Carlotta Walls LaNier's First Day of School Dress

Created by

Sportswear by Sheinberg

Worn by

Carlotta Walls LaNier, American, born 1942

Subject of

Little Rock Central High School, American, founded 1927

Caption

Carlotta Walls LaNier was the youngest of the nine students to desegregate Little Rock Central High School in September, 1957. She wore this matching skirt and blouse to the first day of school, which was also the first day she was turned away.

Description

This outfit was worn by Carlotta Walls LaNier during the "Little Rock Crisis" of 1957 at Little Rock Central High School. The outfit consists of a skirt and blouse in a matching alphabetical print of blue, teal, and white on a black background. The blouse fastens with small black buttons, has a pointed collar and short sleeves that tie into bows at the cuffs. The skirt is full and has several pleats at the waist.

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Carlotta Walls LaNier

1957

Object number

2012.117.1ab

Restrictions & Rights

No Known Copyright Restrictions

Type

ensembles (costume)

Medium

cotton with plastic buttons

Dimensions

H x W (top): 22 3/4 x 23 1/2 in. (57.8 x 59.7 cm)

H x W (skirt): 27 x 41 in. (68.6 x 104.1 cm)

Place used

Little Rock, Pulaski County, Arkansas, United States, North and Central America

Classification

Clothing-Historical

Movement

Civil Rights Movement

Exhibition

Defending Freedom, Defining Freedom: The Era of Segregation, 1876-1968

On View

NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Concourse 2, C 2053

National Museum of African American History and Culture

Topic

African American

Civil Rights

Clothing and dress

Education

Race relations

Segregation

U.S. History, 1953-1961

Record ID

nmaahc_2012.117.1ab

Usage of Metadata (Object Detail Text)

CC0

GUID (Link to Original Record)

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd516a6c474-e3c6-4baa-98d4-03ba9b73019c