Lelia Thompson Flagg was the first African American to graduate from Missouri S&T. Photo by B.A. Rupert
Lelia Thompson Flagg was not the first African American student to enroll at this university. But she was the first to graduate, receiving her bachelor of science degree in civil engineering from the Missouri School of Mines (as S&T was then known) in 1960.
Recently, Flagg discussed her experience as a student in the late 1950s and her experience as one of the few African Americans — and few women — in the field of engineering.
Growing up in St. Louis, Flagg excelled at math and was encouraged by her teachers and family to study engineering. She applied to MSM and was accepted, so racial discrimination by the campus was not an issue. She even received a scholarship to attend.
But when she arrived in Rolla with her mother, grandmother and uncle, her gender did pose a problem.
Flagg showed the registrar her acceptance letter, and he replied, "Oh, yes, we have accepted you; but your problem is, you need to find somewhere to live because there are no female dorms," she recalls.
She found living quarters with an African American family south of campus and became one of 2,407 students enrolled in the fall of 1956. She was one of only 11 women, many of them from the community, Flagg says.
After graduation, Flagg headed to California to work at the Bureau of Sanitary Engineering. Later, she returned to Rolla and became assistant director of admissions until 1998.
Story by Andrew Careaga
Video by Terry Barner
See a full list of Black History Month events at Missouri S&T.
Lelia, you are an inspiration to everyone! I am proud to know you. -Patty