Martin Luther King Jr. and other leaders used as a meeting place, training ground and rallying point for the Birmingham Childrens Crusade and other direct actions for civil rights. This year, relatives of Addie Mae Collins, one of the girls that was killed, wanted to move her body to another burial site and found that it wasn't there. Original caption: The damaged interior of the church is shown in the immediate aftermath of the bombing of the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Ala., Sunday, Sept. 15, 1963. The Wales Window for Alabama, Unveiling Ceremony, Thomson House, Cardiff, Wales, Thursday 4th February 1965. . Translation on Find a Grave is an ongoing project. This browser does not support getting your location. Please try again later. In a few minutes, the worship service would begin. Download the official NPS app before your next visit. For the youngsters, many of whom had marched proudly with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., it was another in a series of momentous events that year. The murders sparked nationwide outrage and energized the civil rights movement. Marchers at a civil rights demonstration in Washington, D.C.,on Sept. 22, 1963, hold posters reading No More Birminghams, in response to the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing. The murders touched off nationwide outrage. The man at right is unidentified. 0 cemeteries found in Birmingham, Jefferson County, Alabama, USA. Use Escape keyboard button or the Close button to close the carousel. cemeteries found within miles of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Whether you need a laptop for READ THE REST. Four girlsAddie Mae Collins (age 14, born April 18, 1949), Carol Denise McNair (age 11, born November 17, 1951), Carole Rosamond Robertson (age 14, born April 24, 1949), and Cynthia Dionne Wesley (age 14, born April 30, 1949)were killed in the attack. You can always change this later in your Account settings. She attended Ullman High School where she excelled in math, reading, and band. She attended the 16th Street Baptist Church with her parents, Julius and Alice, as well as her six siblings. It wasn't until 1977 that anyone was charged, at which time a Klan leader was convicted for the murders. There is a problem with your email/password. Pictured here are Johnny Robinson (left), 16, and Virgil Ware, 13. We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. For memorials with more than one photo, additional photos will appear here or on the photos tab. Sorry! Oops, we were unable to send the email. Civil rights leader the Rev. Later that day, 13-year-old Virgil Ware, riding on the handlebars of a bicycle in Docena, was shot by two young white men. Try again later. and affiliate links. Becoming a Find a Grave member is fast, easy and FREE. Birmingham, Alabama: Graveside services at Woodlawn cemetery as body of Cynthia Dianne Wesley was buried . Addie Mae Collins, Denise McNair, and Cynthia Wesley were interred during joint funeral attended by over 8,000 mourners. This browser does not support getting your location. Denise McNair, 11, staged plays, dance routines and poetry readings in her familys carport to raise money for muscular dystrophy research. Learn more about managing a memorial . The Collins family appears in the 1997 Spike Lee film 4 Little Girls, a documentary on the bombing and its political significance. She married James Bartlett Stuart on 23 June 1905, in Grayson, Texas . After Alabama Attorney General Bill Baxley reopened the case, Chambliss was convicted in 1977 and sentenced to life in prison. Another two suspects were charged and convicted in 2001 and 2002, a fourth suspect died before charges were brought. We strive for accuracy and fairness.If you see something that doesn't look right,contact us! Then, 14 years later, Alabama Attorney General William Baxley reopened the case. Addie Mae Collins' younger sister, Sarah, was the last person to see the girls alive. Today marks the 55th anniversary of the tragedy. Quickly see who the memorial is for and when they lived and died and where they are buried. Just as the deaths of the four girls in Birmingham led to public outrage and a renewed commitment to civil rights, the Black Lives Matter demonstrations against police brutality this year have ushered in a renewed sense of hope that our nation may one day find a meaningful way to address systemic anti-Black racism not only in law enforcement, but also in all of our institutions and society at large. To use this feature, use a newer browser. He asked his audience: Who did it? and gave his own anguished answer: We all did it every person in this community who has in any way contributed to the popularity of hatred is at least as guilty as the demented fool who threw that bomb.. In 1997 a documentary film on the bombing called "4 Little Girls" was released. In the rubble of the 16th Street Baptist Church were the bodies of Addie Mae Collins, 14, Denise McNair, 11, Carole Robertson, 14, and Cynthia Wesley, 14. There are