Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-02-05
STATUE OF FREEDOM HERE CAST
IN FOUNDRY NEAR BLADENSBURG
Jefferson Davis Played Lead.
ina Part in Obtaining Figure
Atop Capitol.
History Of Monument Pre-
pared by W. A. Cox for Con.
gressionaI Record.

The statue Of Freedom which looks
down upon Washington from the Capt.
rol dome, was cast at the Clark Mills
Foundry. near Bladensburg. Md, and
the man who had most to do with the
addition of this art feature TO the Capt.
toll was jefferson Davis. according to
an interesting history of the statue pre-
pared by william A, Cox. a resident Of
this city.
MIR. Cox has dedicated his account
OF the history OF the statue 10 the
memory of his deceased wife, Mrs. Lot
tie S. Sox. who devoted much time 10
the assembling Of information concern
ing it. The paper written by Mr. Cox
has been printed in the Congressional
Record by Representative Garrett OF
Tennessee.
Gives Statues History.
Mr. Cox points out that while much
has been written about the Nation s
Capital many are unfamiliar with the
story of the statue which surmounts the
Capitol dome. His account of il as
printed in the Congressional Record is,
IN part, as follows:
This exquisite piece Of art Was
modelled BY Thomas Crawford in ROM
italy. from plans adopted BY United
States Senator jefferson Davis o.
Mississippi. chairman OF the committee
on public buildings in 1850.
Early in 1853 the President. Franklin
Pierce, turned over the completion at
the Capitol Building and the placing or
TOD OF its dome the statue Of Freedom
that stands thereon 10 Jefferson Davis
his Secretary of War
Because OF the unfortunate occult
renee OF secession Of the II Southern
States from the Union and the four
wears conflict OF Civil War between
the North and the South upon princi-
pie each believed 10 be right, and tnf
III feeling and bitterness engenoered ~
the civil conflict. due credit has noi
vet been accorded 20 the magnl0crnt
work performed by Jefferson Davis IN
the plans for the completion OF this
stately structure, slrmounied by true
representation of great peoples con-
'reption OF freedom typifed by IN"
statue OF Freedom.
Cap Drew Sharp Protest.
In March. 1855, Mr.. Crawford for
warded to jefferson Davis. then Secrs-
tary of war In President Franklin
pIerce's cabinet. photographs from the
model of the statue. but because OF ne
severe criticism of the Secretary OF War
Of the cap decorating the head OF the
statue he had il changed 10 helmet
with a crest composed of an eagle s
head and an arrangement OF feathers
suggested by the custom OF lndiaE
tribes
Crawford named the group Armed
Liberty" but It's official title from It's
receipt at the Capitol has been the
figure OF Freedom
Photographs OF this modified modei
of the statue were accepted by Jefer-
son Davis. the Secretary OF War, for the
United States. The statue rs COM
pleted stands upon tholace. The right
hand rests upon sword while the left
hand holds an olive branch.
The drapery Is held In place ny
brooch with u S on the fact.
THE head Is crowned as described
above with a freely treated helmet IN
Scrihcd with stars and crest and an
eagle
"A fuii-S.2e plaster model. the orig
!nai Of this statue, occupies the central
position In the Netionalc Museum In
Washington
History records no worihicr tribute
than this browning glory Of III" Nations
Capitol at Washington. A bronze
statue, The Goddess of Freedom
Standing today on the dome OF thr
Capitol 10 feet inches in height.
weighing 1895 pounds GROWING The
dome OF the Capitol oi the Republic as