Dr. Charlotte Hawkins Brown Memorial, Sedalia
The memorial is in the shape of a typical tombstone formed of poured concrete standing on a concrete base. Placed into the front is a bronze convex shaped pentagon. In the peak of the pentagon is a double facing cameo, assumed to be of Dr. Brown with a star centered between the two faces. The memorial stands a few feet away from Charlotte Hawkins Brown grave. Lying flat atop the grave are two bronze tablets. The smaller rest at the head of the grave and the second larger tablet covers the grave site proper. The marker was placed in 1976. The tablets over the grave were placed sometime after her death in 1961 and the early 1980’s.
Images:
Bronze tablets
|
Charlotte Hawkins Brown historic site |
Story board at Charlotte Hawkins Brown historic site
Marker inscription: IN MEMORY OF / DR. CHARLOTTE HAWKINS BROWN / FOUNDER, / EDUCATOR, / HUMANITARIAN / JULY 1976 / ERECTED BY THE ASSOCIATION FOR STUDY / OF AFRO-AMERICAN LIFE AND HISTORY / IN COOPERATION WITH THE / AMOCO FOUNDATION, INC.
Tablet, head of grave: DR. CHARLOTTE HAWKINS BROWN / JUNE 11, 1883 - JANUARY 11, 1961 / PRESIDENT AND FOUNDER OF / PALMER MEMORIAL INSTITUTE
Tablet covering grave: DR. CHARLOTTE HAWKINS BROWN / FOUNDER AND BUILDER / OF THE / ALICE FREEMAN PALMER / MEMORIAL INSTITUTE / LEADER OF WOMEN IN THEIR QUEST / FOR FINER AND MORE PRODUCTIVE / LIVING-MENTOR, BY HER WRITINGS, / OF THOSE SEEKING TO LIVE MORE / GRACIOUSLY-BY HER ELOQUENCE, / INSPIRED YOUTH TO NOBLER / ACHIEVEMENTS; BY HER VIGOR OF / MIND AND FORCE OF CHARACTER, / CHAMPIONED FOR A DISADVANTAGED / RACE IN ITS STRIVING FOR HUMAN / RIGHTS AND ADULT RESPONSIBILITIES. / SHE GAVE 58 YEARS COMPLETELY OF / HER UNIQUE ENERGIES AND TALENTS / TO THE BUILDING OF THIS INSTITUTE / FROM ITS HUMBLEST OF BEGINNINGS / IN AN OLD BLACKSMITH SHOP. HER / VISION, DEDICATION, SINGLENESS / OF PURPOSE, AND UNDAUNTED FAITH / MADE THIS INSTITUTE POSSIBLE IN HER / NATIVE STATE – NORTH CAROLINA. / MAY HER MEMORY IN TURN LEND / INSPIRATION ALWAYS TO THIS PLACE / AND ITS PEOPLE.
North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources
August 12, 1976
36.067630 , -79.623110
View in Geobrowse
Burns III, A.M., 1976. “Brown, Charlotte Hawkins,” NCpedia.org, (accessed February 16, 2020) Link
Wadelington, Charles W., 2006. “Palmer Memorial Institute,” NCpedia.org, (accessed February 21, 2020), Link
“Charlotte Hawkins Brown Museum,” North Carolina Historic Sites, historicsites.nc.gov, (accessed February 16, 2020) Link
“Charlotte Hawkins Brown Papers, 1900-1961,” Schlesinger Library, Radcliffe Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass., hollisarchives.lib.harvard.edu, (accessed February 16, 2020) Link
“Dr. Charlotte Hawkins Brown, June 11, 1883 - January 11, 1961 — Founder and Builder of the Alice Freeman Palmer Memorial Institute,” The Historical Marker Database, HMdb.org, (accesses February 16, 2020) Link
“Plaque Honors Black Leader Charlotte Brown,” Rocky Mountain Telegram (Rocky Mountain, NC), August 16, 1976
Yes
Formed concrete and bronze
The Association for Study of Afro-American Life and History and the Amoco Foundation, Inc.
The Palmer Memorial Institute founded by Charlotte Hawkins Brown became the first state historic site in North Carolina honoring its African American history. Founded in 1902 by Dr. Charlotte Hawkins Brown, Palmer Memorial Institute transformed the lives of more than 1,000 African American students.
The memorial is located in Sedalia, postal address of 6136 Burlington Rd, Gibsonville, NC 27249.
The memorial is on the ground of the Charlotte Hawkins Brown historic site.
Know anything else about this monument that isn't mentioned here? If you have additional information on
this or any other monument in our collection fill out the form at the Contact Us link in the footer. Thank you.