no volunteers for this cemetery. Please check your email and click on the link to activate your account. The resulting explosion killed four girls Addie Mae Collins, Cynthia Wesley, Carole Robertson, and Denise McNair. They had come together as a group in several stages over the previous four years, changing their name in read more, The Battle of Britain reaches its climax when the Royal Air Force (RAF) downs 56 invading German aircraft in two dogfights lasting less than an hour. Martin Luther King Jr. had delivered his I Have a Dream speech to the largest civil rights march in history only 18 days earlier. The second sentence shows that the girls were involved in their church and contributing to this important service. When the debris was searched for survivors, the bodies of four young girls were found: Cynthia Wesley, Addie Mae Collins, Denise McNair, and Carole Robertson. Another 22 people were injured in the explosion. At about 10:22 AM, as 26 children were entering the basement assembly room for closing prayers, the bomb exploded, blowing a hole in the east side of the church and injuring dozens. Failed to delete memorial. NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. They were nervous and anxious for the event to begin. In 1997 a documentary film on the bombing called "4 Little Girls" was released. Please check your email and click on the link to activate your account. Your Scrapbook is currently empty. At 10:22, it exploded. The email does not appear to be a valid email address. Accuracy and availability may vary. Select the Teacher Version to print the text with labels, Text Dependent Questions and answers. Are you sure that you want to delete this photo? For more on the ceremony, please visit this story. The scene infuriated her husband, Joe DiMaggio, who felt it was exhibitionist, and the couple divorced read more, Thirteen-year-old Melissa Benoit disappears in her hometown of Kingston, Massachusetts, on her way home from a friends house. 31 October 1884-1 October 1953 (Age 68) Texas, United States. In the wake of the Battle of the Marneduring which Allied troops halted the steady German push through Belgium and France that had proceeded over the first month of World War Ia conflict both sides had expected to be short and decisive turns longer and bloodier, as Allied and read more, ARVN forces recapture Quang Tri City after four days of heavy fighting, with the claim that over 8,135 NVA had been killed in the battle. Trivia (1) In 1998, it was revealed to the horror of the Collins family that her grave was empty. Biography and associated logos are trademarks of A+E Networksprotected in the US and other countries around the globe. At 10:22, it exploded. After Hitlers accession to the offices of president and chancellor of Germany, he set about the task of remaking his adopted country (Hitler had to pull some read more. But more importantly, it made the pain of racism felt among whites who would never experience it themselves. The Birmingham News reported it was the 41st bombing in the city in the past 16 years. Windows were blown out of nearby businesses as was a stained glass window at the church depicting Christ leading children. Wallace and his advisers have been sowing the seeds of this disaster," the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law stated. Thirty-five years ago a bomb killed four little girls in a Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama. Despite the outrage and an FBI investigation, however, no one was charged with the crime. Rudolph, who spoke to the press following a service at the church marking the anniversary of the bombing on Monday, said the family tried to exhume Addie Mae Collins around the year 2000, in order . Shortly after the church bombing, white supremacist leader Connie Lynch told a group of Klansmen that those responsible for the bombing deserved medals. Lynch said the four young girls who died there werent children. Janie Gaines and Sarah Cox know from experience that black cadavers tend to disappear. When the debris was searched for survivors, the bodies of the four young girls were found: ; Cynthia Wesley, Addie Mae Collins, Denise McNair, and Carole Robertson. Addie Mae, 14, and Denise, 11, were preparing to sing in the church choir. The murders touched off nationwide outrage. All Rights Reserved. Collins' murder remained officially unsolved until the 1970s. This flower has been reported and will not be visible while under review. Members of the Ku Klux Klan planted a box of dynamite at the church, which was a major organizing center for the black community and civil rights protests. To add a flower, click the Leave a Flower button. By read more, On September 15, 1978, boxer Muhammad Ali defeats Leon Spinks at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans to win the world heavyweight boxing title for the third time in his career, the first fighter ever to do so. Please complete the captcha to let us know you are a real person. 