1950-1959

Dr. Stanley Pliska, head of the Social Studies Division at the Norfolk Division, conducts a television class, 1958. Source: ODU Photographic Collection, RG 32, Special Collections and University Archives.

October 1950: As a result of an agreement with the University of Virginia to offer an extension program at the Norfolk Division, G.W.C. Brown, business manager for the Norfolk Division of Virginia State College (now Norfolk State University), becomes the first known African American to take classes on the Norfolk Division campus

Find out more about G.W.C. Brown's time on campus from Stanley Pliska's Oral History interview

1951-1963: To comply with the state laws of segregation, William & Mary implements a policy to deny admission to all African American undergraduates at its Williamsburg and division campuses. If a course was not taught at Virginia State College or its Norfolk Division, then the applicant could be admitted to the Norfolk Division of William & Mary with the approval of the William & Mary Board of Visitors

1952: Virginia Speer Bagley, assistant professor, becomes the first female head of the Biology Department

April 1952: the Norfolk Division offers its first noncredit television class, Science Is Simple, through its Technical Institute and several science departments

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Letter from Paul H. Farrier, Director of Admissions at V.P.I., to Lewis Webb, Jr., Director of the Norfolk Division of William & Mary, 1954. Source: Office of the President. Lewis W. Webb, Jr. Records, RG 2-1A1 Special Collections and University Archives.

1953: The Norfolk Division of William & Mary administers courses in English, Public Speaking, Shorthand, Transportation and Traffic Management, Business Procedures, Accounting, and Psychology for 15 African American employees at the Naval Supply Center in Norfolk

1953: Noroflk Division begins to offer bachelor degrees for the first time in Business Administration, Nursing, and Teacher Education

1954: Charles Frazier from Norfolk, Virginia becomes the first known African American to receive credit for a course at the Norfolk Division

1954: Dorothy Jones becomes the first female head of the Merchandising Department

March 1954: Irving Peddrew from Hampton, Virginia becomes the first known African American to be admitted to the Norfolk Division, enrolling in a mathematics course during the summer session as part of the VPI extension program

List of Foreign Students at Norfolk Division of William & Mary. Source: Office of the President. Lewis W. Webb, Jr. Records, RG 2-1A1 Special Collections and University Archives.

May 1954: Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, the landmark case that declares segregation of public schools to be illegal, is passed

Fall 1954: During the first semester of the 1954-1955 academic year, there are 10 international students enrolled at the Norfolk Division from countries such as Burma, Jordan, Korea, Portugal, Hawaii, France, Lebanon, Poland, and the Netherlands

1955: Ruth F. Harrell becomes associate professor of Education

Dr. Shephen P. Shao, Business Professor. Source: ODU Photographic Collection, RG 32, Special Collections and University Archives.

1956: Stephen P. Shao, a graduate of National Hunan University in China and appointed to the Accounting Department, becomes the first professor of Asian descent at the Norfolk Division of William & Mary

The Norfolk Division class of 1956. Source: ODU Photographic Collection, RG 32, Special Collections and University Archives.

June 1956: The Norfolk Division graduates its first four-year class, including Jean Leggett Holloman, the first woman to obtain a bachelor's degree

1957: Rebecca O. White becomes the first Dean of Women

1958: Emily V. Pittman becomes the first head of the Women's Physical Education Department. Helen K. Exner (Social Work) becomes the first known female to achieve the rank of Professor

1959: Kehar Sangha (Business) becomes the first known faculty member from South Asia