Governor Coles Monument - Edwardsville, Illinois - Smithsonian Art Inventory Sculptures on Waymarking.com

Art Deco styled limestone memorial for Edward Coles, the second Governor of Illinois. The memorial was constructed by the state of Illinois in 1928 and 1929. The memorial features a bronze bas-relief portait of Coles sculpted by Leon Hermant. The memorial is inscribed:

 On front center-

Commemorating The Career Of
Edward Coles
Who By Steadfastness And Courage
In 1823 Kept Slavery
Out Of The Constitution Of Illinois
A Grateful State
Marks This Spot In The Community
Where His Noble Work Was Done

Born December 15, 1786, At Enniscorthy, Virginia
Died July 7, 1868 In Philadelphia Pennsylvania
Private Secretary To President James Madison, 1809-1815
Special Emissary The The United States To Russia 1816
Register Of The Lands Office In Edwardsville 1819-1822
Second Covernor Of The State of Illinois 1822-1826

Left front:

Believing Slavery To Be
Both Injurious And Impolitic.
I Believe Myself Bound, Both
As a Citizen And An Officer, to
Do All In My Power to Prevent
Its Introduction Into The State
                  Edward Coles

 

Right front:

 On back:

Erected By The
State Of Illinois In 1928

Len Small, Governor

C.R. Miller, Director
Public Works And Buildings

Leslie Small, Director
Purchases and Construction

William J. L. Lindstrom
Supervising Architect

Schmidt, Garden And Erikson, Architects

L. Hermant, Sculptor

Edward Coles was a former slave owner from Virginia, he became an abolitionist and won the 1822 gubernatorial election as the candidate of the anti-slavery forces.  He helped defeat the call for a constitutional convention to consider the legalization of slavery in Illinois.

 The memorial is maintained by the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency as a state historic site.  The memorial was formerly located at Lincoln School in Edwardsville. Coles is buried in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

TITLE: Governor Coles Monument ARTIST(S): Leon Hermant DATE: Cast 1929.; Erected 1928-1929. MEDIUM: Limestone monument, Bronze plaque CONTROL NUMBER: IAS 75004390 Direct Link to the Individual Listing in the Smithsonian Art Inventory: [Web Link] PHYSICAL LOCATION: Valley View Cemetery 1564 Lewis Rd Edwardsville, Illinois DIFFERENCES NOTED BETWEEN THE INVENTORY LISTING AND YOUR OBSERVATIONS AND RESEARCH: Inscriptions listed as being on right and left on the back are actually on front side of memorial

Visit Instructions:
Please give the date of your visit, your impressions of the sculpture, and at least ONE ORIGINAL PHOTOGRAPH. Add any additional information you may have, particularly any personal observations about the condition of the sculpture.

Recent Visits/Logs:

There are no logs for this waymark yet.