The Georgia Historical Society (GHS), in conjunction with the Lillian E. Smith Center at Piedmont University, unveiled a new Georgia Civil Rights Trail historical marker recognizing Lillian Eugenia Smith in Clayton, Georgia, on Wednesday, April 20, 2022.

Lillian E. Smith was a writer and supporter of the Civil Rights Movement who spoke out against segregation, racism, and white supremacy. She openly challenged Jim Crow laws and acted as a critical White voice on Southern race relations through her writing, publication of literary magazines with her life partner, Paula Snelling, and her work at Laurel Falls Camp for Girls. In addition to promoting open discussions with young campers at Laurel Falls Camp, Smith also invited Black and White women to the camp for conversations regarding social issues faced by women, such as gender roles, segregation, and understanding international relations. She was also the author of multiple books, including Strange Fruit (1944) and Killers of the Dream (1949).

“Thinking back to my education, I never heard about Lillian Smith and her activism to create a more equitable society for all,” said Matthew Teutsch, Ph.D., Director of the Lillian E. Smith Center. “This historical marker, on the land where she lived and worked, and where so many Civil Rights activists visited, serves as a way to educate and inform others about her lasting impact.”

Lillian E. Smith’s father opened Laurel Falls Camp in 1920, and Smith took over its operations in 1925. The camp closed its doors in 1948, and when Smith died she was buried on the former camp’s grounds.

“The Lillian E. Smith historical marker joins over 50 historical markers across the state highlighting the struggle for human and civil rights in Georgia,” said GHS Marker Manager Elyse Butler. “Lillian E. Smith was a prolific writer, discussing and publishing controversial views on women’s rights and civil rights during a period when White women did not discuss these topics in public.”

Speakers at the dedication included Matthew Teutsch, Ph.D., Director of the Lillian E. Smith Center, who also made remarks on behalf of author and historian Keri Leigh Merritt, Ph.D.; Kurt Cannon, Mayor of Clayton, Georgia; Rev. Tim Garvin-Leighton, Piedmont University Campus Minister; and Elyse Butler, Georgia Historical Society Marker Manager; with performances from the Haystack Choir and Catherine Gunn.