The irony of freedom's pedestal: a slave built its crown
In short: The Statue of Freedom atop the U.S. Capitol dome stands as a towering symbol of liberty. Yet, history hides a profound contradiction in its construction. One of the most significant contributions to this landmark was made by an enslaved man whose labor helped forge the very spirit of American independence.
In 1860, the U.S. government commissioned the casting of Thomas Crawford's Statue of Freedom for the Capitol's new dome. The project was entrusted to sculptor Clark Mills, who operated a foundry in Washington, D.C. Central to this operation was Philip Reid, an enslaved laborer purchased by Mills in Charleston for $1,200. While the statue is often referred to by various names like 'Freedom Triumphant in War and Peace' or 'Armed Freedom,' its physical existence relied on the skilled labor of those denied legal personhood.
Reid was uniquely positioned within this history. He had previously worked with Mills to produce the first bronze statue ever cast in America—an equestrian monument for Andrew Jackson. This success led to the Capitol commission, where a financial agreement was struck: the government rented Mills' foundry and paid him $400 a month, while paying for materials and labor. Reid was the only known enslaved person working on the Statue of Freedom, laboring alongside four other workmen.
The economic reality of Reid's contribution was stark. As an enslaved worker, he was paid directly only on Sundays at a rate of $1.25 per day—a higher wage than the $1.00 daily rate given to his peers. His owner received payment for his work the other six days of the week. Between July 1860 and May 1861, Reid worked nearly without a break, earning a total of $41.25 for 'Keeping up fires under the moulds.' Despite his integral role in assembling a national icon, there are no known images of him today.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: The Slave Who Helped Assemble the Freedom Statue in Washington DC
- Also: Philip Reid and the Statue of Freedom | Architect of the Capitol
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