In 1879, the Kansas State Legislature passed a law that allowed “first class cities” (cities with more than 15,000 residents) to create separate, segregated schools for Black and white students. Coffeyville was a “second class city” (with fewer than 15,000 residents). Still, the city segregated Lincoln School with separate classes for Black and white students. For sixth grade, a white teacher named E.E. Werner taught white students in one room. In another room, a Black teacher named Jackson Dodd taught Black students. Bud Cartwright, a Black father, wanted his 15-year-old daughter, Eva, to be taught by Werner. Eva was denied admission to Werner’s class multiple times and was finally told she must attend Mr. Dodd’s class or not be taught at all. Bud Cartwright sued the Board of Education in the Kansas Supreme Court to compel them to admit Eva to Werner's sixth-grade class. The Court ruled that the Board of Education in a second class city did not have the power to exclude Black children from schools and classes established for white children solely because they were Black. The Cartwrights won.