Atlanta's public pools integration in 1963

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Photos: How Atlanta pools integrated in 1963

Photos: Atlanta’s public pools integrated on June 12, 1963. Here’s what happened that day at Lake Clara Meer at Piedmont Park.

Atlanta's public pools officially desegregated on June 12, 1963 -- the opening day for the city's 12 pools. These photos availble at the AJC Photo Archives at the GSU Library show the scene that day at Piedmont Park's Lake Clara Meer, one of nine formerly all-white public pools in the city. Three other formerly all-black public pools also integrated on that day. (Ken Patterson / AJC Archives at GSU Library / AJCNS1963-06-12c)

A mostly white crowd of onlookers crowds the pavalion overlooking the newly integrated Lake Clara Meer pool at Piedmont Park on June 12, 1963. (Ken Patterson / AJC Archives at GSU Library / AJCNS1963-06-12l)

A small group of black swimmers at center join white children already enjoying the Lake Clara Meer pool at Piedmont Park on June 12, 1963. (Ken Patterson / AJC Archives at GSU Library / AJCNS1963-06-12o)

Over the next two days the Atlanta Constitution sent seven reporters across the city to observe the first day of desegregation at the city's public pools. The first day's report on June 14, 1963 was printed on the paper's front page but by the second day, the story was buried inside on page A6.

The continuation (jump) of the Atlanta Constitution's report on June 14, 1963 of the city's desegration of its public pools.

Members of the press surround a black visitor to the Lake Clara Meer pool at Piedmont Park on June 12, 1963. The Atlanta Constitution reported that three black high school students integrated the pool that day. (Ken Patterson / AJC Archives at GSU Library / AJCNS1963-06-12d)

Members of the press interview a black visitor to the Lake Clara Meer pool in Piedmont Park on June 12, 1963. Another black gentleman on the left carries a camera around his neck and may be another reporter. (Ken Patterson / AJC Archives at GSU Library / AJCNS1963-06-12t)

Two black visitors to the newly integrated Lake Clara Meer pool in Piedmont Park speak to a white man before entering the changing room on June 12, 1963. It's not clear if the white man is another visitor to the pool. (Ken Patterson / AJC Archives at GSU Library / AJCNS1963-06-12s)

Onlookers watch the newly integrated pool at Lake Clara Meer at Piedmont Park on June 12, 1963. (Ken Patterson / AJC Archives at GSU Library / AJCNS1963-06-12h)

Police and members of the press join onlookers to watch the newly integrated pool at Lake Clara Meer at Piedmont Park on June 12, 1963. The Atlanta Constitution reported that on that day across town, a fist-fight broke out at Maddox Pool over integration. (Ken Patterson / AJC Archives at GSU Library / AJCNS1963-06-12f)

An integrated goup of swimmers share a floating platform at Lake Clara Meer at Piedmont Park while some onlookers watch from behind the fence on June 12, 1963. (Ken Patterson / AJC Archives at GSU Library / AJCNS1963-06-12r)

An integrated group of swimmers walk along the barrier at Lake Clara Meer at Piedmont Park on June 12, 1963. (Ken Patterson / AJC Archives at GSU Library / AJCNS1963-06-12k)

Two white men watch two black swimmers at the newly integrated Lake Clara Meer at Piedmont Park on June 12, 1963. (Ken Patterson / AJC Archives at GSU Library / AJCNS1963-06-12b)

A black man watches at the newly integrated Lake Clara Meer at Piedmont Park on June 12, 1963. (Ken Patterson / AJC Archives at GSU Library / AJCNS1963-06-12l)

The Atlanta Constitution reported on the second day of public pools integration in its June 14 edition. Unlike the front-page story the day before, this article appeared inside on page A6. It took two days for the city's pools to fully integrate because one formerly all-white pool had no black visitors the first day. The Constitution also reported that some white visitors made their way to formerly all-black pools on those days.

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Atlanta's public pools officially desegregated on June 12, 1963 -- the opening day for the city's 12 pools. These photos availble at the AJC Photo Archives at the GSU Library show the scene that day at Piedmont Park's Lake Clara Meer, one of nine formerly all-white public pools in the city. Three other formerly all-black public pools also integrated on that day. (Ken Patterson / AJC Archives at GSU Library / AJCNS1963-06-12c)

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