The Booker T. Washington Monument, (sculpture).

The Booker T. Washington Monument, (sculpture).

Keck, Charles, 1875-1951, sculptor.

Lloyd Brothers, fabricator.

Palmer & Plonsky, architectural firm.

Roman Bronze Works, founder.

The Booker T. Washington Monument, (sculpture).

1921. Dedicated April 5, 1922.

Digital Reference:

Figure group: bronze; Base: granite; Exedra: granite.

Figure: approx. 8 ft. x 69 in. x 50 in.; Base: approx. 54 x 54 x 37.5 in.; Exedra: approx. 36 in. x 27 ft. x 30 in.

(Proper right side:) C. Keck. Sc. (Proper left side:) Cast by Roman Bronze Works, NY (Front of base, incised:) BOOKER T. WASHINGTON/1856 1915/HE LIFTED THE VEIL OF IGNORANCE/FROM HIS PEOPLE AND POINTED/THE WAY TO PROGRESS THROUGH/EDUCATION AND INDUSTRY (Proper right side of base, incised:) THERE IS NO DEFENSE OR/SECURITY FOR ANY OF US EXCEPT/IN THE HIGHEST INTELLIGENCE/AND DEVELOPMENT OF ALL. (Proper left side of base, incised:) I WILL LET NO MAN DRAG ME DOWN/SO LOW AS TO MAKE ME HATE HIM (Back of base, incised:) THIS MONUMENT IS ERECTED BY/CONTRIBUTIONS FROM NEGROES/IN THE UNITED STATES AS A LOVING/TRIBUTE TO THE MEMORY OF THEIR/GREAT LEADER AND BENEFACTOR (Proper right side of exedra, above seat, incised:) WE SHALL PROSPER IN PROPORTION AS WE/LEARN TO DIGNIFY AND GLORIFY LABOR (Proper left side of exedra, above seat, incised:) AND PUT BRAINS AND SKILL INTO THE/COMMON OCCUPATIONS OF LIFE signed Founder's mark appears.

Bronze figure group composed of figure of Booker T. Washington standing over a seated male figure. The figure group is on a granite base, which in turns rests on the center of a granite exedra. The exedra curves along one side of a raised, oval plaza. Washington, who wears a suit, stands with his proper left arm outstretched, palm up. His proper right hand holds back drapery which he has raised from the head of a seated, male, African-American figure who is in front of and to the proper right of Washington. The seated male holds a book, compass, and angle rule on his draped knees with his proper left hand. He gazes upward to his proper left. His proper right hand and arm are held up under the drapery as if helping to raise it. His feet are bare, and except for the drapery which extends over his lap, above his head, and over the back of the plow handle to his rear, he is nude. He sits on an anvil surrounded by other implements of trade and agriculture, such as a plow, sledge hammer, and metal pliers. The base and exedra feature inscriptions and decorative borders of stylized design, including leaves and pine cones.

Portrait male -- Washington, Booker T. -- Full length

Figure group -- Male

Occupation -- Education -- Teacher

Occupation -- Writer -- Author

Ethnic -- African American

Object -- Written Matter -- Book

Object -- Tool -- Measuring Device

Object -- Tool -- Anvil

Object -- Tool -- Plow

Object -- Tool -- Hammer

Object -- Tool -- Pliers

Outdoor Sculpture -- Alabama -- Tuskegee Institute

Administered by Tuskegee University, Tuskegee Institute, Alabama 36088

Located Tuskegee University, Near main entrance off Franklin Road, Tuskegee Institute, Alabama

The memorial cost $25,000 and was funded by contributions from nearly 100,000 African Americans. The image of the monument has been widely used as a logo on such items as stationery, t-shirts, and decals. IAS files contain copies of newspaper articles from the Tuskegee Student (Tuskegee Institute, Alabama), April 29-May 13, 1922; and the Montgomery Advertiser, April 6, 1922, which detail the dedication.

National Park Service, American Monuments and Outdoor Sculpture Database, AL5001, 1989.

Monumental News, July 1922, pg. 424.

Save Outdoor Sculpture, Alabama survey, 1993.

Index of American Sculpture, University of Delaware, 1985.

The Tuskegee Student (Tuskegee Institute, Alabama), April 29-May 13, 1922.

The Montgomery Advertiser (Montgomery, Alabama), April 6, 1922.

Monumental News, July 1922, pg. 424.

The information provided about this artwork was compiled as part of the Smithsonian American Art Museum's Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture database, designed to provide descriptive and location information on artworks by American artists in public and private collections worldwide.

Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture, Smithsonian American Art Museum, P.O. Box 37012, MRC 970, Washington, D.C. 20013-7012

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