Positive Reactions to the Honorary Degree

President Brewster and other campus leaders received many letters from alumni and the general public in support of Yale’s decision to award an honorary degree to King. Some of the key sentiments expressed in the letters below include thanking the university for “making its stand so abundantly clear;” offering praise for those involved in the decision for showing “courage and discernment;” and appreciating Yale’s “positive, constructive approach to making our American society run a little smoother.”

Letter from Michael Bennett, Class of 1952

Letter from Ross Dixon, Class of 1942

Letter from Hubert L. Smith

Letter from Lawrence B. Severson

Letter from Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Peterson, p.1

Letter from Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Peterson, p.2

Letter from Michael Doyle, Class of 1959, pg.1

Letter from Michael Doyle, Class of 1959, pg.2

In the memorandum on the right sent to Yale Staff Heads, Steve Kezerian, the director of Yale’s University News Bureau, gives an analysis of newspaper editorials on Yale’s conferral of an honorary degree on King.

Kerzian specifically highlights "Yale's Good Example" from The Minneapolis Tribune and references the concluding statement in "Yale Honors Dr. King" from The Hartford Courant, shown below.