Historical Marker

William Faulkner

Historical marker location:
Oxford, Mississippi
( at Rowan Oak in Oxford)
Marker installed: 2019
Marker provided by: Mississippi Blues Commission.

Winner of the 1949 Nobel Prize in Literature, William Cuthbert Faulkner was born in New Albany on September 25, 1897, and moved with his family to Oxford as a child. He made an indelible mark on American letters by bringing a modernist literary sensibility to storytelling about his native South. His representations of class, race, history, and the land, set in the fictional Mississippi county of Yoknapatawpha, are drawn in vivid detail in novels such as Sartoris; The Sound and the Fury: As I Lay Dying: Light in August; Absalom, Absalom!; The Hamlet; Go Down Moses; and others. He won the Pulitzer Prize for A Fable, whose outline is penciled on the walls of his office here at Rowan Oak, and for The Reivers, published in the year of his death. In his Nobel Prize acceptance speech, he observed that "the human heart in conflict with itself" is the theme of all good writing.

Faulkner died July 6, 1962

The Mississippi Writers Trail is a program by the Mississippi Arts Commission. It pays tribute to the state’s most acclaimed and influential writers through a series of historical markers that recognize the importance of place in an author’s life while educating the public about the history and legacy of Mississippi writers. This statewide community improvement activity connects historical preservation, tourism and transportation. The cast aluminum markers, shaped like an open book inform travelers and highlight information about local authors including their birthplace, home, gravesite, museum, or literary locale. These markers will eventually span the entirety of the state from the Gulf Coast to the Hills. Mississippians such as Natasha Trethewey, Richard Wright, Eudora Welty, Walker Percy, Larry Brown, Jesmyn Ward, and many more will be honored with a Mississippi Writers Trail marker.

For more information visit arts.ms.gov.

Writers Trail
Mississippi is home to several historically black colleges and universities, including Jackson State University, Alcorn State University, and Mississippi Valley State University.
Mississippi random facts
Lafayette County, Mississippi has a rich and diverse history that stretches back to its earliest human inhabitants. The region has seen the rise and fall of Native American civilizations, the arrival of European explorers and settlers, the impact of the American Civil War, and the progressive growth of its communities.

Before European arrival, the area that is now Lafayette County was home to indigenous people, such as the Chickasaw tribe. These Native Americans were skilled hunters and farmers, establishing villages and leaving behind archaeological evidence of their thriving cultures.

European settlement in the area began in the early 19th century. The town of Oxford, which would become the county seat, was founded in 1835. The arrival of the Mississippi Central Railroad in 1857 spurred further growth and development in the county, connecting it to other parts of the state and facilitating trade.

During the American Civil War, Lafayette County played a significant role. It was a site of important battles and military campaigns, including the famous Battle of Oxford in 1862. The county saw the devastation of war, with many homes and buildings destroyed.

In the decades following the war, Lafayette County experienced a slow but steady recovery. Economic activities like agriculture and timber became important for the county's residents. The establishment of the University of Mississippi in 1848 also brought growth and cultural enrichment to the area. Today, Lafayette County continues to thrive as a vibrant community with a rich historical legacy, offering a blend of Southern charm, academic pursuits, and natural beauty.

This timeline provides a condensed summary of the historical journey of Lafayette County, Mississippi.

  • 1832 - Lafayette County established as one of the original counties of the Mississippi Territory.
  • 1836 - Oxford, the county seat, is incorporated.
  • 19th century - Lafayette County experiences growth with the rise of agriculture and development of railroads.
  • 1861-1865 - Lafayette County heavily impacted by the American Civil War.
  • 1904 - University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) moves to Oxford, boosting the county's economy and cultural influence.
  • 20th century - Lafayette County continues to develop and modernize.
  • 21st century - Ongoing growth and development, attracting new businesses and residents.