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Home Learn Classroom Primary Source Sets Primary Source Set: The Tallahassee Ten

Primary Source Set
The Tallahassee Ten

In June 1961, Interfaith Freedom Riders challenged segregated interstate buses by traveling from Washington, D.C. to Tallahassee, Florida. After successfully completing the Freedom Ride they planned to fly home but first decided to test whether or not the group would be served in the segregated airport restaurant. After being denied service, 10 Freedom Riders, later known as the Tallahassee Ten, were arrested for unlawful assembly.

Later that month they were sentenced to pay a $500 fine or serve 60 days in jail. They were released on bond and spent three years appealing the charges. Nine original riders returned to Tallahassee to serve their jail sentence in August 1964 (one paid the fine), but they were released after four days.

Photo credit: Rabbi Israel Dresner reads a message of support after being jailed in Tallahassee, 1964.

(State Archives of Florida)


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Documents

"Tallahassee Ten" members at the Greyhound bus station lunchroom.

Unidentified Freedom Riders in the Greyhound bus station lunchroom with the

Unidentified Freedom Riders in the Greyhound bus station lunchroom with the "Tallahassee Ten".

Members of the

Members of the "Tallahassee Ten" at the municipal airport.

Members of the

Members of the "Tallahassee Ten" attempting to enter the Savarin Restaurant at the municipal airport.

Rev. John Collier from Newark, N.J. (wearing bow tie), speaking with police as the

Rev. John Collier from Newark, N.J. (wearing bow tie), speaking with police as the "Tallahassee Ten" are arrested at the airport.

Reverend Robert J. Stone, from New York City, being arrested with the

Reverend Robert J. Stone, from New York City, being arrested with the "Tallahassee Ten" at the airport.

Freedom riders being arrested at the Tallahassee Regional Airport.

Freedom riders being arrested at the Tallahassee Regional Airport.

Priscilla Stephens (later Kruize), from CORE, being arrested at the Tallahassee Regional Airport.

Priscilla Stephens (later Kruize), from CORE, being arrested at the Tallahassee Regional Airport.

Reverend John W. Collier from Newark, New Jersey, being arrested with the

Reverend John W. Collier from Newark, New Jersey, being arrested with the "Tallahassee Ten" at the airport.

Priscilla Stephens (later Kruize), from CORE, and Reverend Petty D. McKinney, from Nyack, N.Y., in the back of a Tallahassee police car.

Priscilla Stephens (later Kruize), from CORE, and Reverend Petty D. McKinney, from Nyack, N.Y., in the back of a Tallahassee police car.

"Tallahassee Ten" member, Reverend Arthur McArven Warner from New York City, being fingerprinted.

Excerpt of Leon County Jail Register for June 12-17, 1961

Excerpt of Leon County Jail Register for June 12-17, 1961

Clergymen choose jail rather than pay fines - Tallahassee, Florida.

Clergymen choose jail rather than pay fines - Tallahassee, Florida.

Jailed clergy read messages of support - Tallahassee, Florida.

Jailed clergy read messages of support - Tallahassee, Florida.

Clergymen freed in surprise court action - Tallahassee, Florida.

Clergymen freed in surprise court action - Tallahassee, Florida.

Excerpt of Leon County Jail Register for August 3-8, 1964

Excerpt of Leon County Jail Register for August 3-8, 1964

  • Research Starter
  • Teacher's Guide

Learning Unit

  • The Civil Rights Movement in Florida

Floridiana Article

  • Freedom Riders in Tallahassee, 1961

Published Secondary Sources

Rabby, Glenda. The Pain and the Promise: The Struggle for Civil Rights in Tallahassee, Florida. Athens: University of Georgia Press, 2000.

Guiding Questions

  • What was the role of Florida in the civil rights movement?
  • What were the nonviolent tactics used by activists during the civil rights movement?

Next Generation Sunshine State Standards

SS.4.A.1.1: Analyze primary and secondary resources to identify significant individuals and events throughout Florida history.

SS.4.A.8.1: Identify Florida's role in the Civil Rights Movement.
Examples may include, but are not limited to, Tallahassee Bus Boycotts, civil disobedience, and the legacy of early civil rights pioneers, Harry T. and Harriette V. Moore.

SS.912.A.7.7: Assess the building of coalitions between African-Americans, whites, and other groups in achieving integration and equal rights. Examples may include, but are not limited to, Freedom Summer, Freedom Rides, Montgomery Bus Boycott, Tallahassee Bus Boycott of 1956, March on Washington.

Document Analysis Worksheets from the National Archives

Document analysis is the first step in working with primary sources. Teach your students to think through primary source documents for contextual understanding and to extract information to make informed judgments. The document analysis worksheets created by the National Archives and Records Administration are in the public domain.

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