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Commemorative Landscapes of North Carolina
Commemorative Landscapes of North Carolina
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Source:  Frederick Augustus Olds Statue, Raleigh. Photo courtesy of waymarking.com

  • Monument Name

    Frederick Augustus Olds Statue, Raleigh

  • Type

    Statue

  • Subjects

    Historic Civic Figures

    Historic Cultural Figures

  • Creator

    Studio EIS, Brooklyn, NY, Designer

  • City

    Raleigh

  • County

    Wake

  • Description

    The statue depicts Frederick Augustus Olds holding a key in his right hand. He is shown dressed in a suit (slacks, shirt, vest, and tie) and hat. A small plaque and pedestal stand to the left of the statue and contains information regarding Frederick Augustus Olds as well as the statue itself.

    Images: Bronze plaque

  • Inscription

    FREDERICK AUGUSTUS OLDS / (1853-1935) / COLONEL FRED OLDS FOUNDED THE HALL OF HISTORY, NOW THE / NORTH CAROLINA MUSEUM OF HISTORY, IN 1902. HE DEVOTED HIS / LIFE TO PRESERVING THE STATE'S HERITAGE. / IN MEMORY OF DELLIE HARDISON SMITH, A CREATIVE PLANNER FOR THIS NORTH CAROLINA / MUSEUM OF HISTORY BUILDING.

    The text also appears below the main inscription in braille.

  • Custodian

    North Carolina Museum of History

  • Dedication Date

    2000

  • Decade

    2000s

  • Geographic Coordinates

    35.781190 , -78.638980 View in Geobrowsemap pin

  • Supporting Sources

      "Frederick Augustus Olds - Raleigh, NC," Statues of Historic Figures on Waymarking.com, Waymarking.com, (accessed June 23, 2014) Link

      Carter, Ric. "Fred Olds--Guardian of History," The North Carolina Mason (accessed June 23, 2014) Link

      Crabtree, Beth G. 1991. "Olds, Frederick Augustus," NCpedia.org (accessed June 23, 2014) Link

      North Carolina Museum of History. "Meet the Statues" (accessed June 23, 2014) Link

  • Public Site

    Yes

  • Materials & Techniques

    Bronze

  • Subject Notes

    Frederick Augustus Olds was an early advocate of "social history" (history about and for the people) and is considered the father of the North Carolina Museum of History after he undertook an editorial campaign which called on people to save historic artifacts and documents during which he even requested that such items be sent to him. He amassed some three hundred items which served as the basis for the Hall of History which opened in 1902. After its opening, Olds ran the museum for 32 years during which time he visited each county in the state at least three times and accumulated approximately 30,000 artifacts.

  • Location

    The statue is located on the steps leading up to the North Carolina Museum of History (located off of Edenton Road). Two other statues - to Sauratown Woman and to Thomas Day - greet Museum visitors.

  • Landscape

    The statue stands between the entrance to the Museum of History and the planters which line the museum's front. It is surrounded by concrete steps.

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