Use Restrictions

None

Access

Collection is open for use without restrictions

Preferred Citation

Box/Folder Samuel Wilbert Tucker Collections, M 56, Special Collections and Archives, James Branch Cabell Library, Virginia Commonwealth University

Acquisition Information

The materials in this collection were borrowed in 1996 from Julia E. Spaulding Tucker, wife of Samuel W. Tucker, to be photocopied. The originals were returned. Accession number 97/Jul/18

Biographical/Historical Information

Samuel Wilbert Tucker (1913-1990), a Richmond civil-rights lawyer active in desegregation efforts in Virginia in the 1950s and 1960s, was the senior member of the Richmond law firm of Hill, Tucker and Marsh [which included Oliver W. Hill and Henry Marsh]. Tucker was also active in the NAACP, serving as chairman of the legal staff of the Virginia State Conference and representing Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia on the National Board of Directors.

Tucker, a native of Alexandria, Virginia, was born June 18, 1913. He graduated from Howard University in 1933 and began practicing law in Alexandria the following year. In 1939 he represented five young African Americans who had attempted to use the Alexandria library. Following a series of cases that left the situation unresolved, the city established a separate library for African Americans. During World War II he served in the 366th Infantry in Italy from 1941-1945. During the 1950s and 1960s, Tucker participated in litigation against more than 50 county and city school boards to compel desegregation of public schools and argued more than 30 cases before the U.S. Court of Appeals. He died October 19, 1990.

Scope and Content Information

The collection contains consists primarily of photocopies of various Virginia newspaper articles on school desegregation efforts in Virginia, from 1960-1964, in which Tucker played a role. The collection also contains newspaper articles on other civil rights issues as well as photocopies of correspondence and other materials.

Arrangement

The large portion of newspaper articles on desegregation efforts in Virginia are arranged chronological and then by topic.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• Civil rights movements -- History -- 20th century -- Virginia
• Lawyers -- Archives -- Virginia
• School integration -- Virginia.
• Segregation -- Virginia.