0 cemeteries found in Birmingham, Jefferson County, Alabama, USA. Login or create an account to save resources to your bookmark collection. A box of dynamite with a timer was placed under the front steps steps of the church, near the basement, and was set to go off during Sunday prayers. Cherrys trial was delayed after judges ruled he was mentally incompetent to stand trial. Our forum rules are detailed in the Community Guidelines. Photo byThe Washington Post Photo/Hal Yeager/Getty Images. Thanks for using Find a Grave, if you have any feedback we would love to hear from you. (Tom Self/ Birmingham News) ORG XMIT: ALBIN, Original caption: Negros weep after 16th Street church bombing. This relationship is not possible based on lifespan dates. There is 1 volunteer for this cemetery. It didnt matter what race they were. In January 1998, the sisters frowned as they surveyed the crumbling headstones, trash, and tangled weeds strangling Greenwood, the Birmingham, Alabama, cemetery in which their family had long ago laid their sister, Addie Mae Collins. based on information from your browser. Continuing with this request will add an alert to the cemetery page and any new volunteers will have the opportunity to fulfill your request. Add to your scrapbook. What isn't well known is the fact that one of those girls, Addie Mae Collins, may well have been a victim of racism after her death, thanks to a longstanding tradition where white medical schools raided black cemeteries for dissection cadavers. Failed to report flower. This crime marked a turning point in the Civil Rights Movement. Try again later. Include gps location with grave photos where possible. She attended the 16th Street Baptist Church with her parents, Julius and Alice, as well as her six siblings. Noting that no timing device was found, he disputed the . Her family says someone is responsible . Oops, something didn't work. Four girls, Addie Mae Collins (age 14), Denise McNair (age 11), Carole Robertson (age 14), and Cynthia Wesley (age 14), were killed in the bomb blast. The song "Birmingham Sunday," recorded by Joan Baez memorialized the victims of the bombing. Carole Robertson and Cynthia Wesley, both 14, had been chosen to serve as ushers. Service. The song "Birmingham Sunday," recorded by Joan Baez memorialized the victims of the bombing. Try again later. Soon afterward, the read more, Nikita Khrushchev becomes the first Soviet head of state to visit the United States. Learn more about merges. You may not upload any more photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 20 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 5 photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 30 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 15 photos to this memorial. But before she could finish, the bomb went off. There was a problem getting your location. Ministers homes, a black-owned hotel, and other churches had been wrecked. All photos uploaded successfully, click on the Done button to see the photos in the gallery. This relationship is not possible based on lifespan dates. Chambliss was sent to prison, where he died. In October 1963, Chambliss was cleared of the murder charge and received a six-month jail sentence and a $100 fine for the dynamite. In 1998, when her sisters visited her grave, and saw its neglected state, they immediately requested that Addie Mae's body be exhumed and moved to another better-maintained cemetery. The family of Carole Robertson attendfuneral services for her on Sept. 17, 1963, in Birmingham. You can always change this later in your Account settings. Efforts to prosecute the other three men believed responsible for the bombing continued for decades. Fred Shuttlesworth, left, and Ralph Abernathy as they attend funeral services at the Sixth Avenue Baptist Church for three of the four Black girls killed in the church bombing. Gov. Her mother and her older sister Madge also made up read more, The famous picture of Marilyn Monroe, laughing as her skirt is blown up by the blast from a subway vent, is shot on September 15, 1954 during the filming of The Seven Year Itch. Indeed, this tragic event may cause the white South to come to terms with its conscience.. The sponsor of a memorial may add an additional. To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. Service, a Creative Commons One of them was Addie Mae Collins sister Sarah, who was blinded in one eye. In 1963, many civil rights activists, including King,blamed Alabama Gov. The sponsor of a memorial may add an additional. That spring, their own church had been the center of a campaign against segregation. Addie Mae Collins was a 14-year-old murder victim whose 1963 death focused public attention on racial violence in the South. She was the first adopted daughter of Claude and Gertrude Wesley, both of whom were teachers. Learn about how to make the most of a memorial. An overflow crowd attends memorial services at the Sixth Avenue Baptist Church in Birmingham on Sept. 18, 1963, for three of the four Black girls killed in the bombing. Because of this, they were