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Volume IV: Symbol of the Movement,
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To Benjamin Elijah Mays17 June 1957 [Montgomery, Ala.] In an 11 January letter to King, Mays broached the idea of nominating him for an honorary degree from Morehouse College: "it would be a nice thing if your Alma Mater were the first institution to recognize your worth." On 13 April the Morehouse Board of Trustees voted to award King an honorary degree at the college commencement on 4 June. King also participated in the June graduation ceremonies of Kentucky State University, the Chicago Theological Seminary, where he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Divinity, and Howard University, where he received an honorary Doctor of Laws. Dr. B. E. Mays, President Morehouse College Atlanta, Georgia Dear Dr. Mays:
This is just a note to again express my appreciation to you, the faculty, and members of the Board of Trustees for bestowing upon me the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters. This is an honor that I will cherish so long as the cords of memory shall lengthen. The eloquent and inspiring citation that you read in presenting the degree will remain one of the sacred possessions of my life. My one great hope is that I will always be able to live up to the noble and sublime principles inherent in such a degree. I am very happy that Morehouse College was the first institution to bestow upon me an honorary degree. Very sincerely yours, M. L. King, Jr., President MLK:mlb TLc. MLKP-MBU: Box 62.
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