2.2 Lincoln University History Club, 1934-35, Lloyd Gaines is in the back row, third from left

The usually reserved and shy scholar made a name for himself at Lincoln; joining the Alpha Phi Alpha social fraternity and becoming a member of the History Club and the Student Government, where he served as President for his senior class.

1.1 Lloyd Gaines: The Man, The Mission, & The Mystery

When great Civil Rights pioneers are discussed, the name Lloyd Gaines deserves to be mentioned. A man of humble beginnings, Gaines had dreams and goals for which he was willing to overcome outdated legal, social and educational systems do not only better himself but make a stand for his fellow man. The story of Lloyd Gaines is one of struggle, hope, success and injury. It is a life and legacy to be recognized, admired and celebrated.

1.2 Water Valley, Mississippi, Birthplace of Lloyd Gaines

Lloyd Gaines was born in Water Valley, Mississippi in 1911. Gaines’ family was sharecroppers outside the small Mississippi town, toiling in the cotton fields which caused Lloyd’s school attendance to be quite sporadic.

1.6 Lloyd Gaines, Valedictorian, Vashon Class of 1931

Lloyd Gaines also helped to support his family by selling magazine subscriptions. He graduated in 1931 after only three years and served as the Valedictorian of his class. As a senior, Gaines finished first in a local essay contest, winning a prize of $250 (equivalent to $3000 in modern currency) that he used to enroll as a student at Stowe Teachers College in St. Louis for the 1931-32 school year

3.4 MU registrar informed Lloyd Gaines that he was not eligible to attend the University of Missouri due to the fact that Gaines was a Negro

After several weeks, Gaines finally received a reply to his application from Sy Woodson Canada, the MU registrar. Canada informed him that he was not eligible to attend the University of Missouri due to the fact that Gaines was a Negro and it was in conflict of Missouri state law for MU to admit him.

3.3 Lloyd Gaines

Although Canada did not have the ultimate authority to reject Gaines’ application, the chances for Lloyd were bleak; it appeared that the School of Law at MU would not accept him. His only other choice was to abide by a Missouri statute which allowed for blacks to apply for a scholarship to attend a school in a neighboring state if the desired program was not offered at Lincoln University. Lloyd was a citizen of Missouri and he was determined to be educated in his home state.

2.2 Lloyd Gaines

Since Sy Canada was the Registrar at the University of Missouri his name was on the petition, but Gaines was, in fact, taking on the government and Constitution of the State of Missouri. In their opening arguments, Gaines’ legal team recounted their allegations against the university, charging that the school violated Gaines’ civil rights, in particular those rights covered by the 14th Amendment.

3.1 Lloyd Gaines sitting in a chair

While Lloyd Gaines, who was now enrolled at the University of Michigan, worked on a Masters degree in Economics, Houston, Redmond and Espy planned their next step. The decisions in Missouri were not made on a level playing field, so to speak. They needed to take their case to place where justice was blind and unbiased; the Supreme Court of the United States.

1.1 Lloyd Gaines

Lloyd Gaines had won his case. Speaking to reporters, Gaines said he was pleased with the result and looked forward to attending the Missouri School of Law in the fall of 1939. The Gaines v Canada decision was a major triumph and significant steppingstone for the Civil Rights movement. No longer did African-Americans in Missouri have to choose to be educated elsewhere when seeking degrees not offered to them in their home state. This was decided in the Murray v Pearson case three years prior, but the Gaines case had national implications since it was decided by the US Supreme Court.

1.2 News Article About US Supreme Court Justices Rule in Favor of Lloyd Gaines by 6 to 2 Vote in The Call Newspaper

Following the decision, northern newspapers hailed it as “the Supreme Court speaking out in defense of the quality of human rights.” The Kansas City Call, one of the leading black newspapers in Missouri, declared, “If keeping the races separate is so important to Missourians that coeducation is unthinkable then let them count the cost!” The NAACP’s long-term plan for casting financial burden upon the Jim Crow states was now a reality.

2.1 Lloyd Gaines close up image

Charles Hamilton Houston and other NAACP attorneys assembled in early October 1939 to take depositions in preparation for the hearing scheduled a week later in Columbia to determine whether the university had complied with the Gaines decision. Attorneys took depositions from all of the instructors of the new LU law school as their preparation for the court proceedings wound down. The deposition of Lloyd Gaines was next. Attorneys planned to ask Gaines whether he considered Lincoln to be as good of a law school as Missouri and whether he planned to enroll. Called for questioning, Gaines did not respond. He could not be located anywhere. Lloyd’s mother, Callie Gaines, recalled that in January her son “left here to go to Kansas City to make a speech. That’s the last I saw of him.” While in Kansas City, Gaines spoke at the Centennial Methodist Church. He also looked for work, but not finding any caught a train for Chicago, telling people in Kansas City that he would stay a few days and return home.

2.3 Eddie Mae Page, Friend of Lloyd Gaines in Chicago

During this time Lloyd Gaines took meals at the home of Eddie Mae Page; a friend from St. Louis. Running low on funds, he stayed at the Alpha Phi Alpha house where members took up a collection for him. On a rainy night, March 19, 1939, Lloyd Gaines told friends that he was going to buy stamps and would be right back. To this day, Lloyd L. Gaines has never been located.

2.4 "The Strange Disappearance of Lloyd Gaines"

The May 1951 Ebony Magazine Article "The Strange Disappearance of Lloyd Gaines"

2. 6 Memorial for Lloyd Gaines, St. Peter's Cemetery, Normandy, St. Louis County, Missouri

What happened to Gaines? There are many ideas ranging from being murdered or lynched, being bribed to run away, or disappearing on his own to get away from the pressure of celebrity. That final possibility was brought about by Dr. Greene, who claimed that a man who sounded like Gaines had phoned him while in Mexico and wished to meet. The man never showed up. A recent theory is one of where Lloyd was kidnapped by opponents of the Gaines court decision who took him to Jefferson City and lynched him in McClung Park. All of these theories are speculation and the fact remains that Lloyd Gaines’ whereabouts are a mystery to this day.

3.3 University of Missouri awarded a law degree to Lloyd Gaines in 2006

In 2006, a law degree was posthumously awarded to Lloyd and accepted by his nephew, George Gaines.