Activism and Protests at Davidson College

Vietnam War

Anti-War Demonstrations

During the late 1960s and early 1970s, Davidson students and alumni both participated in and protested against the Vietnam War. On campus, anti-war efforts included protests against the military draft and demonstrations against the presence of ROTC on campus. The tragic events of Kent State in May 1970, along with the expansion of the war into Cambodia, resulted in increased anti-war sentiments among students. Along with students, several faculty members organized around anti-war movements, including joining national protests and holding peace vigils and teach-ins on campus.

Students protesting the Vietnam War on Main Street (circa 1970s)

Some resources on the Vietnam War at Davidson include:

Coverage in The Davidsonian

Campus publications, such as student newspaper The Davidsonian, covered events related to student activism and campus issues. For more information on anti-war demonstrations and the Vietnam War at Davidson College, browse digitized issues of The Davidsonian, online and available in the link below. Individual issues are searchable by keyword.

Select articles related to anti-war demonstrations and the Vietnam War include:

Archival Materials

Archival materials are the institutional records of Davidson College from its establishment in 1837 to the present day. Included within the collections are president's office records, academic department files, and student organization records. Listed below is a selection of relevant collections related to the Vietnam War and campus responses during this time. Collections are organized by record group, along with a brief description of the collection's contents, and are hyperlinked to the collection's digital finding aid.