The names of 1,281 women -- members of the Women's Emergency Committee to Open Our Schools -- are etched into the glass windows of the Terry House's conservatory. Children, family, friends and even a few of those honored spent time looking at the names during a reception at the mansion Oct. 8.
The reception, a follow-up to the 60th anniversary of the desegregation of Central High School, was a chance to recognize the living WEC members and to promote the 60th anniversary of the committee formed Sept 16, 1958, in response to then Gov. Orval Faubus' closure of all Little Rock public high schools.
The first meeting of the committee was at the Terry House, home to Adolphine Fletcher Terry, founder of the committee.
Committee members in attendance included Jean Gordon, who was at the first meeting; Pat Youngdahl, who motioned for the committee to disband in 1963; and June Freeman, who coordinated the 50th anniversary celebration and conceived and designed the conservatory windows honoring the committee.
The reception was hosted by Little Rock Mayor Mark Stodola, the Arkansas Arts Center and the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service.
-- Story and photos by Cary Jenkins
High Profile on 10/15/2017