One of the most famous court cases to affect the Boston Public Schools has found a home at UMass Boston. Over 60 boxes of files from the 1972 court case, Morgan v. the Boston School Committee, have been donated to the Healey Library by U. S. District Court Judge W. Arthur Garrity, who presided over the case.
The donation was marked by a reception on Tuesday, Dec. 8 in the University Club. Chancellor Penney introduced Garrity to the audience, which include students, faculty and staff, members of Garrity's family, and the media. She told those in attendance that UMass Boston is "dedicated to making papers like these accessible to anybody doing public policy research."
Garrity, a graduate of Holy Cross and Harvard Law School, addressed the question of "why UMass Boston?" He pointed to the logic of a public case going to a public institution and to the proximity of the Healey Library to the JFK Library, the new Federal Court House, and to South Boston High School - - one high school which was greatly affected by the decision to desegregate. Another reason is the participation of UMass Boston Sociology Professor Robert Dentler, who served as the court appointed expert for desegregation of the Boston Public Schools. He also expressed admiration for UMass Boston's public policy focus through its colleges, centers, and the Trotter and McCormack Institutes. But Garrity said the "underlying reason is ideological. The University of Massachusetts Boston has a special commitment to a traditionally underserved population with specific attention to urban populations."
Several television stations, including WCVB, WBZ, and WFXT aired segments on the event. The decision in the case, which desegregated the Boston Public Schools by busing, still attracts controversy to this day from many who opposed his decision. Garrity responded by saying that opponents "have a right to be vocal. But I have a sworn duty to uphold the Constitution of the United States." Files from Morgan v. the Boston School Committee, which include some of Garrity's personal notes, will be housed in the University's archives and special collections.
- - By Patrick Dwyer