These photographs were shot by Oxford, Mississippi photographer Newt Rayburn in New Orleans, Louisiana on January 2, 2016.
A photograph of the unveiling of the Jefferson Davis Monument in New Orleans, February 22, 1911. This sculpture of Jefferson Davis Richmond, Virginia artist Edward Virginius Valentine
An undated photograph of the Jefferson Davis Monument in New Orleans, Louisiana. The United Daughters of the Confederacy commissioned the statue and requested that Davis appear “as a statesman, standing and addressing the people.”
The bronze statue stood just over eight feet tall and was mounted on a thirteen square foot granite pedestal.
Separate from the monument was a site dedication stone that was dated June 3, 1908.
The monument was officially dedicated on February 22, 1911 and stood at the intersection of Canal Boulevard and Jefferson Davis Parkway for 106 years.
In the early morning hours of Thursday, May 11, 2017, under the cover of darkness, a clandestine SWAT squad and over 300 armed police mobilized by the City of New Orleans hastily removed the monument and took it to an unknown location.
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Copyright © 2016 Newt Rayburn – newtrayburn@gmail.com. See Newt’s photographs of The Battle of Liberty Place Monument here .
The Jeff Davis Monument on January 2, 2016, at the intersection of Canal Boulevard and Jefferson Davis Parkway in New Orleans, Louisisana. Photograph © 2016 Newt Rayburn – newtrayburn@gmail.com The Jeff Davis Monument on January 2, 2016, at the intersection of Canal Boulevard and Jefferson Davis Parkway in New Orleans, Louisisana. Photograph © 2016 Newt Rayburn – newtrayburn@gmail.com The Jeff Davis Monument on January 2, 2016, at the intersection of Canal Boulevard and Jefferson Davis Parkway in New Orleans, Louisisana. Photograph © 2016 Newt Rayburn – newtrayburn@gmail.com
The Jeff Davis Monument on January 2, 2016, at the intersection of Canal Boulevard and Jefferson Davis Parkway in New Orleans, Louisisana. Photograph © 2016 Newt Rayburn – newtrayburn@gmail.com The Jeff Davis Monument on January 2, 2016, at the intersection of Canal Boulevard and Jefferson Davis Parkway in New Orleans, Louisisana. Photograph © 2016 Newt Rayburn – newtrayburn@gmail.com The Jeff Davis Monument on January 2, 2016, at the intersection of Canal Boulevard and Jefferson Davis Parkway in New Orleans, Louisisana. Photograph © 2016 Newt Rayburn – newtrayburn@gmail.com The Jeff Davis Monument on January 2, 2016, at the intersection of Canal Boulevard and Jefferson Davis Parkway in New Orleans, Louisisana. Photograph © 2016 Newt Rayburn – newtrayburn@gmail.com
The Jeff Davis Monument on January 2, 2016, at the intersection of Canal Boulevard and Jefferson Davis Parkway in New Orleans, Louisisana. Photograph © 2016 Newt Rayburn – newtrayburn@gmail.com The Jeff Davis Monument on January 2, 2016, at the intersection of Canal Boulevard and Jefferson Davis Parkway in New Orleans, Louisisana. Photograph © 2016 Newt Rayburn – newtrayburn@gmail.com. The inscription on the monument reads: “THE SOUTH, SEEKING A LEADER, FOR HER HIGHEST OFFICE, CHOSE HIM FROM AMONG HER FITTIST MEN. A PROFOUND STUDENT OF THE CONSTITUTION; A MAJESTIC ORATOR; IN CHARACTER FIRM; IN JUDGMENT SOUND; IN PURPOSE RESOLUTE.” Below appears the seal of Confederacy surrounded by palm branches and oak leaves, emblematic of strength and peace, along with thirteen stars representing the number of states in the Confederacy. The Jeff Davis Monument on January 2, 2016, at the intersection of Canal Boulevard and Jefferson Davis Parkway in New Orleans, Louisisana. Photograph © 2016 Newt Rayburn – newtrayburn@gmail.com The Jeff Davis Monument on January 2, 2016, at the