1961 was the 90th year after the founding of the city of
Birmingham. - The first senior class at Banks High School
graduated. - The 117th Tactical Reconnaissance Group was
activated during the Berlin Crisis. - Sun Ra moved his Arkestra
from Chicago to New York City. - Dorothy Love Coates reformed
the Gospel Harmonettes. - The Downtown Action Committee was
created. - The Lane Park Committee was created by Mayor Jimmy
Morgan to oversee development of the Birmingham Botanical
Gardens. - Birmingham Festival of Arts: 1961 Salute to the South
- Children's Hospital formed an agreement with UAB Hospital and
the UAB Department of Pediatric Medicine. - Kel Osbourne left
"The Primes", leaving Eddie Kendricks and Paul Williams to form
"The Elgins", which signed with Motown Records and became The
Temptations. - The Cumberland School of Law relocated from
Lebanon, Tennessee to Samford University. - Ben Morton donated a
group of Tang dynasty ceramics to the Birmingham Museum of Art
Asian collection. - A 1961 Birmingham comp