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5 Years that Changed Savannah Forever:
Reflecting on the Civil Rights Movement
through the W.W. Law Collection
An Exhibit by the City of Savannah Municipal Archives
Exhibit Images
(Click on Images for captions and to view full screen)
The Vanguard of the Movement: The Savannah Branch NAACP Youth Council
W. W. Law installing Westside NAACP Youth Council officers.
W. W. Law Photograph Collection, Item #1121-100_0067. City of Savannah Municipal Archives.
W. W. Law Photograph Collection, Item #1121-100_0067. City of Savannah Municipal Archives.
The Vanguard of the Movement: The Savannah Branch NAACP Youth Council
Westside NAACP Youth Council officers.
W. W. Law Photograph Collection, Item #1121-100_0506. City of Savannah Municipal Archives.
W. W. Law Photograph Collection, Item #1121-100_0506. City of Savannah Municipal Archives.
The Vanguard of the Movement: The Savannah Branch NAACP Youth Council
Miss Carrie Orr, NAACP Youth Council.
W. W. Law Photograph Collection, Item #1121-100_0007. City of Savannah Municipal Archives.
W. W. Law Photograph Collection, Item #1121-100_0007. City of Savannah Municipal Archives.
The Vanguard of the Movement: The Savannah Branch NAACP Youth Council
Sunday NAACP meeting at St. Paul Baptist Church featuring youth speakers (W. W. Law seated on far left; James Brown seated on far right), May 7, 1961. Photograph by W. B. Chisholm.
W. W. Law Photograph Collection, Item #1121-100_0014. City of Savannah Municipal Archives.
W. W. Law Photograph Collection, Item #1121-100_0014. City of Savannah Municipal Archives.
The Vanguard of the Movement: The Savannah Branch NAACP Youth Council
Students waiting in line at courthouse to register to vote (W. W. Law standing under directional sign).
W. W. Law Photograph Collection, Item #1121-100_1978. City of Savannah Municipal Archives.
W. W. Law Photograph Collection, Item #1121-100_1978. City of Savannah Municipal Archives.
The Black Community Rises Up: Sit-ins
NAACP lunch counter demonstration at Kress, March 1960.
W. W. Law Photograph Collection, Item #1121-100_0036. City of Savannah Municipal Archives.
W. W. Law Photograph Collection, Item #1121-100_0036. City of Savannah Municipal Archives.
The Black Community Rises Up: Mass Meetings
Mass meeting at First African Baptist Church, Sunday, May 1, 1960. “This was meeting following passage of anti-picket law, Police were outside taking photos.” –W. W. Law
W. W. Law Photograph Collection, Item #1121-100_0801. City of Savannah Municipal Archives.
W. W. Law Photograph Collection, Item #1121-100_0801. City of Savannah Municipal Archives.
The Black Community Rises Up: Marching to Freedom
1962 NAACP Membership Campaign (W. W. Law on the far right, Curtis Cooper on the left).
W. W. Law Photograph Collection, Item #1121-100_0069. City of Savannah Municipal Archives.
W. W. Law Photograph Collection, Item #1121-100_0069. City of Savannah Municipal Archives.
The Black Community Rises Up: Wade-ins
Savannah NAACP youth leaving NAACP office for wade-in at Tybee Island, August 1960. Photograph by Sam Williams. Those pictured included: Mercedes Arnold; E. J. Josey; ? McIntosh; Eleanor Mitchell; James Alexander; Carolyn Nelson (Snider); W. W. Law; Charlie Smart; Margita DeVida; Amos C. Brown (Morehouse College/State NAACP Youth President); Attorney B. C. Mayfield; Benjamin Van Clark; Annie Mae Mustipher; Judson Ford; Carrie Orr; and Hosea L. Williams.
W. W. Law Photograph Collection, Item #1121-100_1127. City of Savannah Municipal Archives.
W. W. Law Photograph Collection, Item #1121-100_1127. City of Savannah Municipal Archives.
The Black Community Rises Up: Wade-ins
Young man talking to an officer during Tybee Island wade-in, August 1960.
W. W. Law Photograph Collection, Item #1121-100_0940. City of Savannah Municipal Archives.
W. W. Law Photograph Collection, Item #1121-100_0940. City of Savannah Municipal Archives.
The Black Community Rises Up: Kneel-ins
Kneel-in demonstration at First Baptist Church, August 1960.
W. W. Law Photograph Collection, Item #1121-100_0755. City of Savannah Municipal Archives.
W. W. Law Photograph Collection, Item #1121-100_0755. City of Savannah Municipal Archives.
The Black Community Rises Up: Kneel-ins
Kneel-in demonstration at Wesley Monumental Methodist Church, August 1960.
W. W. Law Photograph Collection, Item #1121-100_0756. City of Savannah Municipal Archives.
W. W. Law Photograph Collection, Item #1121-100_0756. City of Savannah Municipal Archives.
The Black Community Rises Up: Kneel-ins
Kneel-in demonstration at unidentified church, August 1960.