intersection of Canal Boulevard and Jefferson Davis Parkway in New Orleans, Louisisana. Photograph © 2016 Newt Rayburn – newtrayburn@gmail.com The Jeff Davis Monument on January 2, 2016, at the intersection of Canal Boulevard and Jefferson Davis Parkway in New Orleans, Louisisana. Photograph © 2016 Newt Rayburn – newtrayburn@gmail.com The Jeff Davis Monument on January 2, 2016, at the intersection of Canal Boulevard and Jefferson Davis Parkway in New Orleans, Louisisana. Photograph © 2016 Newt Rayburn – newtrayburn@gmail.com. Inscription reads, “ERECTED THROUGH THE PATRIOTIC EFFORTS OF THE JEFFERSON DAVIS MONUMENT ASSOCIATION OF NEW ORLEANS, LA. DEDICATED FEBRUARY 22ND 1911. ‘HIS NAME IS ENSHRINED IN THE HEARTS OF THE PEOPLE FOR WHOM HE SUFFERED, AND HIS DEEDS ARE FOREVER WEDDED TO IMMORTALITY.'” The Jeff Davis Monument on January 2, 2016, at the intersection of Canal Boulevard and Jefferson Davis Parkway in New Orleans, Louisisana. Photograph © 2016 Newt Rayburn – newtrayburn@gmail.com. Inscription reads, “ERECTED THROUGH THE PATRIOTIC EFFORTS OF THE JEFFERSON DAVIS MONUMENT ASSOCIATION OF NEW ORLEANS, LA. DEDICATED FEBRUARY 22ND 1911. ‘HIS NAME IS ENSHRINED IN THE HEARTS OF THE PEOPLE FOR WHOM HE SUFFERED, AND HIS DEEDS ARE FOREVER WEDDED TO IMMORTALITY.'” The Jeff Davis Monument on January 2, 2016, at the intersection of Canal Boulevard and Jefferson Davis Parkway in New Orleans, Louisisana. Photograph © 2016 Newt Rayburn – newtrayburn@gmail.com. Inscription reads, “ERECTED THROUGH THE PATRIOTIC EFFORTS OF THE JEFFERSON DAVIS MONUMENT ASSOCIATION OF NEW ORLEANS, LA. DEDICATED FEBRUARY 22ND 1911. ‘HIS NAME IS ENSHRINED IN THE HEARTS OF THE PEOPLE FOR WHOM HE SUFFERED, AND HIS DEEDS ARE FOREVER WEDDED TO IMMORTALITY.'” The Jeff Davis Monument on January 2, 2016, at the intersection of Canal Boulevard and Jefferson Davis Parkway in New Orleans, Louisisana. Photograph © 2016 Newt Rayburn – newtrayburn@gmail.com. The Jeff Davis Monument on January 2, 2016, at the intersection of Canal Boulevard and Jefferson Davis Parkway in New Orleans, Louisisana. Photograph © 2016 Newt Rayburn – newtrayburn@gmail.com. The Jeff Davis Monument on January 2, 2016, at the intersection of Canal Boulevard and Jefferson Davis Parkway in New Orleans, Louisisana. Photograph © 2016 Newt Rayburn – newtrayburn@gmail.com. The Jeff Davis Monument on January 2, 2016, at the intersection of Canal Boulevard and Jefferson Davis Parkway in New Orleans, Louisisana. Photograph © 2016 Newt Rayburn – newtrayburn@gmail.com. The Jeff Davis Monument dedication stone on January 2, 2016, at the intersection of Canal Boulevard and Jefferson Davis Parkway in New Orleans, Louisisana. Photograph © 2016 Newt Rayburn – newtrayburn@gmail.com. Inscription reads, “SITE OF JEFFERSON DAVIS MONUMENT DEDICATED JUNE 3RD 1908”
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Newt Rayburn was born & raised in Oxford, Mississippi. A seventh-generation Lafayette County, Mississippian, Newt Rayburn has been involved in the Ole Miss area for many years, in music, art, publishing, and business.
Newt won a National Magazine Award in 1999 for his SOUTHERN MUSIC ISSUE with THE OXFORD AMERICAN. Previously, Newt was Editor of PROFANE EXISTENCE in Minneapolis, and later, Art Director for Ole Miss' LIVING BLUES magazine. Newt's many publishing projects led to THE LOCAL VOICE™, which he founded in March of 2006, and ROUNDABOUT OXFORD®, which he founded in May of 2023.
Newt's alter ego—Neuter Cooter—lead the Mississippi band THE COOTERS® to Rocknoll Glory across the USA from 1993-2018. The Cooters music is on most major streaming services.
Newt is proud Father of nine-year old daughter Alex.
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