In April 1949, the relator, Rose Boyd, a black resident of Florida, applied to the University of Florida. She is qualified in all aspects, but she was denied by the State Board of Control because of her race (the university is maintained for white students). She instituted this mandamus action averring that the University of Florida is the only tax-supported university in the State which offers courses of pharmacy, and she says that the governing authorities denying her admission because of her race is illegal and a denial of the equal protection of the laws guaranteed her by the Fourteenth Amendment to the Federal Constitution. The Board said they offered Boyd the opportunity to secure instruction in pharmacy at a university outside the State of Florida where black students are eligible for admission as an alternative. They offered to enroll her at the Florida Agricultural and Mechanical College. Every question raised has been considered and decided by this Court in State ex rel. Hawkins v. Board of Control. It is so ordered.

Photograph of Richard W. Erwin, who was the Attorney General and on the legal team of the repsondents.

Photograph of Richard W. Erwin, who was the Attorney General and on the legal team of the repsondents.

Photograph of Alex Akerman Jr., who was the attorney for the relator.

Photograph of Frank Joseph Heintz, who was the assistant attroeny general and was on the legal team of the respondents. (I'm assuming this is the correct man, because his bibliography says he served as an Assistant Attorney General of Florida from 1944 to 1955)