Florence in Lauderdale County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)

Oscar Stanton DePriest

City of Florence Walk of Honor

Photographed by Sandra Hughes, November 4, 2016

1. Oscar Stanton DePriest Marker

Inscription.
In 1928, Oscar S. DePriest, son of former slaves, became the first 20th Century African-American Congressman from the north. He is credited with the Anti-discrimination Amendment to the 1933 Civilian Conservation Corps Bill.

Erected 2016 by City of Florence.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Government & Politics. A significant historical year for this entry is 1928.

Location. 34° 48.409′ N, 87° 37.878′ W. Marker is in Florence, Alabama, in Lauderdale County. It is on Hightower Place. Beginning with marker one, this marker is on pole 3 front side. It is one of 18 poles each has four sides that is located behind the Marriott Hotel in River Heritage Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 10 Hightower Place, Florence AL 35630, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in North Alabama

and in the Shoals.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

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the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Robert Hue ("Bobby") Wallace (here, next to this marker); Ellen Dorrit Hoffleit (here, next to this marker); Dr. Willie H. Ruff, III (here, next to this marker); Henry S. "Hank" Klibanoff (here, next to this marker); John Thomas Bulls, Jr (here, next to this marker); General Hugh Pate Harris (here, next to this marker); Ronnie Gene Flippo (here, next to this marker); Ezra Lee Culver (here, next to this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Florence.

Also see . . .
1. Oscar Stanton DePriest House. National Park Service website entry:
During his three terms (1928-1935), as the only black representative in Congress, De Priest introduced several anti-discrimination bills. His 1933 amendment barring discrimination in the Civilian Conservation Corps was passed by the Senate and signed into law by President Roosevelt. A second

Photographed by Sandra Hughes Tidwell, May 29, 2025

2. Oscar Stanton DePriest Marker

anti-lynching bill failed, even though it did not make lynching a federal crime. A third proposal--a bill to permit a transfer of jurisdiction if a defendant believed he or she could not get a fair trial because of race or religion--would be passed by another Congress in another era. (Submitted on November 5, 2016, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA.)

2. Oscar S. DePriest. BlackPast website entry (Submitted on November 8, 2016, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland.)

Credits. This page was last revised on May 31, 2025. It was originally submitted on November 5, 2016, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. This page has been viewed 673 times since then and 24 times this year. Last updated on March 29, 2023, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. Photos: 1. submitted on November 5, 2016, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. 2. submitted on May 30, 2025, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. • James Hulse was the editor who published this page.