“In Them She Built Monuments”: Celia Dial Saxon and American Memory

Celia Dial Saxon’s life and legacy demonstrate how the memorialization of African American women has been a vibrant part of the cultural and public history landscapes of the South since the early twentieth century. Born enslaved, Saxon benefited from the educational opportunities of Reconstruction and was one of the first African American students to attend classes at South Carolina College in 1874. She became a nationally respected educator and provided professional opportunities for other Black teachers. As a founder of the South Carolina Federation of Colored Women’s Clubs, her leadership in Black women’s clubs provided much needed social welfare resources for Black communities. Her commitment to education and philanthropy was so extraordinary that she was celebrated in public memorials as early as 1930. Her legacy has remained relevant for ninety years through multiple public commemorations, making Saxon the most memorialized African American woman in South Carolina.

Russell, Alexandria. “‘In Them She Built Monuments’: Celia Dial Saxon and American Memory.” The Journal of African American History 106, no. 3 (June 1, 2021): 383–410. https://doi.org/10.1086/713919.