Minnijean Brown Trickey's 1959 High School Graduation Dress

Despite disruption resulting from the suspension from Central High School and the later closure of all of Little Rock’s public schools to avoid integration, Minnijean Brown graduated on schedule in 1959 from New Lincoln School in New York City. New Lincoln School was a private, integrated school from 1948-1988, known for its progressive educational methods. While Minnijean had to move away from home to complete high school after the expulsion, the students remaining at Central High School and other public Little Rock schools had their formal education disrupted during the 1958-59 school year while several politicians fought unsuccessfully to prevent school desegregation by closing public schools.

This tea length white dress has a sheer white flocked floral pattern layer over a plain white underdress. The short sleeves are sheer, the skirt full, and the bodice fitted with a zipper and buttons on the back. Minnijean designed this dress herself, specifically for her graduation and gave her sketches to her sponsor, Mamie Phipps Clark. The dress was made by a local NY seamstress employed by Mamie Clark and presented as a graduation gift to Minnijean. According to Minnijean, the dress fit perfectly and helped boost her confidence; her graduation photograph was published by several New York papers.

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