Commems Collection Classic: 1925 Stone Mountain Memorial - Before The Coin - Part II

You can check out Part I of this story here:

- 1925 Stone Mountain Memorial - Before the Coin - Part I

With public support for the Monument/Memorial growing, the United Daughters of the Confederacy (UDC) of Georgia took up a lead position for the Monument's creation; Mrs. Caroline Helen Paine - a widow of a Confederate officer killed in the Civil War - championed the idea within the UDC.

Rather than engaging Lorado Taft as suggested by John Temple Graves, however, the Daughters invited artist-sculptor Gutzon Borglum to Atlanta to survey the site and review the proposed General Lee carving design. Borglum visited Stone Mountain in August 1915.

Borglum did not believe a carving of just Lee would be impressive considering the enormous granite canvas available, and proposed a much more extensive carving that included figures of General Robert E. Lee, General Thomas Jonathan "Stonewall" Jackson, President of the Confederacy Jefferson Davis, several Confederate Commanders and Confederate Troops with their horses and artillery pieces.

Proposed Monument Design of Gutzon Borglum

(Image Source: Stone Mountain Memorial Promotional Booklet.)

(Note: The illustration includes a proposed amphitheater in the lower right - it was not built.)

Though much more extensive vs. Graves' original concept, the sheer size of the mountain's face still dwarfs Borglum's proposed Monument/Memorial.

In September 1915, the Stone Mountain Confederate Monumental Association ("Association") was organized. Gutzon Borglum was soon commissioned to carve his design on the mountain. The Monument/Memorial site was dedicated on May 20, 1916 and Borglum began work soon after. Caroline Paine, the driving force behind the Memorial, was elected as the first President of the Association.

Before there was a commemorative medal to sell and before there was a commemorative half dollar to sell, the Association sold memberships. Multiple membership levels were offered (see form below), and payment plans were acceptable.

Stone Mountain Confederate Monumental Association Membership Form



Outside of membership sales, the cause was aided by donated equipment, services and cash. Key to everything was the Samuel Hoyt Venable donation of the portion of Stone Mountain that was to be used for the Monument/Memorial (referred to as "Memorial Reservation"); Venable was the owner of Stone Mountain. It was deeded to the UDC for it to use in seeing the Memorial through to completion - something it was not able to accomplish.

I won't repeat the Memorial/Borglum/Medals/Coin information found in my many previous posts on the Stone Mountain Memorial and its half dollar, but suggest checking them out if you'd like to learn more. They can be found at Commems Collection. It was quite a ride!


1925 Stone Mountain Memorial Half Dollar