diff --git a/tailbone/newgrids/alchemy.py b/tailbone/newgrids/alchemy.py
index a3d2a9f0..99d0aec6 100644
--- a/tailbone/newgrids/alchemy.py
+++ b/tailbone/newgrids/alchemy.py
@@ -184,7 +184,11 @@ class AlchemyGrid(Grid):
         Returns an iterator for all currently-visible columns.
         """
         for field in self._fa_grid.render_fields.itervalues():
-            column = GridColumn(field.key, label=field.label(),
+            if getattr(field, 'label_literal', False):
+                label = field.label_text
+            else:
+                label = field.label()
+            column = GridColumn(field.key, label=label,
                                 title=getattr(field, '_column_header_title', None))
             column.field = field
             yield column
diff --git a/tailbone/newgrids/core.py b/tailbone/newgrids/core.py
index 88382f50..58ed588b 100644
--- a/tailbone/newgrids/core.py
+++ b/tailbone/newgrids/core.py
@@ -588,6 +588,7 @@ class Grid(object):
             kwargs['c'] = tags.link_to(column.label, '#', title=column.title)
         elif column.title:
             kwargs['c'] = HTML.tag('span', title=column.title, c=column.label)
+        kwargs['class_'] = '{} {}'.format(kwargs.get('class_', ''), column.key)
         return HTML.tag('th', **kwargs)
 
     @property