McGlathery, shown second from left at the rear, was the first African American student to gain admission to UAH. In the caption, the AP notes that "he enrolled at the previously white institution today without incident."
The club donated the tree to replace a diseased tree. Club vice president Ed Ditto shovels dirt while treasurer Bo Williams, sponsor Dr. Ostap Stromecky, and president Dianne Barcheers look on.
In the letter, Christel congratulates her father on the success of Alan Shepard's flight as the first American in space and comments on aspects of her life as a college student.