SPECIAL | feature
Founder Alice Virginia Coffin’s Historical Marker Restored by Becky Frazier, Editor, The P.E.O. Record S ince 1949, the Kentucky Historical Society’s Historical Marker program has recognized people, places and events important to local, regional, state and national history. In 1981, a historical marker for P.E.O. Founder Alice Virginia Coffin was dedicated at the site of her birth in Louisville. In 1996 the marker was stolen and missing for a short time. Once recovered, the plaque was given a new coat of paint and put back up; however, it was still looking the worse for wear. In 2014, after receiving a grant to cover most of the cost, 10 Louisville chapters contributed to have the marker sent to a foundry where it was restored. Recently Alice’s historical marker was chosen as part of the Kentucky Historical Society’s limited renovation project and was once again sent to a foundry where it was restored. On January 12, 2022, the marker for P.E.O. Founder Alice Virginia Coffin’s birthplace was put back into place near downtown Louisville, Kentucky. Located in a small grassy area on Jefferson Street between Preston and Floyd Streets in Louisville, this is the only historical marker dedicated to a Founder of P.E.O. Alice Virginia Coffin (1848-88) (Marker Number: 1715) LOCATION: Jefferson St., between Preston and Floyd Streets, Louisville, Kentucky DESCRIPTION: Born on this street, Alice Virginia was one of seven founders of P.E.O., an international philanthropic and educational organization for women. It began as a sorority at the Iowa Wesleyan College, 1869; owns Cottey College in Missouri, and provides monetary assistance for education of women. Miss Coffin designed P.E.O. seal. Presented by Ky. P.E.O. Chapters.
First Vice President of International Chapter Cathy Moss, a resident of Louisville, visited the re-installed Historical Marker of Alice Virginia Coffin. She says, “Today it’s a really amazing juxtaposition between our beautiful marker and a homeless camp. It caused me great pause to see it; I ended up feeling extremely touched, remembering that the Founders were always ready to help the less fortunate.”
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March–April 2022 | THE P.E.O. RECORD
WWW.PEOINTERNATIONAL.ORG
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