Although they came from two very different walks of life, Rosa Parks and Ted Williams both shared the distinction of being among the most iconic and celebrated figures of the 20th century. The pair struck up an unlikely correspondence in the summer of 1956, at a time when both Parks and Williams were making national headlines—Parks for her involvement in the Montgomery bus boycotts and Williams for his dominant hitting campaign with the Boston Red Sox. The letters below reveal two American legends opening up to one another at the peak of their fame, providing an extraordinary glimpse into their respective struggles, triumphs, and outlooks during a pivotal moment in U.S. history.