Near Fredericksburg in Spotsylvania County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

James Farmer, Civil Rights Leader

Photographed By Dawn Bowen, July 15, 2007

1. James Farmer, Civil Rights Leader Marker

Inscription. James Leonard Farmer was born in Texas on 12 Jan. 1920. In 1942, he and other Civil Rights leaders founded the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) in Chicago. CORE used Gandhi-inspired tactics of nonviolent civil disobedience to protest discriminatory practices against blacks. Under Farmer’s leadership, in the spring of 1961, CORE organized “Freedom Riders” to desegregate interstate transportation in the Deep South. He was an assistant secretary in the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare (1969–1970). Farmer taught at Mary Washington College (1985–1999) and received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1998. Farmer died on 9 July 1999. His house stands east of here.

Erected 2000 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number E-113.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Civil Rights • Education • Railroads & Streetcars • Roads & Vehicles. In addition, it is included in the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) series list. A significant historical date for this entry is July 9, 1999.

Location. 38° 11.101′ N, 77° 30.763′ W. Marker is near Fredericksburg, Virginia, in Spotsylvania County. Marker

Paid Advertisement

Click on the ad for more information.
Please report objectionable advertising to the Editor.

Click or scan to see
this page online

is on Jefferson Davis Highway (U.S. 1) 0.1 miles south of Massaponax Church Road (County Route 608), on the left when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 8244 Jefferson Davis Highway, Fredericksburg VA 22407, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Road to Guinea Station (a few steps from this marker); Federal Raid (within shouting distance of this marker); Massaponax Baptist Church (approx. 0.6 miles away); Massaponax Church (approx. 0.6 miles away); Plantations on Guinea Station Road (approx. 0.6 miles away); Stanard’s Mill (approx. 2½ miles away); Mud Tavern (approx. 3.7 miles away); "If It Takes All Summer" (approx. 4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fredericksburg.

Also see . . .
1. James Farmer, Civil Rights Giant in the 50's and 60's. (Submitted on July 15, 2007, by Dawn Bowen of Fredericksburg, Virginia.)
2. James Farmer. Wikipedia article (Submitted on December 27, 2019, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.)

Marker on Rt. 1 image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Dawn Bowen, July 15, 2007

2. Marker on Rt. 1

Credits. This page was last revised on February 2, 2023. It was originally submitted on July 15, 2007, by Dawn Bowen of Fredericksburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,715 times since then and 50 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 15, 2007, by Dawn Bowen of Fredericksburg, Virginia. • J. J. Prats was the editor who published this page.

Editor’s want-list for this marker. Photo of James Farmer’s house • Can you help?