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Huldah (Beth) Taylor Collection

Guilford College student Beth Taylor participated in the sit-ins in Greensboro during 1963.

A resolution on segregation
This pamphlet, sponsored by the American Council of Christian Churches (ACCC) based in New York, NY, put forth the resolution reached during the ACCC's 16th Spring Convention which addressed the issue of racial segregation within the Christian church. The ACCC claimed that, "Segregation within the church on racial, linguistic, and national lines is not unchristian nor contrary to the specific commands of the Bible." This pamphlet belonged to Guilford College student Beth Taylor, who participated in the May, 1963 sit-in demonstration against segregation at the Greensboro S&W Cafeteria. Taylor was arrested during the protest on charges of trespassing.
Account of participation in the sit-ins
This personal account by Guilford College student Beth Taylor describes her participation in the sit-ins in Greensboro during 1963 offers background information about the movement and why she felt it was important to get involved. The account also includes the details of her arrest. This piece is also significant as Taylor offers a view of the College's reaction to these events which she felt to be contrary to the Quaker values of equality and justice. The account was written for members of her Friends Meeting in Pennsylvania.
Arrest record for sit-in
This is an official record of arrest by the Greensboro Police Department of Huldah Elizabeth Taylor on May 15, 1963 at 7:15 pm. At the age of 18, Taylor was arrested at the S&W Cafeteria in Greensboro on trespassing charges while participating in a planned sit-in demonstration. Taylor was a student at Guilford College at the time.
Black and white handshake tags
These small paper tags depict a white person and a black person shaking hands in an effort to promote integration. These belonged to Beth Taylor, a Guilford College student who participated in the May, 1963 sit-in demonstration against segregation at the S&W Cafeteria in Greensboro and was arrested during the protest on charges of trespassing.
Hundreds Held in Bias Protest in N.Carolina
This article reports on the mass demonstrations protesting segregation in Greensboro, NC on May 15, 1963. Included in the article is a description of the scene and the protest at the S&W Cafeteria as the largest in the area. Hundreds of students were arrested during these demonstrations and while the article focuses mainly on the "Negroes" and stated that all of the students at the S&W Cafeteria protest were North Carolina A&T State university students, it does add at the very end that four white college students were arrested as well. These four white college students included Huldah "Beth" Taylor who was a student at Guilford College, though her name and school are never mentioned in the account.
Infiltration in our churches
This illustrated pamphlet titled, "Infiltration in Our Churches" offers a commentary on racial integration through cartoon drawings. This item belonged to Beth Taylor, a Guilford College student who participated in the May, 1963 sit-in demonstration against segregation at the S&W Cafeteria in Greensboro. Taylor was arrested during the protest on charges of trespassing.
Letter from Janie to Beth Taylor
This letter, possibly from one of Beth Taylor's siblings noted how proud they were of Beth at home. The author also reminded Beth, ('Bether') not to worry too much and to keep studying because having a college degree would help her work for "long range goals and benefits too." This is one of the many letters written to Beth Taylor following her participation in the May, 1963 sit-in demonstrations in protest of segregation at the Greensboro S&W Cafeteria.
Letter of support from Helen Atkinson to Beth Taylor
This letter from Helen Atkinson, of the Doylestown, PA Quaker Meeting was written to Beth Taylor to express her support of Taylor's participation in the recent sit-in demonstrations protesting segregation at the S&W Cafeteria in Greensboro. Taylor, a student at Guilford College was scheduled to stand trial following her arrest during the demonstration on charges of trespassing. Helen Atkinson expressed her hope that the trial would come to a "peaceful settlement based upon human love and brotherhood." This is one of many letters of support Taylor received from her home community following her arrest.
Letter of support from Lawrence Miller, Jr. to Beth Taylor
This letter from General Secretary of the Doylestown Meeting, Lawrence Miller, Jr. expressed his support and congratulations to Guilford College student Beth Taylor for her participation in the recent demonstrations in Greensboro protesting segregation. Miller offers help in any way necessary and requests that Taylor record her account of the events so that they might be included in the Monthly Meeting Newsletter.
Letter of support from Professor Polhemus to Beth Taylor
This letter from Guilford College professor of Political Science Oscar Polhemus and his wife Helen expressed their support of Beth Taylor's participation in the sit-in at the S&W Cafeteria in Greensboro. They noted that while they would not be able to shield her from the 'ostracism and criticism' that was likely to follow; they would like to support her as much as possible, including helping with any fines incurred by her actions. This was significant as not all of the Guilford College community supported the student participation in such demonstrations.
Letter of support to Beth Taylor from Frank Bjornsgaard & handmade card
This letter of support from Frank Bjornsgaard expressed his congratulations and pride in Beth Taylor's participation in the sit-in demonstration at the S&W Cafeteria in Greensboro, NC. This correspondence also included a handmade card by Bjornsgaard's son, Kirk, "because Hallmark just doesn't have anything for this sort of situation" a sentiment with which he agreed. Bjornsgaard, the editor for the Monthly Meeting Newsletter for the Doylestown Meeting in Pennsylvania, Taylor's hometown Meeting, also requested that she write an account of her "experience." Bjornsgaard listed several reasons why this would be beneficial both for Taylor, personally, as well as to quell rumors and perhaps move others beyond talk and towards action with regards to civil rights.
Letter of thanks & advice from Mr. Bjornsgard to Beth Taylor
This letter from Frank Bjornsgaard to Beth Taylor thanked her for sharing a written account of her experience with the sit-in at the S&W Cafeteria in Greensboro, NC. Bjornsgaard also offered advice regarding how to continue her work and deal with the emotions and frustrations that came with such actions in a community that was not, in her eyes, fully supportive. This correspondence is significant as it provided an outsiders view on the situation and especially on the relationship between Taylor and those at Guilford College who she saw as unsupportive of her involvement in demonstrations for civil rights.
Poll for Guilford College student body position on integration demonstrations
This survey was used in 1963 to poll the student body at Guilford College in order to "clarify its position concerning nine member students who participated in integration demonstrations this past week." Beth Taylor was one of the nine students referenced in this statement. The statement to be voted on was whether the student body neither supported nor condemned their fellow classmates, but rather left the responsibility of their actions to the individual students who chose to participate. Voting yes meant that a student agreed that the actions by fellow classmates were not the sentiments of the entire student body of the College. This poll helps to document the campus climate to which these nine student protestors returned.
Post card to support Beth Taylor
This short post card correspondence from Mrs. Scheel of Doylestown, PA was written to express congratulations and support to Beth Taylor following her "adventure." This was in reference to Taylor's participation in the May 1963 sit-in demonstration in protest of segregation at the S&W Cafeteria in Greensboro where Taylor was attending Guilford College. Taylor had been arrested for her participation on charges of trespassing.

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