Fame (Confederate monument)

Monument in Salisbury, North Carolina

Fame

Fame, Salisbury (location from 1909 to 2020)

Location| Salisbury, North Carolina, U.S.
Coordinates| 35°40′12.75″N 80°27′46.56″W﻿ / ﻿35.6702083°N 80.4629333°W﻿ / 35.6702083; -80.4629333
Type| Confederate Monument
Completion date| 1891

Fame, also called Gloria Victis ("Glory to the Defeated" or "Glory to the Conquered"),[1] is a Confederate monument in Salisbury, North Carolina. Cast in Brussels, in 1891, Fame is one of two nearly-identical sculptures by Frederick Ruckstull (the other being the Confederate Soldiers and Sailors Monument, removed from public display in Baltimore in 2017).[1][2][3] The monument was removed from public display in Salisbury on July 6, 2020.[4]

## Description

[edit]

23 feet (7.0 metres) "from the bottom of the pedestal", the bronze statue features an allegorical angel with outstretched wings dressed in robes with a laurel wreath on her head. In one hand she supports a dying soldier holding a battered rifle, while in her other hand—held high—she holds a second laurel wreath.[1][5]

On the pink granite base created from Balfour Quarry stone from nearby Granite Quarry,[1] an inscription says, "Deo Vindice," which can be translated "With God as our champion" or "With God as our vindicator."[6][7]

The dying soldier was modeled from an 1861 photograph of Confederate Lt. Henry Howe Cook of Franklin, Tennessee.[8]

## History

[edit]

Gloria Victis appeared first at an exhibition in Paris, and then at a studio in a New York City, where it was purchased by the UDC as a Confederate monument for Salisbury.[1] Raising the funds took about ten years.[9] $9,000 was raised for the statue itself and $1,500 for the base.[1]

Anna Morrison Jackson, widow of Confederate General Stonewall Jackson, attended the dedication in Salisbury along with 162 Confederate veterans[1] on May 10, 1909, Confederate Memorial Day.[6] Frances Fisher Tiernan read her poem Gloria Victis.[1][5] At that time the statue was dedicated to 2,500 Confederate soldiers from Rowan County.[1]

Although no minutes have been found, in 1927 A.H. Boyden said that when he was mayor, he signed a resolution in August 1908 designating the site at West Innes and Church Streets.[10] The resolution was recorded after Boyden signed a document stating "that said site shall be used perpetually for said monument."[11] In 1990, the DAC raised funds to restore the statue, which had to be taken to Cincinnati.[9]

The statue in 2011

In 2015, the North Carolina General Assembly passed the Historic Artifact Management and Patriotism Act, preventing any state owned art work or memorial from being moved without permission from the North Carolina Historical Commission. Exceptions included threat to public safety and agreement between a private owner and the government.[11] That same year the Charleston church shooting led to discussion of moving the statue.[12]

On August 18, 2018, the monument was covered in white paint, apparently in response to the distribution of KKK flyers in black neighborhoods.[13] On March 20, 2019 the statue was vandalized again, with yellow paint.[14] After the 2019 incident, a public hearing was requested to discuss the possibility of moving the statue. Despite the lack of official confirmation of Boyden's action in 1908, the city was given a legal opinion that it had no authority over the land where the statue is located.[10] City council heard from speakers in June 2019. The city attorney said the 2015 North Carolina law prevents permanently moving monuments and restricts how governments can move monuments for reasons other than safety.[15]

Statue at new location

Catawba College professor Gary Freeze proposed a marker near the site and new art work in the statue's original location.[11]

More discussion about moving the statue followed shots being fired near the statue during the 2020 George Floyd protests. One commenter pointed out that it interfered with watching for traffic.[16] Safety had been a concern in 1948, 1959 and 1964 as well.[17]

An online petition with over 7,000 signatures as of June 12 said the statue appears to support "white supremacy and memorializes a treasonous government whose founding principle was the perpetuation and expansion of slavery."[18] Fame Preservation Group, on the other hand, claimed the statue represents those who fought "against a federal military force invading their land" and that "it’s been made part of Salisbury’s identity."[18] The group's petition opposing a move had 2,600 signatures as of June 12. Suggested sites were Salisbury Prison[18] and Old Lutheran Cemetery.[19] The city council voted June 16 to move the statue because of a threat to public safety.[20] On June 21, the UDC signed the agreement to have the statue moved to Old Lutheran Cemetery in the 500 block of North Lee Street, where 176 Confederate soldiers have had tombstones since 1996. This location was discussed with descendants of those who raised money for the statue.[21][22][23]

