Martin Luther King Cap and Gown Form (June 1964)

In 1964, Springfield College shared a moment in history often overlooked by historians with honorary degree recipient and commencement speaker Martin Luther King Jr.Despite significant pressure from prominent shareholders and benefactors of the College, college President Glenn A. Olds, a minister and conscientious objector during World War II, refused to waver from his decision to make Martin Luther King Commencement speaker for the 1964 Graduation ceremonies. When King was arrested the day before, Olds contacted law enforcement officials, telling them that if they continued to hold King, school officials would fly down to tape the commencement address, leaving St. Augustine to deal with the attendant publicity. Whether or not his intervention played a role, King was released on a nine hundred dollar bond Saturday afternoon. Met at the airport by Springfield College Economics Professor Robert Randolph, later the first black president of the Massachusetts State College System at Westfield State, King toured the campus, gave a press conference, and shared a brief luncheon with faculty and administration. On the day of commencement, Black Muslim protestors who felt King was too conciliatory and bomb-sniffing dogs greeted the graduating class.

There is a tiny puncture from a stable in the upper left corner and two creases from the document having been folded into thirds.

This brief document, titled "Information from Recipient of Honorary Degree," is from June, 1964, and was filled out by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The information requested concerns his commencement speech, and includes his name, if he would like a cap and gown, his height, chest size, hate size, time of arrival, number in party, and if he needs hotel reservations.