W. W. Law Photograph Collection, Item #1121-100_0752. City of Savannah Municipal Archives.
W. W. Law Photograph Collection, Item #1121-100_0752. City of Savannah Municipal Archives.
The Black Community Rises Up: Suing for School Desegregation
NAACP Education Committee and supporting parents before traveling to the Federal District Court in Brunswick, Georgia. First row, seated left to right: B. Clarence Mayfield, local attorney; Mrs. Constance Baker Motley, Associate Director-Counsel; Derrick A. Bell, Jr., Counsel, NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund, Inc., New York City; and Reverend L. Scott Stell, Jr., lead plaintiff and NAACP Education Committee Chairman. Second row, standing left to right: Miss Virginia Mack; Mrs. Mercedes A. Wright; Mrs. Ethel B. Luten; Mrs. Frances Green; Mrs. Luther Newton; Dr. J. W. Jamerson, Jr., Vice President; W. W. Law, President; Leo E. Garrison; Mrs. Esther F. Garrison, Secretary; Mrs. Merle D. Williams; Mrs. Charlotte Dawson; and S. J. Brown. Photograph by Sam Williams.
W. W. Law Photograph Collection, Item #1121-100_0074. City of Savannah Municipal Archives.
W. W. Law Photograph Collection, Item #1121-100_0074. City of Savannah Municipal Archives.
The Black Community Rises Up: Suing for School Desegregation
Front standing, left to right: Henry Holmes; Jesse Stell; unidentified; W. W. Law; and Reverend Frederick G. Jaudon.
W. W. Law Photograph Collection, Item #1121-100_0075. City of Savannah Municipal Archives.
W. W. Law Photograph Collection, Item #1121-100_0075. City of Savannah Municipal Archives.
The Black Community Rises Up: Selective Buying
NAACP demonstration at Bargain Corner store, April-May 1963.
W. W. Law Photograph Collection, Items #1121-100_0651.02
W. W. Law Photograph Collection, Items #1121-100_0651.02
The Black Community Rises Up: Selective Buying
NAACP demonstration at Bargain Corner store, April-May 1963.
W. W. Law Photograph Collection, Items #1121-100_0656
W. W. Law Photograph Collection, Items #1121-100_0656
The Black Community Rises Up: Selective Buying
NAACP demonstration at Westside Shopping Center, US Highway 80, Garden City, July 1960. Photograph by W. B. Chisolm.
W. W. Law Photograph Collection, Item #1121-100_0659. City of Savannah Municipal Archives.
W. W. Law Photograph Collection, Item #1121-100_0659. City of Savannah Municipal Archives.
The Black Community Rises Up: Protesting at Grayson Stadium
W. W. Law and youth Dezzie Riley picketing the ballpark, circa 1960. Photograph by W. B. Chisolm.
W. W. Law Photograph Collection, Item #1121-100_1112. City of Savannah Municipal Archives.
W. W. Law Photograph Collection, Item #1121-100_1112. City of Savannah Municipal Archives.
Honoring “The Firsts”: Sit-in Honorees
First for Freedom Awards presented by Otis Johnson to Joan Tyson, Ernest Robinson, and Carolyn Quilloin.
W. W. Law Photograph Collection, Item #1121-100_0716. City of Savannah Municipal Archives.
W. W. Law Photograph Collection, Item #1121-100_0716. City of Savannah Municipal Archives.
Honoring “The Firsts”: School Desegregation
Youth demonstrating in front of the Board of Education Superintendent’s office.
W. W. Law Photograph Collection, Item #1121-100_1968. City of Savannah Municipal Archives.
W. W. Law Photograph Collection, Item #1121-100_1968. City of Savannah Municipal Archives.
Honoring “The Firsts”: School Desegregation
First nineteen students who integrated Savannah’s public high schools (Savannah High and Groves High) in September 1963, pictured with NAACP leadership, including W. W. Law, Reverend L. Scott Stell, and Bishop A. J. Scott.
W. W. Law Photograph Collection, Item #1121-100_1969. City of Savannah Municipal Archives.
W. W. Law Photograph Collection, Item #1121-100_1969. City of Savannah Municipal Archives.
Honoring “The Firsts”: School Desegregation
Otis Samuel Johnson was the first African American to graduate from Armstrong State College, pictured here with the Class of 1964.
W. W. Law Photograph Collection, Item #1121-100_0740. City of Savannah Municipal Archives.
W. W. Law Photograph Collection, Item #1121-100_0740. City of Savannah Municipal Archives.
The Results of School Desegregation
School desegregation at work; pledging allegiance to the flag in Massie Elementary School’s first grade, September 1967.
W. W. Law Photograph Collection, Item #1121-100_0739. City of Savannah Municipal Archives.
W. W. Law Photograph Collection, Item #1121-100_0739. City of Savannah Municipal Archives.
The Results of School Desegregation
“Captain Richard Morgan, commander of Co. A, Savannah High ROTC, is shown leading his company in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade on March 17, 1967. Morgan is the highest ranking Negro youth in the ROTC program at Savannah High. Also seen in the ranks are Norris Moore, Malcolm Walker and Dorsey Blake.” –W. W. Law
W. W. Law Photograph Collection, Item #1121-100_0482. City of Savannah Municipal Archives.
W. W. Law Photograph Collection, Item #1121-100_0482. City of Savannah Municipal Archives.
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