The statue was moved July 6, 2020[24] and transferred to its new location July 23, 2021.[25]

The Fame Preservation Group Inc., incorporated as a nonprofit organization on November 29, 2021, received 501(c)(3) organization status in 2023. The society worked to educate people about Confederate history and about the Fame monument, and to take care of the Old Lutheran Cemetery.[23] Group president Greg Lambeth said the group's name stands for "Faith, Ancestry, Monuments and Education".[26]

## See also

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* Visual arts portal

* List of Confederate monuments and memorials in North Carolina

## External links

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* Photo of monument in its new location

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Wineka, Mark (December 1, 2009). "Celebration of Confederate Monument's First Century Begins Saturday". Salisbury Post.
2. ^ Miller, Hayley (August 16, 2017). "Baltimore Quietly Removed All 4 of Its Confederate Statues Overnight". Huff Post.
3. ^ Grierson, Jamie (August 16, 2017). "Baltimore takes down Confederate statues in middle of night". The Guardian.
4. ^ Whisenant, David. (July 6, 2020). After 111 years, Salisbury Confederate monument "Fame" moved. wbtv.com. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
5. ^ a b "Fame Confederate Monument, Salisbury". University of North Carolina. March 19, 2010. Retrieved November 7, 2017.
6. ^ a b Wineka, Mark (August 17, 2017). "What does future hold for Salisbury's Confederate monument?". Salisbury Post. Retrieved June 7, 2020.
7. ^ Wineka, Mark (July 2, 2015). "Shouldn't we all feel safe under Fame's wings?". Retrieved June 8, 2020.
8. ^ Whisenant, David (July 7, 2020). "After 111 years, Salisbury Confederate monument "Fame" moved". wbtv.com. Retrieved July 9, 2020.
9. ^ a b "Confederate Monument". Salisbury Post. May 26, 2005.
10. ^ a b Moomey, Liz (March 24, 2019). "Salisbury mayor open to holding public hearing on 'Fame'". Salisbury Post.
11. ^ a b c Moomey, Liz (July 7, 2019). "Salisbury faces question: What authority does it have around 'Fame?'". Salisbury Post. Retrieved July 7, 2019.
12. ^ Anderson, Natalie (June 14, 2020). "'More unified community': Council members say community-led deal to move 'Fame' positive for city". Salisbury Post. Retrieved June 14, 2020.
13. ^ Anapol, Avery (August 19, 2018). "Confederate statue vandalized in North Carolina". The Hill.
14. ^ Walker, Shavonne (March 21, 2019). "Police looking for 'persons of interest' in vandalism of "Fame" monument". Salisbury Post. Retrieved March 21, 2019.
15. ^ Moomey, Liz (June 17, 2019). "Salisbury City Council hears divided views on the fate of 'Fame'". Salisbury Post. Retrieved June 18, 2019.
16. ^ Anderson, Natalie (June 3, 2020). "Protests reignite debate about whether to move 'Fame' Confederate statue". Salisbury Post. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
17. ^ Bergeron, Josh (July 13, 2020). "Ask us: Will West Innes Street median follow Confederate monument's removal?". Salisbury Post. Retrieved July 13, 2020.
18. ^ a b c Anderson, Natalie (June 12, 2020). "Debate about 'Fame' statue relocation continues as thousands sign petitions". Salisbury Post. Retrieved June 12, 2020.
19. ^ Whisenant, David (June 12, 2020). "Tentative deal reached to move Salisbury Confederate monument 'Fame,' requires City Council approval". WBTV. Retrieved June 14, 2020.
20. ^ Anderson, Natalie (June 17, 2020). "Salisbury City Council votes to move 'Fame' Confederate monument off of West Innes Street". Salisbury Post. Retrieved June 17, 2020.
21. ^ "UDC signs agreement from city to relocate 'Fame' Confederate statue". Salisbury Post. June 22, 2020.
22. ^ Anderson, Natalie (June 12, 2020). "Tentative deal in the works to relocate 'Fame' Confederate statue". Salisbury Post. Retrieved June 12, 2020.
23. ^ a b "Fame Preservation Group granted nonprofit status". Salisbury Post. April 30, 2023. Retrieved April 30, 2023.
24. ^ Bergeron, Josh (July 7, 2020). "111 years after its dedication, 'Fame' hoisted away from West Innes Street". Salisbury Post. Retrieved July 7, 2020.
25. ^ Anderson, Natalie (July 23, 2021). "A year after removal, 'Fame' Confederate monument relocated to new home". Salisbury Post. Retrieved July 26, 2021.
26. ^ Strillacci, Elizabeth (August 25, 2023). "Second annual Fame Preservation Group barbecue a successful fundraiser". Salisbury Post.

