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U niversi^ MicnSiIrns International 300 N, ZEEB ROAD, ANN ARBOR, Ml 48106 18 BEDFORD ROW, LONDON WC1R 4EJ, ENGLAND 8113243 M a s t e r s , ISABELL THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF OLIVER BROWN, THE FIRST LISTED PLAINTIFF OF BROWN VS. BOARD OF EDUCATION, TOPEKA, KANSAS The University o fOklahoma Ph.D. 1980 University Microfiims i nternat ion el300 N . Zeeb Road, A m Arbor, MI 48106 Copyright 1981 by Masters, isabell All Rights Reserved THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA GRADUATE COLLEGE THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF OLIVER BROWN, THE FIRST LISTED PLAINTIFF OF BROWN VS_^ BOARD OF EDUCATION, TOPEKA, KANSAS A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE GRADUATE FACULTY in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY By ISABELL MASTERS Norman, Oklahoma 1980 THE LIFE AND LEGACY Of OLIVER BROWN, THE FIRST LISTED PLAINTIFF OF BROWN VS_^ BOARD OF EDUCATION, TOPEKA, KANSAS APPROVED BY Oiy\S-^ Chairman 1U c ^ DISSERTATION COMMITTEE TABLE OF CONTENTS Page LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS....................................... v DEDICATION ................................................... vii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS........................................... viii PREFACE........................ X General Overview of Study......................... xiii CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND..................... 1 Need and Purpose of Study.................. 3 Statement of the Problem .................. 4 Procedures .................................. 5 Methodology.................................. 7 Limitations.................................. 8 II. OLIVER BROWN — HIS ROOTS ....................... 10 Slavery and Migration in America to 1900 . 11 Blacks Leave the South .................... 18 The Exodusters............................. 21 III. OLIVER'S LIFE IN TOPEKA ......................... 36 The Physical and Social Milieu ........... 37 IV. THE MINISTRY....................................... 52 Brief History of the BlackChurch .......... 52 111 TABLE OF CONTENTS (Continued) CHAPTER Page V. BROWN vs^ BOARD OF EDUCATION - TOPEKA, KANSAS. 62 Black Education ......................... 62 Who Filed the Case? ............ 67 Brown Era Demography of Topeka. ...... 69 Highlight Procedures of the Case.............. 79 Reactions to Supreme Court Decision .... 87 VI. REVEREND BROWN'S MOVE TO SPRINGFIELD, MISSOURI . 98 Oliver‘s First and Final M o v e ............... 101 Reverend Brown's Death.................... 105 VII. OLIVER BROWN: THE LEGACY...........................109 VIII. CONCLUSION.......................................... 125 The Walk to Sumner School .................. APPENDIX A ................................................... 128 APPENDIX B .................................................. APPENDIX C .................................................. APPENDIX D .................................................. BIBLIOGRAPHY................................................. 171 IV LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS Page Oliver Brown 1918 - 1 9 6 1 ................................... xvi Harriet Tubman ............................................. 20 Signs Like This Encouraged The Exodusters.................. 22 The Gravesite and Tombstone of Lucinda Arch/White, An Exoduster and Grandmother of This Writer .... 25 Cyrus K. Holliday, Founder of T o p e k a ...................... 28 The Brown Home for Fifty-Two Years, 935 College Avenue . 42 Topeka High S c h o o l ........................................... 49 Church Services on a South Carolina Plantation ......... 54 The St. Mark's A.M.E. Church, Topeka, Kansas, Oliver Brownes First Pastorate. ............ 57 Reverend Maurice Lang III Personal Friend of Oliver Brown.................................................. 59 Booker T. Washington ............. 65 William Edward Burghardt DuBois..............................65 George McLaurin................................................72 Linda Brown's Kindergarten C l a s s ...................... 73 Mrs. Lucinda Todd............................................. 77 Thurgood Marshall and Spottswood Robinson ILL. ..... 88 The Supreme Court that Rendered the 1954 Decision. 89 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS (Continued) Page Awaiting Court Argument.......................................SO Chief Justice Earl Warren................................. 91 The Oliver Brown Family.......................................95 Linda Brown— 1954........................................... 96 All-Black Monroe School.......................................97 All-White Sumner School.......................................97 Reverend Oliver Leon Brown, His Family and Church Mem­ bers of Benton Avenue A.M.E. Church, October 1959 ............................................... 10Û Final Resting Place of Reverend Oliver Leon Brown. 108 Reverend Brown's Mother, Lutie Brown 1898-1976 ......... 108 Reverend Martin Luther King ............................ 114 VI DEDICATION "California mother joins her six children in quest of academic degrees." Ebony--March, 1970. ONE DECADE LATER I am grateful to dedicate this study to my children, who have taken time out from their busy careers to inspire me as well as help me to overcome my bitters and sweets in such a significant, difficult, and rewarding task (as honor- ale mention) : Shirley Jean Masters, B.S.-Music-Psychology Alfreda Dean Masters, M.A.-English-Actress-Poet Cora Lavonne Wilds Masters, M.A.-M.U.S., Sociology- Professor-Political Science Sandra Kay Masters, B.S.-Sociology-Instructor, Spanish- Mathematics Walter Ray Masters, B.S.-Sociology-Deputy Officer Thomas A. Masters-Theology, Political Science, Elder- Pastor-Overseer Vll ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I am elated to express my deepest gratitude to my dedicated committee: Dr. Don Udell, who was the first to accept my folder from the Dean of Education, upon my request, which encouraged me to pursue admittance into the doctoral program; Dr. William Carmack, a communication specialist and an inspiration; Dr. Paul Glad, the Merrick Professor and expert historian; Dr. Jidlaph Kamoche, an accomplished historian; Dr. Joseph Whitecotton, anthropologist, a repre­ sentative for the Graduate College, and Dr. Charles Butler, my advisor, who has worked so diligently and patiently, encompassing extensive time and dedicated efforts to help me achieve specific and professional goals. Others who have served as a source of mental, spiritual and intellectual support in my endeavor are: Dr. George Henderson, a human relations specialist, author, and a former dedicated member of my committee; Dr. Glen Snider, an educa- tion and human rights specialist who so compassionately lifted me in my hours of bereavement; Dr. Gerald Kidd, College of Education, Oklahoma University; Dr. Earl Deny, Vlll California State University, Los Angeles; Mrs. Maurice Morse, Reading Consultant, Pasadena School District; J. B. Holland, retired school principal, Topeka, Kansas; Attorney Charles Scott, Topeka, Kansas; Missionary Mary Winchester; Evangelist Jean Tyree Cooper; Nedella Foster; Luella Burton; Ernestine Williams Harris; Cora McDaniel, mother, 90 years old, yet still a great inspiration and advisor; Matthew McDaniel CFlookie); Harry McDaniel, Oklahoma City and Itt McDaniel, Beaumont, Texas (brothers); Bishop Earl Bowie, Bishop of the Tenth District of the Church of the Living God C.W. F.F. , Oklahoma City; Rev. Forrest Adams and Rev. William Mack of Syracuse, New York; and many other friends, relatives and acquaintances too numerous to mention, who contributed their dedicated services and support in the development of this study. This is my formal way of saying: "Thanks to All of You." IX PREFACE This dissertation has, first of all, been an attempt to create a written history of a person whose actions had a significant

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