Shelby in Cleveland County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)
Thomas Dixon, Jr.
1864-1946
Photographed By Michael Sean Nix, October 22, 2009
1. Thomas Dixon Jr. Marker
Erected 1982 by Division of Archives and History. (Marker Number O-72.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Churches & Religion. In addition, it is included in the North Carolina Division of Archives and History series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1500.
Location. 35° 17.536′ N, 81° 32.784′ W. Marker is in Shelby, North Carolina, in Cleveland County. Marker is at the intersection of West Marion Street and North Martin Sreet, on the right when traveling west on West Marion Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Shelby NC 28150, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. O. Max Gardner (a few steps from this marker); W. J. Cash (a few steps from this marker); Bobby Bell (approx. 0.3 miles away); Cleveland County Civil War Monument (approx. 0.4 miles away); Cleveland County World War I Memorial (approx. 0.4 miles away); World War II Memorial (approx. 0.4 miles away); Don Gibson (approx. 0.4 miles away); Earl Scruggs (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Shelby.
Also see . . .
this page online
Additional commentary.
1. Thomas Dixon from North Carolina Highway Historical Marker Program site
Thomas Dixon Jr., whose novel The Clansman was the basis for the film Birth of a Nation, was born on January 11, 1864, near Shelby to Thomas Dixon and the former Amanda Elvira McAfee. The elder Dixon was a Baptist minister who also ran a store in Shelby. Educated by his parents and at Shelby Academy, Dixon also worked in his father’s store. In 1879 he entered Wake Forest College, where he would achieve highest honors. Dixon won a scholarship to graduate school at the newly established Johns Hopkins University, where he enrolled in 1883. In Baltimore Dixon fell in love with theater and, within a few months, moved to New York to pursue an acting career. His disappointing experience there led him home to Shelby where he began to study law.
Dixon was elected to the General Assembly in 1884 and passed the bar after serving in his first legislative session. It was not long before he tired of law practice and became a Baptist minister. In 1895 he left the ministry to become a nondenominational speaker. Having developed
Photographed By Michael Sean Nix, October 22, 2009
2. Sunset Cemetery
Thomas Dixon's burial ground.
In 1901 Dixon wrote his first novel The Leopard’s Spots, calling for the exclusion of blacks from American society and for a reunion between North and South. He would write two more novels with similar messages, and in 1905 adapted one of them into a play entitled The Clansman. D. W. Griffith would make the play into the landmark motion picture, Birth of a Nation, a project that took from 1913 to 1915.
Thomas Dixon was married to Harriet Bussey from 1886 until her death in 1937. They had three children. In 1939 Dixon, in failing health, married Madelyn Donovan, a leading lady from one of his films. He died in Raleigh on April 3, 1946. His remains are buried in Sunset Cemetery in Shelby, near the grave of journalist W. J. Cash.
— Submitted October 22, 2009, by Michael Sean Nix of Spartanburg, South Carolina.
Photographed By Michael Sean Nix, October 22, 2009
3. Sunset Cemetery
Thomas Dixon's burial ground.
Photographed By Michael Sean Nix, October 22, 2009
4. Thomas Dixon Jr. Grave
1864 - 1946
Lawyer - Minister - Author
Orator - Playwright - Actor
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A Native of Cleveland County
And Most Distinguished Son
of His Generation.
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He was the Author of 28 Books
Dealing with the Reconstruction
Period, the Most Popular of Which
Were "The Clansman" and "The Leopard's
Spots", From Which "The Birth of
A Nation" was Dramatized.
----
His Wife
Madelyn Donovan
1894 - 1975
Erected By Friends
5. Thomas Dixon Jr.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 24, 2021. It was originally submitted on October 22, 2009, by Michael Sean Nix of Spartanburg, South Carolina. This page has been viewed 3,025 times since then and 68 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on October 22, 2009, by Michael Sean Nix of Spartanburg, South Carolina. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.
