The Virginia Council of Human Relations (VCHR) was a bi-racial organization that worked to foster communication and improve relations between blacks and whites. It worked through a state-wide organization and established local groups to support educational programs, school desegregation, fair employment practices, and other issues of the day. The VCHR was an affiliate of the Atlanta-based Southern Regional Council, which began forming state and local Human Relations Councils to bring together black and white citizens as it worked for the implementation of the Brown v. Board of Education decision. The VCHR was active from the mid-1950s through the mid-1960s. The exhibit highlights a few Williamsburg members and the VCHR's work in the areas of school desegregation and fair employment practices.

The Virginia Council on Human Relations' (VCHR) local organizations played an important role in the group's operations. Local councils from Northern Virginia to Tidewater to Charlottesville and beyond provided communities with channels for discussion and action and this growing contributed to the membership of the VCHR. Local councils also hosted prominent speakers and social events, as well as more informal gatherings for individuals to share experiences and strategies on matters such as integrating workplaces.

Images of the exhibit are available from Special Collections on Flickr.

Curator: Amy Schindler, University Archivist; Exhibit design and installation: Jennie Davy, Burger Archives Specialist; with installation assistance from Rachel Thomas, History Graduate Student Apprentice, and Lauren Wallace, History Graduate Student Apprentice.