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Monuments and memorials removed during the George Floyd protests

United States

| Alabama|

* Birmingham – Confederate Soldiers and Sailors Monument; Charles Linn
* Huntsville – Confederate Soldier Memorial ✻
* Mobile – Raphael Semmes

|

Arkansas|

* Bentonville – Confederate Monument ✻
* Little Rock – Company A, Capitol Guards
* Pine Bluff – Confederate Monument

California|

* Carmel-by-the-Sea – Junípero Serra
* Chula Vista – Christopher Columbus
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Connecticut|

* Bridgeport – Christopher Columbus
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* Dover – Delaware Law Enforcement Memorial
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District of Columbia|

* Washington – Albert Pike

Florida|

* Jacksonville – Confederate Memorial; Florida's Tribute to the Women of the Confederacy ✻
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Georgia|

* Athens – Confederate Monument
* Decatur – DeKalb County Confederate Monument

Indiana|

* Indianapolis – Confederate Soldiers and Sailors Monument

Kentucky|

* Frankfort – Jefferson Davis
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Louisiana|

* New Orleans – John McDonogh

Massachusetts|

* Boston – Christopher Columbus; Emancipation Memorial

Michigan|

* Dearborn – Orville L. Hubbard
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Minnesota|

* Minneapolis – Calvin Griffith
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Missouri|

* St. Louis – Christopher Columbus

Nevada|

* Las Vegas – Hey Reb!

New Jersey|

* Camden – Christopher Columbus
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New Mexico|

* Albuquerque – Juan de Oñate
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New York|

* Albany – Philip Schuyler ✻
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* Hempstead – Thomas Jefferson
* New York City – Theodore Roosevelt
* Rochester – Frederick Douglass

North Carolina|

* Asheville – Vance Monument ✻
* Charlotte – Jerry Richardson
* Raleigh – North Carolina Women of the Confederacy; Josephus Daniels; Henry Lawson Wyatt
* Rocky Mount – Nash County Confederate Monument ✻
* Salisbury – Gloria Victis ✻
* Wilmington – Confederate Memorial; George Davis

Ohio|

* Columbus – Christopher Columbus (City Hall); Christopher Columbus (Columbus State Community College)

Oregon|

* Eugene – The Pioneer; The Pioneer Mother
* Portland – Captain William Clark Monument; Thompson Elk Fountain; Thomas Jefferson; Abraham Lincoln; Theodore Roosevelt; Harvey W. Scott; George Washington

Pennsylvania|

* Philadelphia – Christopher Columbus ✻; Frank Rizzo; George Whitefield

Rhode Island|

* Providence – Christopher Columbus

South Carolina|

* Columbia – Christopher Columbus
* Charleston – John C. Calhoun

Tennessee|

* Nashville – Edward W. Carmack; Sam Davis ✻

Texas|

* Beaumont – Our Confederate Soldiers
* Dallas – Confederate War Memorial; One Riot, One Ranger
* Denton – Confederate Soldier Monument ✻
* Fort Worth – Confederate Monument
* Houston – Christopher Columbus; Richard W. Dowling ✻; Spirit of the Confederacy

Virginia|

* Alexandria – Appomattox
* Fredericksburg – Slave Auction Block
* Norfolk – Confederate Monument
* Portsmouth – Confederate Monument
* Roanoke – Robert E. Lee
* Richmond – Christopher Columbus; Jefferson Davis; Howitzer Monument ✻; Stonewall Jackson; Robert E. Lee; Matthew Fontaine Maury; Richmond Police Memorial; J. E. B. Stuart; Williams Carter Wickham

Wisconsin|

* Madison – Forward; Hans Christian Heg

Other countries

| Belgium|

* Antwerp – Leopold II
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|

New Zealand|

* Hamilton – John Fane Charles Hamilton

United Kingdom|

* Bristol – Edward Colston
* Cambridge – Sir Ronald Fisher window
* Greater Manchester – Dunham Massey Hall sundial
* London – John Cass; Robert Clayton ✻; Thomas Guy ✻; Robert Milligan

Key: ✻ Pending removal
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