a major target for segregationist attacks. And we must hold our leaders accountable for their words because those words inspire others to act, sometimes with deadly consequences. In 2013, the United States Congress awarded each girl the Congressional Gold Medal. ). Both READ THE REST, In this video, Atlas Obscura digs out an ancient, giant fish from the archives of the Wet Specimen Collection at Chicago's Field Museum. Select the Student Version to print the text and Text Dependent Questions only. Browse 63 addie mae collins stock photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. license. Year should not be greater than current year. She also participated in Saturday dance lessons and the science club. All of this is important background to understand why Washington thinks that the body of Addie Mae Collins may have ended up on a dissection table. In the rubble of the 16th Street Baptist Church were the bodies of Addie Mae Collins, 14, Denise McNair, 11, Carole Robertson, 14, and Cynthia Wesley, 14. The bomb went off on a Sunday morning, killing Denise McNair, 11, and Carole Robertson, Addie Mae Collins and Cynthia Wesley, all 14. . Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. The right computer monitor canmake or READ THE REST, We thank our sponsor for making this content possible; it is not written by the editorial staff nor does it necessarily reflect its views. Photo by Horace Cort/AP Images. "For the past several weeks, Gov. Family members linked to this person will appear here. Your new password must contain one or more uppercase and lowercase letters, and one or more numbers or special characters. Nearby buildings are left without glass in windows. Photo by AP Images. Photo by Pictorial Parade/Getty Images. One. From left to right: Denise McNair, 11; Carole Robertson, 14; Addie Mae Collins, 14; and Cynthia Wesley, 14. Make sure that the file is a photo. ChrisMcNair was an accomplished photographer and one of the first Black members of the Alabama Legislature. This is a carousel with slides. A youth center dedicated to her was established in Birmingham. You are nearing the transfer limit for memorials managed by Find a Grave. This account has been disabled. Cross said he believed the violence could have been prevented if civic leaders had spoken out forcefully against the bombings across Birmingham in recent years. Astrological Sign: Aries. Another two suspects were charged and convicted in 2001 and 2002, a fourth suspect died before charges were brought. Ten months later, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Check out how leafcutter ants work in spectacular close-up video, Weird science and tech are bringing magick back, Look into the empty eyes of an ancient, giant fish, Start your musical journey with the Populele Smart Ukulele, now only $159.99, Enjoy a new vantage view of your computer with this portable 15.6-inch OLED screen, now only $396, This beautifully refurbished MacBook Pro is a great price for a limited time, Terms God still has a way of wringing good out of evil, he told the mourners. of Sarah Collins, Addie Mae's sister, lost her right eye. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information. A fourth suspect, Herman Frank Cash, died in 1994, before he could be charged. Please try again later. Sarah Collins Rudolph was in the bathroom with her sister Addie Mae Collins during Sunday School when a bomb exploded in the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama. Try again later. That same day, news reports described the federal hunt for the bombers as rivaling the search for John Dillinger. The email does not appear to be a valid email address. A memorial statue to Addie Mae Collins, Denise McNair, Carole Robertson and Cynthia Wesley the four girls killed in the attack now stands in Kelly Ingram Park, across from the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham. Despite an FBI investigation, however, no one was immediately charged with the crime. It's a story that goes from colonial times all the way up to the present. The long struggle was won mainly because children were brave enough to march into the overpowering water hoses and vicious dogs of Police Commissioner Bull Connor. The Coelacanth species of fish has been READ THE REST, We thank our sponsor for making this content possible; it is not written by the editorial staff nor does it necessarily reflect its views. Addie Mae Collins, 14, and Denise McNair, 11, were in the choir. Flying debris nearly demolishes vehicles and leaves cars dotted with large holes. On September 15, 2008, the venerable Wall Street brokerage firm Lehman Brothers seeks Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, becoming the largest victim of the subprime mortgage crisis that would devastate financial markets and contribute to the biggest economic downturn since the read more, Frankie Valli (born Francis Casteluccio) had been hard at work trying to become a star for the better part of a decade before the Four Seasons achieved their breakthrough.