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Virginia Women's Monument Debuts Monday

Mallory Noe-Payne
/
RADIOIQ

 

 

The latest monument on Capitol Square, in Richmond, is dedicated to women. When construction began two years ago it was the first of its kind at any state capitol in the country.

 

Sculptor Ivan Schwartz is still deciding the final placement of seven life-size bronze images of famous Virginia women. 

They’re spread throughout a new plaza. The first round of statues include 

Virginia Randolph, a teacher who helped improve education for black kids in the rural south 

Another woman honored with a monument is Anne Burras Laydon, one of Virginia’s first colonists and a seamstress. 

Elizabeth Keckly was also a seamstress, for Mary Todd Lincoln. Keckly was enslaved. She bought her own freedom before working for the first lady. She was an author and her memoir, “Thirty Years a Slave” detailed life in the Lincoln White House. 

Schwartz says every woman here did something extraordinary, and that women have long been omitted from public monuments. 

Organizers hope Virginia’s new Women’s Monument will help fill that void.

“I think it’s important for us to illustrate what our collective values are,” said Schwartz. 

There are still five more statues in the works. When they’re done they’ll also be installed in the new plaza at the state capitol. 

 

This report, provided by Virginia Public Radio, was made possible with support from the Virginia Education Association.

 

Mallory Noe-Payne is a Radio IQ reporter based in Richmond.
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