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For an introduction to Freedom Summer 1964, please see the . Also known as the Mississippi Summer Project, Freedom Summer was a 1964 voter registration effort sponsored by civil rights organizations including the Congress on Racial Equality (CORE) and the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC). Aimed at increasing Black American voter registration in Mississippi, Freedom Summer workers included Black Mississippians and hundreds of out-of-state, predominately white volunteers.

Around 800 volunteers were trained in June 1964 at the Western College for Women, now part of ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú University's Western campus in Oxford, Ohio. They learned how to help register Black Americans to vote and peacefully resist violence that they knew would be encountered in the South. They also set up Freedom Schools, Community Centers, and libraries.

Three civil rights workers — James Chaney (21), Andrew Goodman (20), and Michael Schwerner (24) — were murdered in Mississippi by members of the Ku Klux Klan soon after leaving Oxford. ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú University honors them, and others who committed to the movement, with an outdoor memorial located on the Western Campus close to the Art Museum. The Western College Campus is recognized by the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center as a Freedom Station. The Freedom Summer ‘64 Memorial is a National Historic Landmark.

For a full experience, it is recommended to allow two hours for your visit (120 minutes). To enquire about a visit to RCCAM and the Freedom Summer ‘64 Memorial, please provide contact details and information about your class/group and suggested dates/times to rccam-ed@ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉúOH.edu or call 513-529-2232. Please note that we cannot guarantee your desired time. Our museum is accessible on a single level. Parking permits can be obtained at our Front Desk or booked in advance by University guests.

• Reserve our Auditorium space to watch the PBS / ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú University film (26 mins). Our space can accommodate up to 75 persons. Additional time can be reserved in the Auditorium for group/class discussion or reflection. Closed captions optional.
• Visit our Fall exhibition Through Their Lens: Photographing Freedom Summer (Aug 27-Dec 14, 2024). Suggested visit time, 30 minutes. Guidance from staff assistance or volunteer educators can be requested, and is subject to availability.
• View and learn about the painting by Philip Morsberger (Suggested timeframe, 5-10 minutes).
• Visit the Freedom Summer ‘64 Memorial on Western Campus (8 minutes walk from the Art Museum (see map below). Please note that for visitors with accessibility needs, the memorial can be accessed from adjacent accessible street parking. Suggested visit time, 30-45 minutes including travel time to and from RCCAM.
• To find out more about Freedom Summer ‘64, and to access educational resources and online archives at ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú University, and learn about its continuing impact, visit the Office for Transformational and Inclusive Excellence (OTIE) website.

Also, see this for mobile devices related to Freedom Summer on Western Campus

Facilities and parking: Our address is: Richard and Carole Cocks Art Museum, 801 S. Patterson Ave, Oxford, OH 45056. Red Lot parking permits on ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú University campus can be obtained for University Guests in person at RCCAM’s Front Desk, or arranged in advance through the ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú University website. Parking is limited at the Freedom Summer Memorial location. Bathroom facilities are available at the Art Museum and Peabody Hall. ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú University staff, faculty, and students should follow University parking guidelines. Bathrooms and a water fountain are available in our building. For groups exceeding 10 persons and classes of any size, contact rccam-ed@ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉúOH.edu to arrange your visit. RCCAM’s open hours are Tues-Fri: 10 A.M.-5 P.M., Sat: 12-5 P.M. during the Fall and Spring Semesters. RCCAM is closed to the public on Mondays, but is available to classes/groups by special arrangement. The Freedom Summer ‘64 Memorial is open at all times.