During the civil rights struggles of the 1960s, activists knew that securing the sympathy and support of the federal government was essential. Drawing on materials in Mudd Manuscript Library, Professor of History Kevin M. Kruse will compare and contrast the 1961 Freedom Rides and the 1965 Selma protests to show how the federal response shaped the course of civil rights campaigns, for better and for worse.

A reception and open house will follow at Mudd Manuscript Library beginning at 6pm, where the exhibition “Nobody Turn Us Around: The Freedom Rides and Selma to Montgomery Marches–Selections from the John Doar Papers” is currently on display. Curators Will Clements and Phoebe Nobles will be available for questions. During the reception, a special pop-up exhibit will be on view in the Mudd Library reading room, featuring archival materials chosen by Kevin Kruse to complement his talk.

Program
Talk: 4:30pm-5:45pm
Reception and exhibition open house: 6:00pm-7:00pm