Maintaining Business as Usual During the Crisis (Elizabeth Huckaby-2)

Elizabeth Huckaby began the 1957 school year expecting to continue teaching students and to keeping order at Central High. As vice principal of girls, before the crisis she taught English and was responsible for the discipline of female students and for keeping attendance records. The crisis, however, forced her to leave the classroom so that she could spend most of her time disciplining the increasing student absences and suspending troublemakers who attacked black students. In addition to her growing administrative duties, the appearance of the National Guard disrupted the regular school business.

At the beginning of the 1957 school year, the National Guard’s presence deterred the daily school activities when Governor Faubus ordered the National Guard to keep the black students and all black staff members out of the school. In Crisis at Central High, Huckaby wrote that the National Guard blockade locked out the cafeteria employees and her book delivery. Without many of the cafeteria employees, lunch was severely delayed and many students missed their afternoon classes.

When the Army’s 101st Airborne Division and National Guard troops arrived following President Eisenhower’s order, Elizabeth Huckaby had the additional task of working with the troops to make sure the students were protected. With the increasing student absences, the acts of aggression against black students, and the National Guard presence, Elizabeth Huckaby spent the entire school year performing the necessary administrative tasks that kept the school running.

Art students with pads and paper sketch soldiers lounging on Central High's lawn.
Central High art students sketch resting soldiers on Central High grounds, Raymond Preddy Photographs on the Little Rock Central High School Crisis (UALR.PH.0095).
101st Airborne Captain Barker and Central High students look over a newspaper together. They are standing at a hallway complete with lockers.
101st Airborne Captain Barker stands with Central High students, Raymond Preddy Photographs on the Little Rock Central High School Crisis (UALR.PH.0095).
National Guardsmen standing in the back of a truck speaks with a boy in front of Central High School.
Arkansas National Guardsmen speak to a boy in front of Central High School, Raymond Preddy Photographs on the Little Rock Central High School Crisis (UALR.PH.0095).

 

 

101st Airborne soldier stands guard at Central High's entrance as female students walk up the steps and enter the school. In the background, soldiers line the street in front of the school.
A member of the 101st Airborne stands guard outside of Central High’s front entrance, Raymond Preddy Photographs on the Little Rock Central High School Crisis (UALR.PH.0095).
The 101st Airborne convoy of Army Jeeps pull in front of Central High School.
A convoy of the 101st Airborne parks outside of Central High School, Raymond Preddy Photographs on the Little Rock Central High School Crisis (UALR.PH.0095).