Hidden Histories, Historical Marker Resource
Mamie George Williams
This Hidden History was created by SCAD student Sophie Bloomfield as part of their SCAD art history department coursework, with guidance from art history professor Holly Goldstein, Ph.D., in 2025.
The Mamie George Williams historical marker was dedicated in 2023. View the Mamie George Williams historical marker listing.
Gallery
- Program from the third Annual Meeting of the Savannah Federation of Negro Women’s Clubs pages 4-5 from the Maude Hayward Collection on Women’s Clubs, MS 1278, provided by the Georgia History Festival,
https://georgiahistoryfestival.org/collection-highlights-program-from-the-third-annual-meeting-of-the-savannah-federation-of-negro-womens-clubs/. - National Association of Colored Women's Convention Delegate's badge worn by Mamie Williams, ca. 1914, gold, brass, ribbon, Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture,
https://nmaahc.si.edu/object/nmaahc_2011.57.14?destination=/explore/collection/search%3Fedan_q%3Dwomen%2527s%2520suffrage%26edan_fq%255B0%255D%3Dtopic%253A%2522Women%2522. - Banner with motto of the National Association of Colored Women's Clubs, ca. 1924, silk, wood, paint, Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture,
https://nmaahc.si.edu/object/nmaahc_2010.2.1abc?destination=/explore/collection/search%3Fedan_q%3D%252A%253A%252A%26edan_fq%255B0%255D%3Dname%253A%2522National%252BAssociation%252Bof%252BColored%252BWomen%2527s%252BClubs%2522%26op%3DSearch. - Pin for the National Association of Colored Women's Clubs, owned by Mary Church Terrell, metal, enamel, Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Ray and Jean Langston in memory of Mary Church and Robert Terrell,
https://nmaahc.si.edu/object/nmaahc_A2017.13.1.45?destination=/explore/collection/search%3Fedan_q%3D%252A%253A%252A%26edan_fq%255B0%255D%3Dname%253A%2522National%252BAssociation%252Bof%252BColored%252BWomen%2527s%252BClubs%2522%26op%3DSearch. - NACWC suffrage poster, created by Sophie Bloomfield
As an art history major, I have always understood the need to listen and amplify voices that have been shrouded by overpowering exaggerated narratives, especially those that are colonial, imperialist, or oppressive in any way. When I was first looking at historical markers, I was searching those nearby so that I could physically connect to them as well. Therefore, I ended up coming across a historical marker in a park not one block away from me and low and behold, it was one that commemorated such a highly achieved political activist. In today’s political environment, nay, warzone, I find it necessary to highlight women’s voices, especially those that belong to peoples historically and continually oppressed.
When I visited the NACWC website, I found a section detailing their dedication to the restoration and preservation of their Washington D.C. headquarters. With this fresh in mind and my love of historical architecture, I originally planned that I would design a building for any sort of Savannah chapter, since there is no official Savannah-only branch. However, due to several technological setbacks and after much further researching on the Suffrage movement, I decided it would be better for me to pivot. Perusing through a few archival online databases, I saw quite a few inspiring political posters and advertisements. I decided that now is good as any a time to pursue one of my other artistic passions, graphic design. Then, I researched specifically for suffragette images and political graphics.
Using Adobe Illustrator, I created a few organic outlines where my text and illustration would all go individually. I liked the idea of creating an art-nouveau-art-deco mix of rounded winding details with vintage geometric fonts. For color, I landed on the outline being the same purple seen on the NACWC commemorative pins and official regalia, with a gold circle around the logo to symbolize the gold they use in said adornments. As for the text itself, it reads “Do you know him? He knows you, he’s trying to take away your voting rights!” surrounding an 1920s esque illustration (sourced from Adobe Stock, as I am not nearly that multi-talented) of a formally dressed white man. Below this outlined section is one with the title of The National Association of Colored Women’s Clubs with text reading “Join the fight, protect your rights.” Rhyming and simple, it was inspired by quick political one-liners I have seen throughout history. Above all is the NACWC’s motto and matra “Lifting As We Climb” tucked in the two upper corners of the poster.
“ABOUT US.” n.d. NACWC. Accessed May 15, 2025.
https://www.nacwc1896.org/aboutus.
Bragg, William H. 2005. “Reconstruction in Georgia.” New Georgia Encyclopedia.
https://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/history-archaeology/reconstruction-in-georgia/.
City of Savannah. n.d. “W. W. Law Collection.” City of Savannah. Accessed May 17, 2025.
https://www.savannahga.gov/1909/W-W-Law-Collection.
Drago, Edmund L. 2002. “Black Legislators during Reconstruction.” New Georgia Encyclopedia.
https://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/history-archaeology/black-legislators-during-reconstruction/.
Fraser, The Estate of Walter J. 2018. Savannah in the New South: From the Civil War to the Twenty-First Century. N.p.: University of South Carolina Press.
Holmes, Robert. 2005. “Black Suffrage in the Twentieth Century.” New Georgia Encyclopedia.
https://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/government-politics/black-suffrage-in-the-twentieth-century/.
Hoskins, Charles L. n.d. “A Hard Road to Freedom: The NAACP In Savannah.” NAACP Savannah, GA Region. Accessed May 17, 2025.
https://www.savnaacp.com/NAACP_SAVANNAH/savhistory.html.
“Mamie George Williams.” 2023. Georgia Historical Society.
https://www.georgiahistory.com/ghmi_marker_updated/mamie-george-williams/.
“Mamie George Williams.” n.d. Georgia Women of Achievement. Accessed May 15, 2025.
https://www.georgiawomen.org/mamie-george-williams.
National Archives. 2022. “Milestone Documents.” National Archives.
https://www.archives.gov/milestone-documents/list.
National Women's History Museum. n.d. “Standing up for Change: African American Women and the Civil Rights Movement — Google Arts & Culture.” Google Arts & Culture. Accessed May 15, 2025.
https://artsandculture.google.com/story/nAVBFcoqbi5yJg.
Tuck, Stephen. 2004. “Civil Rights Movement.” New Georgia Encyclopedia.
https://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/history-archaeology/civil-rights-movement/.