Brooks County Confederate Monument, (sculpture).

Brooks County Confederate Monument, (sculpture).

Unknown (Italian), sculptor.

Brooks County Confederate Monument, (sculpture).

War Memorial, (sculpture).

Dedicated Jan. 1, 1922. Relocated April 4, 1986. Rededicated May 2, 1986.

Sculpture: Italian marble; Base: Georgia marble.

Sculpture: approx. 9 x 2 x 1.5 ft.; Base: approx. 9 ft. 4 in. x 8 ft. 6 in. x 8 ft. 6 in.

(On bronze plaque on base:) Erected by Quitman Chapter United Daughters of the Confederacy (On right side of canopy:) "TO THOSE WHO (...transcription illegible) TO THOSE WHO GAVE ALL"/QUITMAN AND BROOKS COUNTY DEDICATE THIS MEMORIAL/NOVEMBER 11, 1921 (On five angled stones on base: names of those from Quitman and Brooks County who lost their lives in World War I, World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War) unsigned

A uniformed World War I soldier stands with arms crossed over his chest, his proper left hand resting on the barrel of his rifle, the butt of which rests next to his proper right foot. He wears boots up to his knees and a pack on his back. There is a cannon to the rear of the soldier. The barrel of the cannon points upward to the sky. The sculpture is mounted atop a square canopy supported by four columns set upon a three-tiered base. A round ball rests on top of each corner of the canopy. At one time a fountain was installed under the canopy. Steps extend to the ground on the east and west sides. Five upright angled markers containing names of war dead are mounted on the base at each corner.

History -- United States -- World War I

History -- United States -- World War II

History -- United States -- Korean War

History -- United States -- Vietnam War

Figure male -- Full length

Occupation -- Military -- Soldier

Dress -- Uniform -- Military Uniform

Outdoor Sculpture -- Georgia -- Quitman

Administered by Brooks County Board of Commissioners, County Commission, P. O. Box 272, Quitman, Georgia 31643

Located Brooks County Courthouse, Screven Street, Courthouse Square, Quitman, Georgia

Formerly located Middle of downtown, Quitman, Georgia until April 4, 1986.

The sculpture cost $3,800 and was installed by the Quitman Chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy in memory of Quitman and Brooks County men who died during World War I. The sculpture was created in Italy of Italian marble. The dedication was originally scheduled for Armistice Day 1921, but was delayed when the sculpture failed to arrive on time. The dedication was postponed until January 1, 1922. The sculpture was first installed in the middle of downtown Quitman. Due to the widening of Highway 84, the sculpture was moved to the square in front of the Brooks County Courthouse on April 4, 1986.

A fountain, originally installed under the canopy roof, symbolized youth, hope, and life. The four columns of the canopy represent belief in God, belief in right, respect for law and reverence for home life. At some point, the water pipes inside the fountain froze and burst, splitting the marble. The fountain could not be repaired and was removed. Later, an automobile crashed into the canopy base, damaging one column and causing one marble ball to fall off the top. After World War II, two markers were added which contain the names of World War II dead. On May 2, 1986, shortly after the sculpture had been relocated, a new marker listing names of war dead from Korea and Vietnam was unveiled and the sculpture was rededicated. It now stands as a tribute to Brooks County and Quitman men who died during World War I, World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.

IAS files contain related excerpts from "Historic Treasures of Brooks County, Georgia, Volume II," Daughters of the American Revolution, 1990, pg. 275-277; Ralph W. Widener's "Confederate Monuments: Enduring Symbols of the South and the War Between the States," Washington, D.C.: Andromeda Associates, 1982, pg. 71; Isabell Smith Buzzett's "Confederate Monuments of Georgia," Atlanta: Atlanta Chapter No. 18, United Daughters of the Confederacy, 1984, pg. 36; and Frank M. McKenney's "The Standing Army," Alpharetta, G.A.: W. H. Wolfe Associates, 1993, pg. 25.

Save Outdoor Sculpture, Georgia survey, 1994.

Widener, Ralph W., "Confederate Monuments: Enduring Symbols of the South and the War Between the States," Washington, D.C.: Andromeda Associates, 1982, pg. 71.

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

Control Number:

Horizon Information Portal 3.0

Powered by SirsiDynix

About | © 2020 Smithsonian | Terms of Use | Privacy | Contact

SIRIS - Smithsonian Institution Research Information System