Edmonia Lewis’ Grave

3 Comments

1. I just want to introduce myself. I am Bobbie Reno, the historian for the Town of East Greenbush. According to a passport Edmonia applied for, she was born in Greenbush, NY. East Greenbush is now part of Greenbush. When I did research on Edmonia, I was able to contact Dr. Marilyn Richardson, who is the foremost authority on Edmonia. It was Dr. Richardson who ID’d Death of Cleopatra when it was discovered. Dr. Richardson located Edmonia’s grave in London. When I saw photos of the neglected grave, I did a successful fundraiser to restore the grave. The photo that Dr. Charmaine A Nelson took is of the restored grave. I do locale talks on Edmonia and I have written and illustrated a children’s picture book on Edmonia titled “Edmonia Lewis, A Sculptor of Determination and Courage” to introduce children (and adults) to Edmonia. I posted photos of the neglected grave and the restored grave. I raised the money from generous donations, mostly from people here in East Greenbush, NY and with the help of Anna Humphries of St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery on Harrow Rd., London and the E M. Lander Company, who restoration work, the grave was restored and a black polished granite marker placed on it. Mr. Doe from the E M Lander Company told me, her the flat stone on her grave was never engraved.

2. How wonderful to hear from you, thank you so much for reaching out, and for helping Edmonia Lewis’s grave get the marker she deserved! What a wonderful project! We can’t wait to go check out your book!

3. Thank you so much for your successful fundraiser but I am surprised that it never reached much more than $900. Her sculptures were beautiful works of art. How could this talented artist have been so easily forgotten for so long.