1927-1929, 1937-1938: William B. Jason

8th President 1927-19291937-1938 (Acting President)

1938-1956: Sherman D. Scruggs

11th President 1938-1956

3.3 Charlie Houston Letter to Walter on May 24, 1938

Although Lloyd Gaines’ battle against the University of Missouri, and ultimately the Jim Crow laws emanating from Plessy v Ferguson, was, on the surface, not faring too well, Charles Hamilton Houston, however, was pleased.

3.4 United States Supreme Court 1938

Gaines’ legal team, led by Houston, had faith in the justice system of the United States and anticipated getting a fair trial at the federal level. So far, all decisions had occurred in Missouri, a state with a segregated system.The fact that Gaines v Canada had reached the Supreme Court was promising indeed. It was rare that any case involving African-Americans would be considered by the highest court in the land. President Franklin D. Roosevelt had been appointing Justices that were more willing to consider cases concerned with civil rights. On November 9, 1938, the Supreme Court of the United States heard arguments in the Gaines v Canada case. The defense was unmoved by the rude treatment and made their presentation with professionalism and aplomb. Houston’s argument remained steadfast; not only was the state of Missouri’s statute concerning out-of-state tuition for blacks in violation of the 14th Amendment, but the very idea of segregation itself violated the Constitution. William Hogsett, the attorney for the University of Missouri, countered that the school was merely following state laws. The MU legal team was flustered as questions from the bench forced them to correct overstatements regarding Missouri’s “generosity to Negro students”. With crossed fingers and high hopes, the Gaines legal team rested their case and awaited the verdict. Meanwhile, Lloyd Gaines was still in Michigan. Lloyd held a W.P.A. job as a Civil Service Clerk and was in constant contact with his family and attorneys. His mood in his correspondence was hopeful and positive.

1.5 Sherman D. Scruggs, 11th President of Lincoln University, 1938-1956

The LU Board of Curators ordered its president, Sherman Scruggs, to have a law school up and running and ready for Lloyd Gaines by September 1, 1939. This task seemed insurmountable; establishing a law school on an equal par with that of MU in eight months would, in the least, be miraculous.

1938 Pauline Julianne Combs

1938-1939 Miss Homecoming

Bennett Hall, 1938 drawing

Bennett Hall was named for Private Logan A. Bennett of the 62nd U.S. Colored Infantry which contributed money for Lincoln University;s founding. He was a life long resident of Jefferson City, Mo. , and remained an ardent supporter of Lincoln University. This two story brick building housed young women and was occupied in 1938. It is now the new phase of living and learning for students with a concentration in Agriculture and Natural Sciences.