Thomas W. Talbot Monument facts for kids
The monument in 2021
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 Location in Atlanta
Location in Georgia (U.S. state)
Location in the United States
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| Coordinates | 33°44′4″N 84°22′19″W / 33.73444°N 84.37194°W |
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| Location | Grant Park, Atlanta, Atlanta, Georgia, United States |
| Material | Tennessee marble Bronze |
| Dedicated to | Thomas W. Talbot |
The Thomas W. Talbot Monument is a special statue in Atlanta, Georgia. It honors Thomas W. Talbot, a very important person. This monument stands in Grant Park. It was put there in 1948 to remember Talbot. He started a big workers' group in Atlanta back in 1888. This group is now called the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers.
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Who Was Thomas W. Talbot?
Thomas W. Talbot was a machinist who worked on railroads. In 1888, he had a great idea. He wanted to create a group to help workers. On May 5, 1888, Talbot and 18 other machinists started a labor union. This union grew into the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM). Talbot passed away a few years later in 1892.
Why Was the Monument Built?
The IAM union wanted to honor their founder, Thomas W. Talbot. In May 1948, the union celebrated its 60th birthday. To mark this special occasion, they decided to dedicate a monument to Talbot. The dedication ceremony happened on May 5, 1948. Talbot's grandson and great-grandson were there. The president of the IAM, Harvey W. Brown, gave a speech. More than 1,500 union members came to the celebration in Atlanta.
Where Is the Monument Located?
The union chose Grant Park for the monument. This park is a well-known spot in Atlanta. Today, the monument is in a plaza. It is close to an entrance for Zoo Atlanta.
A New Plaque for a Big Anniversary
In 2013, the IAM union celebrated another big milestone. It was their 125th anniversary! To mark this, a new plaque was added to the monument. A local IAM group from Marietta, Georgia hosted the event.
What Does the Monument Look Like?
The monument has a bronze bust of Thomas W. Talbot. A bust is a sculpture of a person's head and shoulders. This bust sits on top of a pedestal. The pedestal is made from Tennessee marble.
Special Messages on the Monument
There are two bronze plaques on the pedestal. One plaque has the IAM union's logo. It also has a message that says:
Erected by the membership of the International Association of Machinists, May 5, 1948, to the memory of its founder Thomas Wilson Talbot, 1849-1892, through whose efforts came light out of darkness and hope out of despair. And that generations to come might extol his greatness, this monument is solemnly dedicated to free men everywhere who toil for a livelihood.
This message explains that the union built the monument. It honors Talbot for bringing "light out of darkness" and "hope out of despair" to workers.
The second plaque was added in 2013. It celebrates the union's 125th birthday. This plaque reads:
CELEBRATING 125 YEARS, Placed by the members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers to honor Thomas Wilson Talbot's enduring legacy, 125 years after he founded the Machinists Union in Atlanta Georgia on May 5, 1888. Dedicated June 2013.
It reminds everyone of Talbot's lasting impact. He founded the Machinists Union in Atlanta on May 5, 1888.
