Oct 15, 2015

ANNAPOLIS, April 4, 1968 – Governor Agnew closed Bowie State College tonight “until I find that conditions there have returned to normal.”

The Governor acted two hours after State Police, on his orders, arrested 227 of the students and a civil rights leader who has refused to leave the State House by the 5:00 p.m. closing time.

The peaceful arrests of more than one third of the full-time student body of the predominately African-American college came after the students demanding to see the Governor and discuss their complaints about decrepit dormitories and underpaid faculty, sat down in the State House lobby, opened textbooks and conducted a 3 1/2 hour “study-in.”

: State Troopers guard the steps up to the Governor’s office in the State House as students conducted a “study-in” to protest Governor Agnew’s refusal to meet them. When they ignored the Trooper’s orders to clear the building, they were arrested, marched peacefully to busses and jailed. (William L. LaForce/Baltimore Sun, 1968)

: Awaiting Jail – Bowie State College students, arrested for refusing to leave the State House, wait quietly in the Capital basement for transportation to the county detention center. (Paul Hutchins/Baltimore Sun, 1968)

: Students from Bowie State College sit quietly in the Maryland State House waiting for an audience with Gov. Spiro Agnew. (AP Wirephoto)

: April 5, 1968 – BEHIND THE WIRE — Bowie State College students arrested during a protest at the State House in Annapolis yesterday ended up behind this wire fence at the county jail. (Paul Hutchins/Baltimore Sun)

: Governor Spiro Agnew: “I hereby direct that Bowie State College be closed…” (Hutchins/Baltimore Sun, 1968)

: April 5, 1968 – CLASSROOM — Two dozen State troopers led by Capt. Earl W. Reith, at desk, occupied Bowie State College today after moving students out as ordered by the Governor. (Clarence B. Garrett/Baltimore Sun)

: Eight State troopers file through students into the administration building of Bowie State College during mid-afternoon. (Hotz/Baltimore Sun, 1968)

: Roland B. Smith, student body president at Bowie State College. (Lloyd Pearson/Baltimore Sun, 1968)

: Bowie State College, 1968. (Baltimore Sun archives)

: April 2, 1968 – BOWIE STATE — Senator Julian Lapides (D. 2d Baltimore) scans dorm room as student guide, Calvin Reed, looks on. (Weyman Swagger/Baltimore Sun)

: GETTING READY – State troopers gear themselves for action that, as it turned out, did not occur during yesterday’s confrontation between students and the State at Bowie. (George Cook/Baltimore Sun, 1968)

: March 31, 1968 – BLOCKADE — Roland R. Smith, Jr. Bowie State College student government president, and Cora Rice, an N.A.A.P. official, stand before a student barrier in front of school. (George H. Cook/Baltimore Sun)

: March 30, 1968 – Students set up roadblocks at the endtrance to Bowie State College as they take over campus. (Baltimore Sun archives)

: March 30, 1968 – STUDENTS SIT-IN AT BOWIE – Bowie State College students line the halls of the campus adminstration buliding as part of their protest against the condition of college facilitics and low State aid. Some 400 of the 592 students are involved in demonstrations. (Edward Nolan/Baltimore Sun)

: March 29, 1968 – TENSE CAMPUS — Students at Bowie State College gather on the campus, scene of a two-day old boycott, Campus leaders conferred with Samuel J. Myers, Bowie president. (Lloyd Pearson/Baltimore Sun)

From the Vault: Bowie State students stage “study-in” at the State House

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