Civil Rights Room, Nashville Public Library

Welcome to the Nashville Public Library! We’re here to visit the Civil Rights Room—a permanent exhibit in the library’s Special Collections, which is located on the second floor opposite the grand staircase. Enter the Special Collections and turn left to reach the Civil Rights Room. You’ll see a circular counter, stools, and a timeline that pays homage to the sit-in movement in Nashville. What is a sit-in you ask? It is a form of direct, nonviolent protest where demonstrators occupy a space and refuse to leave until their demands are met. In 1960, there were three major sit-ins in Nashville: February 13th, February 27th, and April 11th.

Students from local HBCUs made up the bulk of the protestors, and they focused on downtown department stores like Kress, Woolworth, McLellans, Harvey’s, Cain-Sloan, and Walgreens. These stores carried clothing and retail but also featured diners—referred to as lunch counters. African Americans shopped in these stores but were not allowed to eat at the lunch counters due to racial prejudice and discriminatory policies.

The most violent day of protest was on February 27th. Civil Rights activists were doused with condiments and verbally harassed; others were punched, kicked, and pushed off their seats. Segregationists specifically directed their anger at Paul LaPrad, a white exchange student from Fisk University. He was beaten off the stool but did not fight back. Instead, a bloodied LaPrad rose and resumed his seat. Another protestor, Frankie Henry, sat calmly even as a white woman put out a cigarette on her arm. In total, 81 students were arrested for disorderly conduct. None of the 200 white counter protestors were arrested.

Those arrested, including John Lewis, insisted on a “pay-no-bail” strategy and remained in jail for over a month. Thirteen attorneys, headed by attorney and Fisk Professor Z. Alexander Looby represented the students in court. Despite the threat of arrest and jail, students continued protests throughout March and April of 1960. The movement culminated in a silent march to City Hall after Looby’s home was bombed. With support of Nashville Mayor Ben West, seven department stores desegregated their lunch counters on May 10. This successful campaign became the model for cities across the South. 

We also encourage you to take our Downtown Civil Rights Sit-Ins tour. This walking tour follows in the footsteps of these courageous men and women. And the narrator will sound familiar. That’s right—yours truly wrote and narrated it. The 1.5-mile tour begins on Church Street, just outside the library and focuses on Fifth Avenue—renamed Rep. John Lewis Way in 2021. On another note, to learn more about the Nashville Public Library or the Votes for Women room, check out our Capitol and Church Architecture, Woman’s Suffrage, and Women’s Sports tours.

Leave the garage by exiting RIGHT onto 6th Ave N. Turn LEFT onto Commerce Street, driving past the John Lewis historical marker in front of the former site of Trailways bus station. Turn LEFT onto Rep. John Lewis Way and in three blocks turn RIGHT onto Dr. MLK Jr. Blvd. Stay left to merge onto James Robertson Parkway and take the Veterans Memorial Bridge to East Nashville. You can learn more about this historic neighborhood on our East Nashville walking tour. Continue on Main Street for about a mile then turn LEFT onto North 10th St. Follow 10th behind East Nashville Magnet School to park in the public parking lot next to the tennis courts. After you park, get out and walk around to the front of the building to see the historical marker.