Statement on Confederate Memorials and Statues
8/5/2025
The United Daughters of the Confederacy® (UDC) was founded by women for women in 1894 with a mission to honor the memory of those who served and died serving their states, and to preserve the historical record of the American South.
As part of that mission, many local UDC chapters participated in the placement of statues and memorials across the U.S. to honor the men who fought, the women who kept homes together and their families.
These monuments were intended to serve as tributes to valor, sacrifice and community heritage during a difficult chapter in American history. They reflect a period of remembrance and reconciliation and were often established through local fundraising efforts by women dedicated to civic engagement and education. These were monumental tasks for women, who in that time period could not work outside the home, own property or vote. The UDC members were trailblazers in historic preservation.
We recognize that in recent years many of these memorials have become focal points of broader national conversations about race, memory and justice. The United Daughters of the Confederacy condemns racism, white supremacy or hate in any form. Our commitment is to historical preservation—not political ideology. The UDC focuses on service of the veteran instead of the government that sent them to war.
We believe that decisions about public monuments are best made by the donors of the works of art, with consideration for historical context, public sentiment, and mutual respect. We support thoughtful dialogue that promotes understanding and ensures that history—no matter how complex—is remembered and studied, not erased. Our desire is that memorials and works of art should be displayed in the manner in which donors intended, so that the public may continue to learn from them, think deeply about them and come to their own conclusions.
Our work continues to focus on education, scholarship, benevolent activities, historic preservation and honoring the legacy of our ancestors in a way that reflects integrity, civility and sincere commitment to service in our communities.
Julie N. Hardaway, President General (2024-2026)
United Daughters of the Confederacy®
