Declaration of Honor given to Susie Wesley

Item

Legacies Classification
Memorial Event
Memorial Type
Scholarships/Prizes
Memorial Context
Pro-Civil Rights
Memorialized Subject
Wesley, Susie
Title
Declaration of Honor given to Susie Wesley
Background and Context
Susan ‘Susie’ Weley was born in Thomasville, Georgie in 1887. She moved further south to Winter Park, Florida where she lived the remainder of her life. She became active in the community, working in the Baptist Church and other organizations.

She joined Rollins College in 1924 where she was employed as a housemaid in Cloverleaf Cottage, an all female dormitory on campus. Over the next twenty-five years, Wesley served nearly fifteen-hundred freshman girls, helping them with their every needs. One memorable year in 1944, Susie remained at the college despite a hurricane.

Her commitment to the College was recognized by President Hamilton Holt who awarded her with the Rollins Declaration of Honor in 1948 despite pushback from the Board of Trustees Susie was the first African American to ever receive an award in the college's history.
Creator/Participating Person(s)
Holt, Hamilton
Holt, Hamilton
Date created, installed or dedicated
June 2, 1948
Historical Period
1945-1976: Era of Civil Rights Movement and resistance to Civil Rights Movement
Funded by
Rollins College
Location: Institution, City, State
Rollins College; Winter Park, Florida
Learn More About this Subject
Susie Wesley

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