Richland County · Marker 40-223
Hettie Anderson Homesite
West side of Wayne St., between Taylor St. and Blanding St., Columbia
Front inscription
Harriette “Hettie” Eugenia Anderson, acclaimed African American art model of the Gilded Age, grew up in a house at this site. Anderson was born in Columbia around 1873 to Caroline (Lee) Scott and Benajmin Dickerson. Her mother’s family were local free people of color before the Civil War. Anderson and her family lived on the west side of Wayne Street on property owned by Scott and later by Anderson.
Reverse inscription
In the 1890s, Anderson moved to N.Y. and began modeling for prominent artists. She was fair-complexioned and listed in some records as white. She was said to have a “heroic” appearance and often posed as classically inspired figures. Notable works for which she posed include Central Park’s William T. Sherman Monument and the Saint-Gaudens double eagle gold coin. Anderson died in 1938 and is buried at nearby Elmwood Cemetery.