Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-12-09
The National Statuary Hall
. BY JOHN T. BOIFEUILLET

JUN 1. bOlFEUlLLET
wow much information have you regard
ri ing National Statuary Hall in the
capitol at Washington, the number of
states which have placed statues therein. in
whose honor the memorials have been erect
ed, the cost of the statues, and the names
of the scuptors?
1t may be timely and interesting here
with to publish some of this data, in view
o. the TACT that definite plans have been
formulated, and systematic work in augu-
rated, to obtain funds in Georgia with which
to procure a statue of Crawford W. Long
and have the same presented by Georgia to
the United States to be placed in statuary
hall. A like movement is also under way
to raise funds with which to provide statue
of Alexander II. Stephens 1t is proposed
That each statue shall cost $500.
What was formerly the old hall OF the
mousse OF representatives was established as
statuary hall by act of congress, July 2,
1864. The resolution which led to the
passage of this measure was Introduced by
Representative Morrill,, of We ,mont. on Jan
nary 6, 1854
In Marble or Bronze
The law for the establishment of nation
al statuary hall, IS it appears in the Re
Vlsed Statutes of the United States, second
EDITION, 1878, is, in part, as follows: And
the president is authorized to invite all the
states to provide and furnish statues, in
marble or bronze, not exceeding two in num-
Der for each state, of deceased persons who
have been citizens thereof and illustrious for
their historic renown, or for distinguished
civic or military servicLs, such as each state
may deem to be worthy of this national COM
memoration."
The original resolution, as passed by the
house, stipulated that the two statues to be
furnished by each state, must be "of men
Who have been citizens thereof" but before
the final passage of the resoll ton by con-
gress the word men" was changed to read
deceased persons" Had the statues been
confined to men only, it would have been i'm
possible for the state of Illinois to have hon
ored itself, and the glorious womanhot>- of
America, by placing in statuary hall statue
of Frances E. Willard.
Fifty Statues in Hall
There are at present fifty statues in stat
uary hall, contributed by twenty-nine of the
states. Not more than one-fifth of the stat
ues are in bronze, all the others being in
marble
The state Of Virginia is represented by
two majestic characters, George Washington
and r. r. Lee, both in bronze Washing
toms statue is modelled after the original N
Richmond, Virginia. All the statues are
standing figures, except that of the man
after whom Fulton county, Georgia, was
named, to wit: Robert Fulton, of Pennsyl-
vania. His is seated figure, placed in 1881,
and cost $500. The average height of
each statue, exclusive of the height of ped
estal and of base, is seven feet.
have not complete record of the cost
of all the statues, but, according to the fig
ures in my possession the highest priced
statue is that of Robert R. Livingston. New
York, $4,000. The John Winthrop statue
Massachusetts, is second highest. $12,712 rs.
George Clnton's statue, New York, is third
highest, $4,000. The statues of Charles
Carroll and John Hanson, Maryland, each
cost $4,000. The statue of Samuel Adams,
massachusetts.
Lees bronze statue cost $4,000. The price
Of the other statues range from $4,000 to
$500
Names and Cost of Statues
Here follows a list of the states with
names of statues presented by them, and cost
of same, as am .dvised:
Alabama, ]. l.. NJ Curry, $4,000; Arkan-
sas. Uriah NJ. Rose. J. P. Clark Connecticut
Roger Sherman, $7,3S6.95, Jonathan Trum-
bull. $7,3S695; Florida, John Gorrie, Kirby
linois, James Shields, $4,000, Frances E. Will
lard. $4,000; Indiana, Oliver P. Morton,
$4,000, Lew Wallace, $4,000; Iowa, James
Harlan, $4,000, S. J. Kirkwood: Kansas,
John j. ingalls,, $4,000, George M. Click;
Maine, William King, $4,000; Maryland,
Charles Carroll, $4,000, John Hanson, s12,-
600; Massachusetts, Samuel Adams, SILL
712.23, John Winthrop, $12,712.75; Michi-
gan, Lewis Cass, $9,S48.13, Zacharah Chan
dler, $4,000; Missouri, Francis P Blair
L
sofa, Henry M. Rice; New Hampshire, John
Stark, $4,484 IL, Daniel Webster $448411;
New Jersey, Richard Stockton, $S,0S8.20,
Philip Kearney, $8,0SS.20; New .ork, Robert
k. Livingston, $13. 900, George Clinton, $12,-
SEQ; North Carolina, Zebulon b. Vance; ohio,
James A. Garfield, $4,000, William Allie,
$4,000; Oklahoma, Sequoyah: Pennsylvania,
J. P. G. Muhlenberg, $500, Robert Fulton
$500; Rhode Island, Nathaniel Greene, S.
566, Roger Williams, $3.50; 'outh Carolina
John c. Calhoun, $4,000; Texas Stephen f.
Austin, $4,000, Samuel Houston, IS 600; Ver-
mont, Ethan Allen, $500, Jacob Collamer
$6,O81.25; Virginia, Washington, $4,000, r.
E. $4,000; West Virginia, John E. Ke ma
$4,000, Francis Fl. Pierpont, $4,000; Wiscon-
sin. James Marquette, $4,000.
The Curry Statue
1t will be seen from the above that each of
the several mentioned states is represented
only by one statue; Alabama, for instance,
which has J. l.. NJ lurry's alone. Dr.. Curry
was native Georgian, having leen born in
/ lncoln county. Later, he removed to Ala
bama, served in the Legislature of that state
from 1S47 to 1855, and represented Alabam-
in congress from 1857 to 1861, subsequently
becoming member Of the Confederate con-
gress. He was president OF Howard college,
Alabama. During President Jleveland's first
administration he was minister to Spain, and
afterwards was special ambassador Of the
United States at the coronation of King AL
phonso of Spain. Dr. Curry wa known over
the country as general agent of the PeoDody
Educational fund and the Slater Education
al funds. Dr. Curry's son married daugh-
ter Of Senator A. o. Bacon, and three of their
children now reside in Macon.
Dr Curry died in 1909 and his statun was