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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 A man of humble beginnings, Gaines had dreams and goals for which he was willing to overcome outdated legal, social and educational systems do not only better himself but make a stand for his fellow man.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.
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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.
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1.3 Lloyd and George Gaines in an undated photograph
Lloyd Gaines and his brother George Gaines in an undated photograph
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1.4 Gaines Family Home at 3932 Weest Belle Place, St. Louis, Missouri
Following the death of Lloyd's father, his family, the size of which is reported to be anywhere from five to 11 siblings, moved to St. Louis, Missouri in 1926, settling in the city's Central West End neighborhood.
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1.5 Vashon High School, Saint Louis, Missouri
After attending junior high school, Lloyd Gaines enrolled in Vashon High School two years later at the age of sixteen. Gaines proved to be an extremely talented student, especially excelling in history and English.
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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
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1.7 Stowe Teachers College, Saint Louis, Missouri
In addition to attending Stowe, Lloyd continued with his magazine subscription sales to help support his family. After a year at the local college, Lloyd Gaines made the decision to transfer to Lincoln University in Jefferson City Missouri.
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2.1 Lincoln University Campus, 1930s
In the fall of 1932, Lloyd Gaines enrolled at Lincoln University in Jefferson City Missouri. Away from his family for the first time, Lloyd began to expand his horizons.
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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.
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2.4 W. Sherman Savage, Lincoln University History Professor, 1921-60
Gaines studied History and Education at Lincoln and was frequently seen in Memorial Hall chatting with his mentors in the History Department, Drs. W. Sherman Savage and Lorenzo Greene about his future after graduation.
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2.5 Charles W. Florence, 10th President of Lincoln University, 1931-37.
Gaines studied History and Education at Lincoln and was frequently seen in Memorial Hall chatting with his mentors in the History Department, Drs. W. Sherman Savage and Lorenzo Greene about his future after graduation.
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2.6 Lloyd Lionel Gaines, Lincoln University Junior Class Portrait, 1933-34
When the summer of 1935 rolled around, Gaines was contemplating his next step. He was graduating in August, with honors no less, and he was pondering a career. After graduation, he filed papers with placement office at Lincoln but he could not find an immediate position. Although he minored in education, Gaines was not primarily searching for a teaching position.
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2.7 Lincoln University Senior Class of 1935
After graduation, Lloyd Gaines filed papers with placement office at Lincoln but he could not find an immediate position. Although he minored in education, Gaines was not primarily searching for a teaching position. However, he had a backup plan. Lloyd's background in history led him to an interest in the law and unbeknownst to anyone, save his mentor, Lorenzo Greene, he was preparing to what no American-American had done before. Lloyd Gaines was going to enroll in the University Missouri School of Law.
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3.1 University of Missouri Campus, 1930s
In the spring of 1935, Lloyd Gaines had requested a catalog from the University of Missouri.
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3.2 Lorenzo Greene, Lincoln University History Professor, 1933-72
In late August, Lloyd Gaines filled out an application after conferring with Dr. Lorenzo Greene and one of his civics instructors at Vashon High School, Zaid D. Lenoir.
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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.
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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.
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3.5 S. Woodson Canada, University of Missouri Registra
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.
