WSB-TV (Television station : Atlanta, Ga.)

Description

In this WSB newsfilm clip from a press conference held in Atlanta, Georgia on September 18, 1961 Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) president Dr. Ed Harrison speaks to reporters about the school's integration, and the school's first African American students, Ford Greene, Ralph Long, Jr. and Lawrence Williams, arrive on campus for freshman orientation.The first segment, which is about ten minutes long, begins with the school's president, Dr. Ed Harrison, speaking to reporters at a YMCA near campus about the logistics of freshmen arriving on campus, especially the first three African American students at the Institute. Harrison thanks the press for their support of Georgia Tech, crediting them in part with the school's success. He notes that he was unavailable at a press conference held September 15 because of a previous commitment to the YMCA. When asked if Georgia Tech expects problems with the school's integration, Harrison says he is not sure what to expect, but he is working to be prepared and to take precautions. He indicates that one of his precautions, a result of recently acquired "additional information," is to limit the access of reporters and photographers to students on campus. Although asked several times to elaborate on the additional information shaping his decisions, Harrison refuses to comment further or to reveal his source. Harrison takes responsibility for the decision to integrate Georgia Tech, indicating that he conferred informally with members of the Board of Regents, state citizens, and Georgia governor Ernest Vandiver, but was not influenced...
Type:
Video
Contributors:
Harrison, Edwin D., 1916-2001
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Record Contributed By

Walter J. Brown Media Archives and Peabody Awards Collection

Record Harvested From

Digital Library of Georgia