Locating Slavery's Legacies @ Sewanee: The University of the South

Memorial Artwork

Sculptural Memorial

Reparative

Donaldson, Crawford

Headstone of Crawford Donaldson

Son of Marion and Emma Donaldson, Crawford Donaldson was born on June 12, 1892 in Iredell County, North Carolina. According to his WWI Draft Registration Card in 1918, Donaldson was a slender Black man, with black hair and brown eyes. He married his wife, Lela Patterson in 1912. Together, they had 10 children, 22 grandchildren, 77 great-grandchildren, and 66 great-great grandchildren. According to the 1940 U.S. Federal Census, Donaldson's highest grade of education was the 4th grade. He worked on a farm in the early 1900's before becoming a beloved Davidson College custodian in 1920. Donaldson worked primarily in the Dana Science Laboratory and Library at Davidson. The Davidsonian noted that he served "long and well" during his employment at Davidson. Donaldson passed away on Saturday, April 7, 1990, at his home in Cornelius, North Carolina. His funeral was held by Beasley Funeral Home on the following Thursday at 3:30 p.m. at Bethel AME Church where he and his wife were longtime members. A small and decently weathered rectangular tombstone representing Crawford Donaldson and Lela P. Donaldson can be found in the church cemetery. There is no notable damage, theft, vandalism, or change to the tombstone.

A small rectangular tombstone can be found in the Bethel AME Cemetery located at N. Ferry Street Cornelius, North Carolina. It looks to be a marble tombstone with etched inscriptions.

On the top of the tombstone, DONALDSON is written large. Below on the left hand side, CRAWFORD JUNE 12 1892 is written. Below DONALDSON on the right hand side, LELA P MAR 5 1896 JAN 23 1985 is written. Lela is the wife of Crawford. For some reason, Crawford's death date is not inscribed. According to the Davidsonian, Crawford died on April 7 1990.

Family of Crawford Donaldson

1990

1976-2000: The Conservative Ascendancy and Retrenchment from Civil Rights Movement

Family of Crawford Donaldson

Davidson College; Davidson, North Carolina

“Honored For Long Service,” The Gazette, August 27, 1953, 1.

“Tribute To A Janitor,” The Davidsonian, February 10, 1956, 4.

"Mr. Crawford Donaldson," The Charlotte Observer, April 11, 1990.