Thomas W. Talbot Monument facts for kids
Thomas W. Talbot Monument (1971)
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| Location | Grant Park, Atlanta, Atlanta, Georgia, United States |
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| Material | Tennessee marble Bronze |
| Dedicated to | Thomas W. Talbot |
The Thomas W. Talbot Monument is a special statue in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. It's located in Grant Park. This monument honors Thomas W. Talbot, who started an important group called the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) in 1888. The monument was officially opened in 1948.
Contents
The Story of the Monument
How the Union Started
On May 5, 1888, a railroad worker named Thomas W. Talbot and 18 other machinists created a workers' union. This union later became known as the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM). They started this important group in Atlanta, Georgia. Thomas Talbot passed away a few years later in 1892.
Dedicating the Monument
In May 1948, the union celebrated its 60th birthday. To mark this special occasion, they decided to dedicate a monument to their founder, Thomas Talbot. The statue was officially unveiled on May 5, 1948. Talbot's grandson and great-grandson attended the ceremony. The president of the IAM at that time, Harvey W. Brown, gave a speech. More than 1,500 members of the IAM came to Atlanta for the anniversary celebrations.
Why Grant Park?
The union chose Grant Park for the monument because it was a well-known spot in the city. Today, the monument stands in a plaza near an entrance to Zoo Atlanta.
A New Plaque in 2013
In 2013, the union celebrated its 125th anniversary. To honor this milestone, a new plaque was added to the statue. A local IAM group from Marietta, Georgia organized the event.
What the Monument Looks Like
The monument has a bronze bust (a sculpture of a person's head and shoulders) of Thomas Talbot. This bust sits on top of a tall base, called a pedestal, which is made of Tennessee marble.
The Main Plaque
There is a bronze logo of the IAM attached to the pedestal. Below it, a plaque reads:
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 members built the monument to remember Thomas Talbot. It says his work brought "light out of darkness and hope out of despair." It also dedicates the monument to all people who work hard for a living.
The 2013 Plaque
The plaque added in 2013 says:
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.
This plaque celebrates 125 years of the union. It honors Thomas Wilson Talbot's lasting impact, 125 years after he started the Machinists Union in Atlanta.
