Olympia in Thurston County, Washington — The American West (Northwest)
John Rankin Rogers
Photographed by J. J. Prats, May 21, 2015
1. John Rankin Rogers Monument
Philosopher and statesman. Author of the Barefoot School Boy Law, which gives to every poor son of this Commonwealth a fair education. Governor Rogers favorite motto — “I would make it impossible for the covetous and avaricious to utterly impoverish the poor. The rich can take care of themselves.”
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Charity & Public Work • Government & Politics • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical date for this entry is September 4, 1794.
Location. 47° 2.57′ N, 122° 54.035′ W. Marker is in Olympia, Washington, in Thurston County. It is on Washington Street SE south of Legion Way SE, on the right when traveling south. It is in Silvester Park with his back to the old capitol building. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Olympia WA 98501, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Puget Sound Region and in Greater Seattle. It is also on the American Pacific Coast, in the Pacific Northwest, and in the Lewis & Clark Corridor. Globally, it is in North America, in the Inside Passage, on the Ring of Fire, in the Pacific Rim, in the Western Hemisphere, in the Western World, and in the Anglosphere.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Washington Women Win the Vote (within shouting distance of this marker); Marking the End of the Oregon Trail (within shouting distance of this marker); Former Olympia Library (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); 1903 Washington State Legislative Meeting Site
this page online
Also see . . .
1. Wikipedia Entry. “Rogers moved to Washington in 1890 and settled in Puyallup, where he operated a drug store. Rogers was elected to the Washington House of Representatives in 1895 as a Populist, and governor the following year. As governor he supported the Barefoot Schoolboy Act which he had first sponsored while in the state legislature. The Act provided a mechanism of state funding to equalize support for free public education between counties which had a large tax base and those without. Rogers was a conditional supporter of the Single Tax Movement associated with Henry George.
“John R. Rogers authored many books, pamphlets and articles that followed a Populist and Arcadian Agrarian spirit. Growing up in New England when Jeffersonian ideals were talked about frequently was a strong influence on his political future.” (Submitted on May 25, 2015.)
Photographed by J. J. Prats, May 21, 2015
2. John Rankin Rogers Statue
2. Wikipedia Entry for Single Tax Movement. “Georgism (also known as geoism and geonomics) is an economic philosophy holding that the economic value derived from natural resources and natural opportunities should belong equally to all residents of a community, but that people own the value they create. The Georgist paradigm offers solutions to social and ecological problems, relying on principles of land rights and public finance which attempt to integrate economic efficiency with social justice.” (Submitted on May 25, 2015.)
3. Barefoot School Boy Law. Excerpt:
Prior to the act, educational funds were derived from a welter of sources, none of which were very predictable and some of which, due to circumstance, tended to favor a few districts over others. The bill requires the state to impose an annual tax on the value of property sufficient to provide, in combination with other available funds, a minimum of $6 per year for each school-age child in the state. The Barefoot Schoolboy Act is largely the handiwork of state Representative John Rankin Rogers(Submitted on October 11, 2023.)
Photographed by J. J. Prats, May 21, 2015
3. John Rankin Rogers Sculpture
This 1905 Washington granite sculpture by an unknown artist was funded by schoolchildren. It is approx. 6Ό feet tall.
Photographed by J. J. Prats, May 21, 2015
4. John Rankin Rogers (1838–1901)
Photographed by J. J. Prats, May 21, 2015
5. Bas Relief on Back of Monument
Credits. This page was last revised on October 11, 2023. It was originally submitted on May 25, 2015, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 1,673 times since then and 102 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on May 25, 2015, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.
