Documenting the American South

Commemorative Landscapes of North Carolina
Commemorative Landscapes of North Carolina
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  • Monument Name

    Dolly (Dolley) Payne Todd Madison, Greensboro

  • Type

    Marker

  • Subjects

    Historic Women Figures

    Women Monuments

  • City

    Greensboro

  • County

    Guilford

  • Description

    The Dolly Madison maker is an 8,000 pound natural granite boulder with a simple 16 x 20 bronze tablet attached. The spinning wheel symbol of the Daughters of the American separates the two parts of the inscription.

    Images: Contemporary view (2023) | Members of the Guilford Battle Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution stand with shovels in hand for the groundbreaking and dedication of the Dolley Madison monument on West Friendly Avenue on March 7, 1930 (from Etta Reid: DAR rededicates Dolley Madison marker, photo courtesy of Guilford Battle Chapter DAR archives) | 2015 re-dedication of the memorial marker (courtesy of Jenny Conover, Guilford Battle Chapter DAR) | View of the marker (2023) in front of the Guilford College Animal Hospital

  • Inscription

    BIRTH PLACE OF / DOLLY MADISON / IN A HOUSE WHICH STOOD BACK OF THIS MARKER WAS / BORN “YE 20 OF YE 5 MO. 1768” / DOLLY PAYNE WHO BECAME / THE WIFE OF JAMES MADISON, FOURTH PRESIDENT OF / THE UNITED STATES. (NEW GARDEN MONTHLY MEETING / RECORDS, VOL. 1, PAGE 29.)

    ERECTED BY / GUILFORD CHAPTER, GREENSBORO, N.C. / ALEXANDER MARTIN CHAPTER, HIGH POINT, N.C. / DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, 1930.

  • Custodian

    Guilford College

  • Dedication Date

    March 7, 1930. Re-dedication: November 2015

  • Decade

    1930s

  • Geographic Coordinates

    36.088890 , -79.883160 View in Geobrowsemap pin

  • Supporting Sources

      Arnett, Ethel Stephens. 1991. “Madison, Dolley Payne Todd,” NCPedia.org, (accessed December 14, 2021) Link

      Guilford Battle Chapter NSDAR, Greensboro, NC. Chapter History, NCDAR.org, (accessed December 12, 2021) Link

      Martin, Jonathan. “Dolly Madison (1768-1849), North Carolina History Project, northcarolinahistory.org, (accessed December 14, 2021) Link

      Reid, Etta. Etta Reid: DAR Rededicates Dolley Madison marker, News & Record (Greensboro, NC), Nov 13, 2015, (accessed January 24, 2022) Link

      “Dolley Madison, North Carolina’s Legendary First Lady,” North Carolina Museum of History, (accessed December 14, 2021) Link

      “Dolly Madison Will Be Honored by Native State,” Asheville Citizen-Times (Asheville, NC), March 3, 1930

      “Memorial to Dolly Madison Is Unveiled,” Greensboro Daily News (Greensboro, NC), March 8, 1930

      “North Carolina D.A.R. to Honor Memory of Dolly,” The Charlotte Observer (Charlotte, NC), March 2, 1930

  • Public Site

    Yes

  • Materials & Techniques

    Granite, bronze

  • Sponsors

    Guilford Battle Chapter and Alexander Martin Chapter North Carolina Society Daughters of the American Revolution

  • Monument Dedication and Unveiling

    The dedication was held during the 30th annual state conference of Daughters of the American Revolution which convened in Greensboro, NC. Mrs. Charles T. Ingram of High Point and Mrs. I.G. Coble of Greensboro, descendants of the John Payne family, unveiled the memorial.

    The re-dedication in November 2015 was held to celebrate 125 years of DAR service to historic preservation, patriotism and education.

  • Subject Notes

    The site of the John Payne family home place is now the campus of Guilford College. Dolley Madison was the only first lady born in North Carolina and gained fame for her courage during the War of 1812. She is also credited with shaping the role of presidential first ladies.

  • Location

    The marker stands to the right of the entrance to the Guilford College Animal Hospital, 5505 W. Friendly Avenue, Greensboro, NC, 27410.

  • Landscape

    The memorial marker stands on the lawn surrounded by bushes and trees.

  • Rededicated

    Yes

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